Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Shreveport

09/26/2025

Jeanine, our chief nursing officer; Morgan and Sydney, two of our registered nurses; and Eric, our hospital educator, recently attended a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse exam prep course in preparation for the December exam.

The CRRN credential is a symbol of excellence in rehabilitation nursing. It reflects a nurse’s commitment to helping individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions achieve optimal health and function. Earning this certification is a significant milestone — it enhances career opportunities and demonstrates advanced knowledge and experience in the specialty.

At Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Shreveport, we proudly support experienced rehabilitation nurses in pursuing the CRRN credential as they take their skills to the next level.

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.

09/24/2025

Meet Demetra Okey, a patient at Encompass Health Shreveport living with stiff limb syndrome — a rare autoimmune neurological disorder that causes progressive muscle stiffness and painful spasms, affecting fewer than 5,000 people in the United States.

Demetra’s spasms became so severe they caused a fracture in her leg. Through a combination of medication and therapeutic activities, our care team has helped better manage her pain and spasms.

Despite ongoing challenges, Demetra continues to make functional gains in therapy. Her perseverance is inspiring — keep going, Demetra, you are more than a conqueror.

09/24/2025

Last week, we celebrated National Rehabilitation Awareness Week with a rehabilitation boot camp! The week was packed with energizing activities, including complimentary breakfasts, lunches, drinks and gourmet coffee, plus boot camp–themed games, challenges and prizes that brought our team together in fun and meaningful ways.

Team members showed their spirit by wearing camo all week. We marched through every challenge, fueled up at the mess hall and hydration station and kept morale high on every front line.

Thank you to every team member who went above and beyond — not just during boot camp week, but every day. Your dedication to our mission of caring for patients and supporting one another keeps us strong.

📸 Check out some highlights from the week!

09/23/2025

Meet Debra Digilormo.

Debra Digilormo, a retired speech therapist, knows what it takes to succeed. She spent years working with special needs children in the school system, helping them find their voice and confidence. Debra came to Encompass Health of Shreveport after she fell and broke her femur. During recovery, she needed assistance with mobility and standing. With the support of our care team, Debra showed incredible willpower — walking up and down stairs and going the extra mile in therapy. She’s known for her kindness and always has a smile on her face.

Thank you, Debra, for choosing Encompass Health. We’re proud to be part of your recovery journey.

09/22/2025

Meet Joe “Cool Cat” Nadeau! In 2024, Joe had a stroke that caused complications with his mobility. Determined to improve, he returned to Encompass Health of Shreveport to work on walking again after regaining movement in his legs.

With the support of his care team, Joe worked hard in therapy and made incredible progress. At discharge, he was able to stand and walk with the assistance of a walker. Joe was a true inspiration to others on their recovery journey. We wish him all the best.

Thank you for trusting us with your recovery, Joe!

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

After experiencing a seizure-related fall, Stanley Ewell was taken to the emergency room, where doctors discovered a brain mass; he required surgery. Following his procedure, Stanley was admitted to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Shreveport to regain strength and mobility. Upon arrival, he needed minimal assistance with functional mobility. Today, Stanley is independent and has returned home!

He’s excited to return to hunting and fishing, especially sharing those skills with his grandkids so they can learn to “eat for life.” We’re happy for you, Stanley, and will truly miss hearing your incredible stories from the great outdoors.

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 Earnest Dalcour.
Earnest came to Encompass Health of Shreveport with fainting episodes and low blood pressure, which left him with limited mobility. Originally from South Louisiana, he loves cooking Cajun food, listening to zydeco music and dancing. With the help of his care team, Earnest overcame his fear of falling and improved his mobility.

He has a heart for helping others and a spirit of kindness that shines through. After getting to know Earnest, it’s clear he has a survivalist mentality and lives with no excuses. He likes to say, “I gotta do what I gotta do.” We’ve had the pleasure of watching him do just that.

Thank you for inspiring us, Earnest!

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

Meet Dr. Grantham, our wound care physician, and Bonita Watson, our wound care nurse at Encompass Health of Shreveport. With a combined 20 years of experience, this dynamic duo brings expertise, compassion and dedication to every patient they serve.

If you’re receiving wound care at Encompass Health Shreveport, you’re in excellent hands. Dr. Grantham and Bonita are known not only for their clinical skill but also for their kindness, professionalism and uplifting presence. They work to heal more than just wounds; they improve attitudes, morale and teamwork along the way.

We’re incredibly fortunate to have them on our team. Thank you both for all you do!

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.

09/12/2025

Meet Curtis Williams, our director of facilities management, and his outstanding crew at Encompass Health Shreveport. This dedicated team works tirelessly to keep our hospital safe, clean and welcoming—so our patients can focus on healing.

Thank you all for your hard work and commitment to maintaining such a beautiful facility. Happy Healthcare Environmental Services and Housekeeping Week!

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!

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.

08/26/2025

After a serious car accident and spinal surgery, Michael was admitted to our Kissimmee, Florida rehabilitation hospital. When he arrived, he needed assistance just to move and complete daily tasks.

As a devoted husband and father, his motivation to regain his independence was unwavering. Through hard work, determination and the support of his care team, Michael has made incredible progress.

He’s now completing daily activities with minimal assistance and continues to improve his mobility every day.

Inpatient rehabilitation can be life-changing — Michael is proof. We’re so proud of you, Michael. Thank you for letting us be part of your recovery.

08/25/2025

Meet Louis “Gene” Kovach, a determined patient at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Shreveport. Gene came to us feeling weak after a recent illness related to COVID and low blood sugar.

An avid golfer at 89, Gene is motivated to get back on the course. His fellow golfers say he rarely shoots above his age—an impressive feat. Judging by his putting skills, he’s nearly ready to return to the game.

We’re cheering you on, Gene!

08/23/2025

Meet Terrie Fisher. Terrie is our unit secretary at Encompass Health Shreveport. We appreciate her every day for keeping our hospital coordinated and running smoothly. Today we want to take a moment to highlight Terrie and let her know how thankful we are for her dedication and hard work. Happy Health Unit Coordination Day Terrie. Keep up the great work.

08/22/2025

After an illness or injury, every patient’s goal is different. For 30-year-old Casie Henrikson, hers was to walk again. More specifically, she wanted to be able to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding.

“I didn’t want to limp, experience pain while walking or have people wondering what happened to me. I wanted the attention to be on the bride,” she said.

Learn how Casie achieved her recovery goal and so much more at our rehabilitation hospital in Anderson, South Carolina.

As a therapist, Casie Henrikson spent her time advocating for children with autism and their families. The 30-year-old connected them with resources that could improve their lives and overall health.