JANESVILLE, Wis. -- A new hospital in Rock County aims to bring health care and emergency services closer to residents.

SSM Healthcare, the parent company of St. Mary's Hospital, and Dean Health Systems announced plans on Thursday to construct a $140-million hospital and health care facility in Janesville. The campus will feature a 50-bed hospital and adjacent physician office complex for Dean physicians, WISC-TV reported.

"Janesville residents are asking for -- and deserve -- more health care options closer to home," said Dr. Craig Samitt, Dean Health Systems president and CEO, in a statement. "In partnership with SSM Health Care of Wisconsin and St. Mary's, we have been listening to, working with and investing in communities in Wisconsin for nearly 100 years. We are proud of our roots in Janesville and committed to developing a medical campus that meets the changing needs of the area."

The hospital will be located in Janesville, near Interstate 90 and Highway 11. Officials said that it's expected to open in 2010 and employ 344 people. Officials said they believe the new facility will make it easy to attract physicians.

Officials said that they expect the project will have an economic impact of $164 million on the Janesville area, including approximately $40 million in payroll and $124 million in sales revenue.

SSM Health Care of Wisconsin president and CEO Mary Starmann-Harrison said that studies show that the Janesville area will need 100 more hospital beds by 2011.

But Mercy Health Systems said it disagrees with the need for a new hospital in Rock County.

Contrary to SSM Healthcare's research, Mercy Hospital said that only 27 percent of patients leave the area, many of whom are seeking specialists. Mercy Hospital also disagreed with the need for more beds.

"According to the state of Wisconsin, there's actually an over-bedded situation in Rock County. We have too many beds in Rock County. We're actually downsizing at Mercy our beds, from double to single, because we have too many beds," said Javon Bea, president and CEO of Mercy Health System.

But SSM Health Care said the new hospital will give patients a choice for local health care. While both Mercy Health System and SSM Healthcare are confident their facilities are best, the competition between the two hospitals could ultimately benefit the patient most.

"We believe that a choice in health care leads to improved patient service and competitive pricing," Samitt said.

The 50-acre site will devote 150,000 to 175,000 square feet to the hospital and about 120,000 square feet to the office building. Officials said that the campus includes space for growth of the both the hospital and office complex.

The hospital will boast services such as cardiology, obstetrics, gynecology, endocrinology, orthopedics and pediatrics, and will include an emergency room, outpatient surgery, cardiac rehabilitation and a sleep lab.