New MCRHC facility will enhance children’s therapy and expand rehab services
Across the nation, demand for rehabilitation services is growing, especially for children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in six children in the United States have a developmental disabilityand many others benefit from therapy to recover from injury, strengthen skills, or build confidence. Adults are also seeking more therapy after surgery, injury or illness as rehabilitation becomes a vital part of long-term health and independence.
These growing needs are being met locally by Mitchell County Regional Health Center (MCRHC), where construction continues on the new Pine Street Pavilion in Osage. The two-story facility, set to open in spring 2026, will house MCRHC’s rehabilitation services, including physical, occupational and speech therapy under one roof. Cardiac Rehab is staying on the main campus.
“The Pine Street Pavilion is an investment in the future of health and recovery in North Iowa,” said Beth Trees, MCRHC chief nursing officer. “It gives our therapists the tools, technology and space to meet growing needs and help patients of every age regain independence and confidence.”
Currently located inside the MCRHC Osage Clinic and Hospital, those services will soon move just across the street from the emergency room to Pine Street, where patients will find expanded treatment areas, modern equipment, and improved accessibility. The pavilion will also include dedicated exam rooms for therapy patients, allowing for greater privacy and individualized care.
The building will feature two specialized gyms: an adult therapy gym focused on strength, balance and mobility rehabilitation, and a children’s therapy gym equipped with a small rock-climbing wall, therapy swings, climbing ladders, and sensory-friendly tools that make therapy playful and engaging.
Nationwide, only about 55 percent of children aged 3 to 17 with a voice, speech or language disorder receive intervention services each year, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. MCRHC hopes to help close that gap in North Iowa through its expanding children’s services.
Trees said the strength of the project lies not only in the new space but in the people who will work there. “Our rehabilitation team is highly skilled and deeply dedicated,” she said. “Their experience and compassion are what truly set MCRHC apart. This facility will give them an environment that matches the level of care they already provide.”
The pavilion will also house Senior Life Solutions, an outpatient behavioral health program for older adults. Once the move is complete, the existing rehab area will be converted into additional specialty clinic and outpatient hospital space.
