The Athens community just gained a powerful new healthcare ally. Encompass Health and Piedmont have officially opened the doors to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Athens, a 40-bed inpatient facility designed to help patients reclaim their lives after serious injuries and illnesses.
A Joint Venture Rooted in Care
The partnership between Encompass Health — the largest inpatient rehabilitation hospital network in the U.S. — and Piedmont, Georgia’s most extensive healthcare system, brings a new level of rehabilitative care to Athens. This facility marks the latest addition to a growing list of joint ventures between the two healthcare giants.
The Athens location joins a lineup that includes Rehabilitation Hospitals in Newnan, Henry, Columbus, Atlanta, and Augusta, plus Phenix City, Alabama. Plans are already underway for another facility in Loganville, Georgia.
“Our talented team is excited to serve the Athens community,” said Loretta Rice, CEO of Rehabilitation Hospital of Athens. “The compassionate, high-quality care we provide in our beautiful new hospital will help patients reach their rehabilitation goals and return to what matters most.”
Advanced Services for Complex Recoveries
The hospital offers a range of services tailored to patients recovering from severe medical events like strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, and complex orthopedic conditions.
Patients can expect:
- A minimum of three hours of intensive therapy, five days a week
- Frequent physician visits
- Around-the-clock nursing care
The goal? Restoring independence and quality of life.
The facility itself is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities, including private patient rooms, an expansive therapy gym featuring advanced rehabilitation technologies, and an activities of daily living suite designed to simulate real-world tasks. Additionally, the hospital houses an in-house dialysis suite, a therapy courtyard, dining areas, a dayroom, and an on-site pharmacy.
A Team Approach to Recovery
Rehabilitation Hospital of Athens employs an interdisciplinary team of highly trained specialists, including physical, occupational, and speech therapists, alongside dedicated nurses and physicians.
“Both Piedmont and Encompass Health have a proven track record of quality and patient satisfaction and are united in our mission of providing specialized care, close to home,” said Ronnie Wagley, President of Encompass Health’s South Atlantic region. “We look forward to positively impacting the lives of many in the Athens community.”
Michael Burnett, CEO of Piedmont Athens Regional, echoed that sentiment. “We’re incredibly grateful for the strong partnership we’ve built with Encompass Health,” he said. “I’m thrilled to expand our services to bring individualized inpatient rehabilitation treatment to patients in Athens and the surrounding areas.”
The hospital’s opening isn’t just about expanding access to specialized care — it’s about giving patients and families in Athens a local option for top-tier rehabilitation, reducing the need to travel for treatment.
