Two southern health systems have formed a joint venture to build a new inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

HealthSouth, based in Birmingham, Alabama, and Novant Health in Winston-Salem filed a certificate of need application seeking approval to move a current rehabilitation unit at Novant Health to the new hospital when it’s completed, the systems said in a statement.

The 68-bed facility will provide comprehensive inpatient physical rehabilitation to patients who have suffered from strokes, traumas, brain injuries, orthopedic conditions and other major illnesses and injuries.

"The joint venture with Novant Health–our first hospital in the state of North Carolina–is another milestone in our strategy of expanding HealthSouth's outreach to new markets," said Ed Mowen, president of HealthSouth's MidAtlantic region, in a statement. "Novant Health has a long history of providing superior clinical care and we look forward to combining their existing services with our expertise in inpatient rehabilitation to provide the highest level of care to patients in North Carolina."

Novant, which employs nearly 24,000 individuals, serves more than four million patients annually at 530 locations, including medical centers, outpatient facilities and physician clinics.

HealthSouth, a post-acute healthcare provider, offers services in 34 states and Puerto Rico through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and home health and hospice agencies.

"This joint venture, which aligns with our mission, vision and core values, includes the latest in rehabilitative technology and state-of-the-art facilities that ensures our patients receive affordable, convenient and remarkable care for a variety of health needs,” said Stephen Motew, MD, president of Novant Health’s Winston-Salem market.