Community Hospital plans the ceremonial groundbreaking for its new rehabilitation center at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 25 on the front lawn of the hospital. The public is invited.

"We're excited about our new project," said James Ulrich, Community Hospital Chief Operating Officer, who will transition into the position of president and CEO with the semi-retirement of Gary Bieganski in July. The ceremony will include a message from Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, a native of McCook; and appearances by representatives of Community Hospital and the Health Foundation’s board of directors; along with the builders, Marshall Erdman & Associates Inc.

Bieganski will present the keynote address, explaining how the Rehabilitation Center fits into the hospital mission of “providing for the healthcare needs of our region.”

The real groundbreaking -- the actual moving of substantial amounts of dirt -- begins the first week of June. It is projected the $3.8 million, nearly 14,000 square feet project will be completed in February 2007.

The new center will triple the existing space of the physical, occupational and speech therapy departments and double the space of cardiac and pulmonary therapy services. Enlarging the space will permit staff to treat more patients, allow more room for additional therapy equipment, give patients added privacy and improve patient care and safety.