BIRMINGHAM, Ala. and AUGUSTA, Ga., July 8, 2024 — Piedmont, the leading healthcare system in the state of Georgia, and Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC), the nation’s largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, today announced they have expanded their existing joint venture arrangement to include Walton Rehabilitation Hospital, in Augusta, Georgia.
The 70-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital, located at 1355 Independence Drive, was purchased by Encompass Health in 2013. Piedmont and Encompass Health’s existing joint venture includes Rehabilitation Hospital of Newnan, Georgia; Rehabilitation Hospital of Henry, Georgia; Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Phenix City, Alabama; Rehabilitation Hospital of Columbus, Georgia; and Rehabilitation Hospital of Atlanta, Georgia. Piedmont and Encompass Health have also announced plans to build hospitals in Athens and Loganville, Georgia.
“We are excited to continue growing our partnership with Piedmont, a well‑respected integrated healthcare leader serving Georgia residents for more than a century,” said Ronnie Wagley, President of Encompass Health’s South Atlantic region. “By leveraging the strengths of both organizations, we look forward to continuing to serve patients in the Augusta area and providing coordinated, connected care that meets patients where they are in their healthcare journeys.”
“As a destination for healthcare, Piedmont Augusta treats patients from across Georgia,” said Lily Henson, M.D., CEO of Piedmont’s Augusta clinical hub. “By adding Walton Rehabilitation Hospital to our system, it is now easier for us to provide the high-quality, patient-centered care and seamlessly integrated experience for which we are known.”
Complementing local acute care services like those provided by Piedmont, Encompass Health inpatient rehabilitation hospitals provide essential rehabilitative services that help patients recovering from strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions regain function and independence. Patients receive a minimum of three hours of intensive therapy for five days each week, frequent physician visits and 24-hour nursing care.
About Piedmont
Piedmont is empowering Georgians by changing health care. We continue to fuel Georgia’s growth through safe, high-quality care close to home through an integrated health care system that provides a hassle-free, unified experience. We are a private, not-for-profit organization with more than 12,000 donors annually that for centuries has sought to make a positive difference in every life we touch in the communities we serve. Across our 1,755 physical locations we care for more than 4 million patients and serve communities that comprise 85 percent of Georgia’s population. This includes 25 hospitals, 72 Piedmont Urgent Care centers, 25 QuickCare locations, 1,875 Piedmont Clinic physician practices and nearly 3,200 Piedmont Clinic members. Our patients conveniently engage with Piedmont online, as they scheduled more than 612,000 online appointments and over 163,000 virtual visits. With more than 47,000 care givers we are the largest Georgia-based private employer of Georgians, who all came for the job, but stayed for the people. In 2024 and 2023, Piedmont has earned recognition from Newsweek as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Diversity and also as one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women. In 2022, Forbes ranked Piedmont on its list of the Best Large Employers in the United States. In addition, Piedmont provided nearly $390 million in community benefit programming and uncompensated care in Fiscal Year 2023.
For more information, or booking your next appointment, visit piedmont.org.
About Encompass Health
Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) is the largest owner and operator of rehabilitation hospitals in the United States. With a national footprint that includes 163 hospitals in 37 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high-quality, compassionate rehabilitative care for patients recovering from a major injury or illness, using advanced technology and innovative treatments to maximize recovery. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies and Modern Healthcare’s Best Places to Work in Healthcare. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
