Select Medical, a hospitals operator, and SSM Health, a not-for-profit health system, have formed a joint venture (JV) partnership to establish and manage a new 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital, named SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Oklahoma City.

Under the new JV, Select Medical will serve as the majority owner and managing partner. The facility is set to open in December 2024.

The hospital will be located at 700 NW 7th Street, integrating SSM Health's existing 12-bed acute rehabilitation unit from St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City.

This project aims to enhance access to rehabilitation services in the region.

The two organisations previously established a partnership in 2009 through a separate joint venture agreement, under which they operate three inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Missouri, along with a network of 79 outpatient therapy centres and ten rehabilitation institutes throughout the St. Louis region.

SSM Health Oklahoma regional president Joe Hodges said: "Our mission calls us to continually seek new ways to better meet the needs of the people and communities we are privileged to serve.

"We look forward to the opportunity to expand the longstanding partnership that SSM Health has had with Select Medical in St. Louis. Together, we'll further expand and enhance access to high-quality compassionate rehabilitation services across the region."

Select Medical president Tom Mullin said: "Select Medical and SSM Health have been partners for 15 years, delivering best-in-class rehabilitative care across the greater St. Louis region.

"When we saw the opportunity to once again partner in Oklahoma City, it was an easy decision to expand the relationship based on our shared mission and sharp focus on quality, safety and outcomes. We look forward to serving the growing post-acute care needs of Oklahoma City and surrounding communities."