Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Alabama

10/07/2025

It’s National Physical Therapy Month, and we’re proud to celebrate our incredible physical therapists and physical therapist assistants at Encompass Health of North Alabama.

These compassionate professionals wear many hats in our hospital. They design personalized treatment plans that restore movement, mobility and independence — helping patients safely return home and reach their goals. Our PTs and PTAs are more than clinicians. They’re advocates, educators, coaches and cheerleaders. They build trust by actively listening to patients’ stories and concerns, helping them overcome fears and motivating them to stay committed to recovery. Their resilience and creativity shine through, even in the toughest situations.

Thank you for everything you do — for your patients, their families and each other. We’re grateful to work alongside such a talented and dedicated team.

10/07/2025

We are honored to be named among the 2025 America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers list by Newsweek and Statista. The list includes a record-breaking 66 Encompass Health hospitals across 27 states — earning Encompass Health the companywide title of “America’s Most Awarded Leader in Inpatient Rehabilitation” for the sixth consecutive year. Rankings are based on quality metrics, accreditation data, a national survey of industry experts and Google reviews from patients.

https://ehc.rehab/4nqfiwu

10/06/2025

Meet Stella Scanlon!
Stella, 84, came to Encompass Health North Alabama for inpatient rehabilitation after several health complications left her with limited mobility and weakness. Determined to regain her independence, Stella worked closely with her care team to rebuild strength and confidence.

With the support of her care team, Stella reached remarkable milestones by walking and performing self-care tasks.

“Encompass saved my life and got me on the road to recovery. All the team members treated me with compassion and extreme care,” Stella said. “The therapy was thorough and has gotten me to the point where I look forward to my sessions at home.”

We’re proud to be part of Stella’s journey and celebrate her resilience and spirit.

10/03/2025

At Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Alabama, our physical therapy team is soaking up the sunshine and staying active with therapeutic drumming for our patients! 🎶☀️

Led by our talented therapist Melissa Spratt, these weekly sessions bring rhythm, movement and motivation to the recovery journey.

10/01/2025

In September 2024, Liberty Hill, Texas resident Joe Pearson started his year-long work assignment in Italy. However, eight months into his job, he started experiencing odd symptoms.

“I can see them [my legs], but I can’t feel them,” Pearson told the Austin American-Statesman newspaper.

Pearson was diagnosed with Guillain Barre syndrome, a rare condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves causing weakness, numbness and even paralysis. Learn how our team at our Round Rock, Texas rehabilitation hospital not only worked to get him back closer to his home and family but also to get him the care he needed to regain his independence. When he arrived at our hospital, he couldn’t even sit up on his own. By the time he left, he was able to transfer from a bed to his wheelchair and was even able to stand using the parallel bars.

Guillain-Barre syndrome following a virus can damage nerves. Intense physical therapy needed to rebuild connections.

10/01/2025

Alex Soh is a beloved member of the Madison community and a customer favorite at Kroger, where he has worked as a courtesy clerk for 15 years—making countless friends along the way.

Recently, Alex underwent a 17-hour brain tumor removal surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Following surgery, he was admitted to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Alabama to begin his recovery journey.

When Alex completed his final therapy session with us, he was surprised by his family, friends and Kroger co-workers. Everyone cheered him on as he rang the discharge bell.

Thank you for trusting us with your care, Alex. Your story is a powerful reminder of courage, perseverance and community support.

WAFF 48 News shares Alex's incredible story.

On Friday, Alex Soh, his mom, his co-workers, and health care workers cheered on someone who defied the obstacles -always with a smile on his face.

09/30/2025

Encompass Health has been named “America’s Most Awarded Leader in Inpatient Rehabilitation” by Newsweek and Statista for the sixth consecutive year. The 2025 America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers list includes a record-breaking 66 Encompass Health hospitals across 27 states — the most hospitals included on the list for one provider.

