Encompass Health Corp. and Piedmont Healthcare today announced they have executed a joint venture agreement to operate inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Georgia. The parties are currently partnered on Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, in Phenix City, Alabama.

Recently, the partnership was granted certificates of need to own and operate new inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Atlanta and Columbus, Georgia. In Columbus, the joint venture will construct a new 40-bed, freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospital near the Piedmont Columbus Regional Northside Campus. The 40-bed Atlantalocation will be built inside of the Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. Both new Georgia hospitals are expected to begin providing inpatient rehabilitation services beginning 2023.

In addition, anticipated to be effective June 2021, Piedmont Healthcare will assume partial ownership of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Newnan in Georgia, a 60-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital opened by Encompass Health in December 2014.

These additions will bring the partnership's inpatient rehabilitation hospital count to four.

"We are excited about expanding our partnership with Piedmont Healthcare, a forward-thinking and well–respected healthcare leader that has been serving Georgia residents for more than 100 years," said Barb Jacobsmeyer, executive vice president, president of inpatient hospitals for Encompass Health. "Through these hospitals, we will continue working together to provide our patients with coordinated and connected care that meets them where they are in their healthcare journeys and makes a positive difference in their lives."

"Through our relationship with Encompass Health at Piedmont Columbus Regional we have experienced the value that Encompass Health can bring to our patients and we look forward to our broader geographic partnership," Piedmont Executive Vice President Michael J. Mandl said. "The addition of these high-acuity rehab services is a critical component for Piedmont to offer our patients along the continuum of care in our Clinically Integrated Network."

Complementing local acute care services like those provided by Piedmont Healthcare, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals serve patients recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries including strokes and other neurological disorders, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. In addition to 24–hour nursing care, the hospitals offer physical, occupational and speech therapies to restore functional ability and quality of life.