“Encompass Health’s consistent presence on this prestigious list, with more hospitals included annually since its inception than any other provider, exemplifies our long-standing commitment to high-quality patient care and excellent outcomes,” said Encompass Health President and CEO Mark Tarr. “Our decades of experience, unparalleled clinical expertise and deep commitment to personalized care make us the trusted choice for inpatient rehabilitation. We look forward to continuing to strengthen that trust with our patients, partners and communities.”

https://ehc.rehab/48FxT30

09/26/2025

We’re proud to celebrate several incredible work anniversaries this month. Happy anniversary to these dedicated team members — your hard work truly makes a difference, and we’re grateful to have you on our team!

- Tanya Mead, licensed practical nurse/admissions and rehab liaison – 17 years
- Troya Powers, rehab nursing tech IV – 11 years
- Theresa Hawkins, certified registered rehabilitation nurse – 11 years

09/24/2025

Congratulations to Tracey Hampton, our CRRN admissions liaison, for being named our September employee of the month. Tracey is a valuable part of our team and puts her heart into everything that she does at Encompass Health. She is kind, compassionate and empathetic, and she’s a trusted resource many departments rely on for her expertise. As a team player, she lends a helping hand whenever it’s needed. She enjoys advocating for patients to ensure they receive the care they deserve.

Her dedication inspires us all to be kind and lead with a smile. We’re so proud of you, Tracey!

09/24/2025

Sometimes, interpreting a doctor’s medical jargon can feel like trying to understand a foreign language. However, understanding your medical care and diagnosis is essential. How can you cut through the medical jargon and better understand your care and condition? Follow these tactics to get the most out of your doctor visits.

09/22/2025

National Rehabilitation Awareness Week is a time to honor the dedication of rehabilitation professionals and celebrate the recovery journeys of patients who regain strength and improve their quality of life through rehabilitation services.

To mark the occasion, City Bowls treated our staff to a delicious surprise — thank you for helping us celebrate!

09/22/2025

Today is the first of fall, and it’s also National Fall Prevention Day. We want to use this time to draw attention to the danger of falls, especially in older adults. Falls are a leading cause of hospitalization and even death in older adults. There are preventative measures you can take, though, to reduce your risk of a fall. One of our physical therapists is sharing three simple exercises to improve balance and reduce your risk of a dangerous fall.

09/19/2025

As we wrap up National Rehabilitation Week, we want to celebrate our patients and our expert clinicians who help them return to the activities they love after a life-changing illness or injury. That’s the power of inpatient rehabilitation. From around the country, here are just a few of the successes and milestones we celebrated this week. National Rehabilitation Awareness week is just one week out of the year, but successes like these occur daily in our rehabilitation hospitals.

09/19/2025

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Alabama is proud to highlight Jana Fowler, our director of health information management services. Jana joined our hospital in 2015 and brings more than 24 years of diverse experience in health information management. She holds bachelor's degrees from Birmingham-Southern College and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She also earned her Juris Doctor from Birmingham School of Law and has maintained her Registered Health Information Administrator credential since 1995.

We’re grateful for Jana’s leadership, expertise and dedication to excellence.

09/18/2025

Janice England had just moved from Michigan to Cleveland, Tennessee, when she learned that she would have to have her leg amputated. Janice has arteriosclerosis, a vascular disease that can interrupt blood flow to parts of the body.

After her surgery, her doctors told her she would need inpatient rehabilitation to recover and return to her daily activities. Being new to the area, she had no idea where to go. That’s when her husband Bod and their children stepped in to find Janice the best care possible.

“I was in the hospital, so my family researched it. They got online and talked to people,” she recalled. “They came to the conclusion that Encompass Health was the best place to go, and they were absolutely correct.”

At Encompass Health, Janice was able to get the medical care she required after her amputation, as well as intensive therapy to help her return home and adapt to her new condition and settle into her new community.

09/17/2025

Meet Brian Manley, director of facilities management at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Alabama. Brian joined our hospital in October 2021 and brings more than 18 years of experience in hospital facilities and construction. He has been an active member of the Alabama Society for Healthcare Engineers since 2010.

We’re grateful for Brian’s expertise and commitment to maintaining a safe and efficient environment for our patients and staff.

09/17/2025

In one week, Joseph Rowland went from being active and independent to becoming almost completely paralyzed. “I could hardly wiggle my little finger,” he said. Joe was diagnosed with Guillain Barré, a rare neurological condition that can cause sudden paralysis.

He needed intensive therapy to regain some movement, so he could live on his own again. He chose Encompass Health for inpatient rehabilitation, where he would receive three hours of therapy a day, five days a week.

In one week, he went from being unable to sit up or even feed himself, to gradually regaining movement in his hands and legs, enough so that by discharge, he could maneuver himself in a wheelchair and even walk some with a walker — both of which he couldn’t have imagined when he arrived at Encompass Health.

09/16/2025

As a football and track coach at Heritage High School in Catoosa County, Georgia, David Gibson was accustomed to being on his feet. After serious complications from a back surgery, though, he was unsure if he would ever walk again.

“I was supposed to be in outpatient,” he recalled. “Next thing I knew, I woke up and couldn’t feel my legs.”

His doctors referred him to Encompass Health for inpatient rehabilitation. David said he’d almost lost hope, but then he found himself in the therapy gym standing and taking his first steps again. After about a month of intensive therapy at our rehabilitation hospital, David was walking with assistance. Today, nearly a year after his surgery, he’s back on the sidelines, doing what he loves.

09/15/2025

As president and CEO of Encompass Health, Mark Tarr understands the power of inpatient rehabilitation and the role it plays in transforming our patients’ lives after a serious injury or illness. However, as we kickoff National Rehabilitation Awareness Week, the best way to tell the story and raise awareness to what inpatient rehabilitation can do, is to hear from our patients. Join us the remainder of this week as we meet some of our former patients — one recovering from a spinal cord injury, one from amputation and another from Guillain Barré — and here from them as they describe how rehabilitation helped them get back to their lives and what matters most to them.

09/10/2025

Staying social as you age can improve your health both physically and mentally. However, as you get older, sometimes it's not as easy as it once was.
You no longer have the day-to-day routine that working once brought, and family and friends may have moved away or passed on, leaving you feeling lonely and isolated.
As an older adult, you don't have to go it alone.

09/04/2025

Coping with a life-changing diagnosis can stir up a whirlwind of emotions. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. It is possible to manage these emotions and find the right support to live a thriving and fulfilling life. Learn how to manage your emotional well-being and find strength and joy beyond the diagnosis.

Experiencing a life-changing diagnosis can impact your well-being. Explore holistic strategies for coping, recovering, and finding hope through post-acute care.

09/02/2025

Alvin came to our Kingsport, Tennessee rehabilitation hospital recovering from a spinal cord injury. He was determined to walk again. Through intensive therapy and the support of his wife, Alvin made remarkable progress. He recently returned to Encompass Health, where he and his wife walked out together during a special Code Champion celebration.
We’re so proud of you, Alvin!

09/01/2025

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of North Alabama is proud to honor the outstanding women in our senior leadership team:

Karen Brown, human resources director; Chelsea Sowards, director of therapy; Kris Goodwin, chief nursing officer; Tiffany Latham, director of quality and risk management; Emily Dutton, director of case management; and Amber Wilson, business development director.

Thank you for your leadership, dedication and the positive impact you make every day!

08/28/2025

Today we celebrated the grand opening of our first hospital in Connecticut. Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Danbury will begin seeing patients next month. This 40-bed rehabilitation hospital will provide rehabilitative care to those recovering from strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations and more.

With private rooms, advanced therapy technologies and a compassionate team of experts, we look forward to meeting the rehabilitation needs of the Danbury community.