Encompass Health Named America’s Most Awarded Inpatient Rehabilitation Leader by Newsweek for Seventh Consecutive Year
Encompass Health has been recognized by Newsweek as America’s Most Awarded Leader in Inpatient Rehabilitation for the seventh consecutive year, reinforcing the company’s position as a major provider of specialized rehabilitation services in the United States. The recognition follows the inclusion of a record 78 Encompass Health hospitals across 32 states on Newsweek’s America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2026 list, more than any other inpatient rehabilitation provider in the country.
The latest recognition highlights the work of Encompass Health’s clinical teams in delivering specialized care to patients recovering from serious illnesses, traumatic injuries and complex medical conditions. Inpatient rehabilitation plays an important role in helping patients regain mobility, improve functional abilities, rebuild independence and work toward returning to their daily activities following significant health challenges.
Newsweek’s annual ranking evaluates rehabilitation facilities using several measures related to clinical quality, professional recommendations, accreditation and patient feedback. The publication describes the facilities included on the list as organizations that demonstrate strong patient care practices in inpatient physical rehabilitation and provide examples for other healthcare providers.
For Encompass Health, the inclusion of 78 hospitals represents its largest number of recognized facilities in the ranking to date. The recognition spans multiple states and reflects the company’s broad inpatient rehabilitation network, which provides specialized treatment for patients who require intensive therapy and medical oversight during recovery.
Record Number of Encompass Health Hospitals Recognized
The 2026 ranking includes 78 Encompass Health hospitals operating across 32 states. According to the company, no other inpatient rehabilitation provider had more hospitals included on the list.
The recognition for the seventh consecutive year adds to the organization’s record of being represented in Newsweek’s annual assessment of physical rehabilitation centers. The number of recognized hospitals also demonstrates the scale of the company’s operations and the range of communities in which it delivers rehabilitation services.
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities support patients whose medical conditions or injuries have significantly affected their ability to perform everyday activities. Depending on the patient’s condition, rehabilitation may focus on walking, balance, coordination, communication, self-care and other skills needed for greater independence.
Patients may enter an inpatient rehabilitation program following a hospital stay for a stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation or complex orthopedic condition. These patients often require more than a single therapy service. They may need a coordinated combination of medical management, physical rehabilitation, occupational therapy, speech therapy and nursing support.
The objective is to help each patient make meaningful progress toward personal recovery goals while ensuring that treatment is appropriate to their medical condition and functional needs.
Encompass Health’s approach combines intensive rehabilitation therapies with physician oversight and round-the-clock nursing care. This model is designed for patients who require a structured rehabilitation environment in which clinical teams can monitor their progress and adjust treatment plans as their needs change.
The Newsweek recognition places the company’s participating hospitals among the facilities identified by the publication for their work in inpatient physical rehabilitation.
Newsweek Ranking Evaluates Quality, Expertise and Patient Experience
Newsweek’s America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2026 ranking uses four principal data categories to evaluate participating facilities. These include quality measures published by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), professional recommendations gathered through a national online survey, accreditation information and Google reviews.
Each category provides a different perspective on rehabilitation services, bringing together clinical indicators, the views of professionals familiar with the field, formal accreditation information and publicly available patient feedback.
Quality measures from federal healthcare data
One of the ranking’s data pillars consists of quality metrics published by CMS, the federal agency responsible for administering major U.S. healthcare programs, including Medicare and Medicaid.
Healthcare quality measures can provide information about aspects of facility performance, patient outcomes and the delivery of care. For rehabilitation providers, such information is important because recovery often involves multiple stages, including initial assessment, intensive therapy, progress monitoring and preparation for discharge.
Patients and families may also use quality information when comparing facilities and considering where to receive rehabilitation services. Objective measures can help inform those decisions, although the suitability of a particular facility depends on a patient’s clinical needs, treatment goals, location and other individual circumstances.
Recommendations from rehabilitation experts
The ranking also incorporates results from a national online survey conducted by Newsweek among professionals with expertise in the field.
Professional recommendations provide an additional perspective on the reputation and perceived performance of rehabilitation centers. Clinicians and other experts may have experience working with facilities, observing their services or understanding their role within the broader rehabilitation sector.
Combining professional feedback with published quality metrics allows the ranking to consider more than one dimension of facility performance.
Accreditation information
Newsweek also considers accreditation data from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center.
Accreditation and related institutional information can help indicate whether facilities meet applicable standards or participate in recognized rehabilitation-related programs. These sources provide another layer of information for evaluating organizations that deliver specialized rehabilitation care.
Formal accreditation information is particularly relevant in rehabilitation, where treatment frequently requires coordinated input from multiple healthcare professionals and careful planning around patient safety, functional progress and transitions to care after discharge.
Patient feedback through Google reviews
The fourth pillar consists of Google reviews, which Newsweek uses as an indicator of patient satisfaction.
Patient feedback can offer insight into how individuals and families experience care, including their interactions with healthcare teams and their overall impressions of a facility. While online reviews are only one source of information and may not represent every patient’s experience, they provide a publicly available perspective alongside clinical and professional data.
By combining these four categories, Newsweek’s ranking brings together different types of information when identifying facilities for its annual list.
The methodology reflects the importance of considering clinical quality, professional perspectives, accreditation and patient experience when assessing rehabilitation providers.
CEO Credits Clinical Teams for Recognition
Mark Tarr, president and chief executive officer of Encompass Health, attributed the recognition to the dedication of employees across the company’s national network and their commitment to helping patients achieve meaningful recoveries.
“Being recognized by Newsweek as America’s Most Awarded Leader in Inpatient Rehabilitation for the seventh consecutive year reflects the extraordinary dedication of our teams across the country and their commitment to helping patients achieve meaningful recoveries,” Tarr said.
He also emphasized the significance of having a record 78 Encompass Health hospitals included in the 2026 ranking.
“With a record 78 hospitals recognized this year, this honor is a testament to the high-quality, compassionate care our teams provide every day and the trust patients and families place in us during some of the most important moments of their recovery journeys. We are committed to honoring that trust by helping patients achieve the best possible outcomes,” he said.
Tarr’s comments underscore the role of multidisciplinary clinical teams in inpatient rehabilitation. Recovery following a serious injury or illness often requires sustained effort from both patients and healthcare professionals. Progress may involve improving physical strength, relearning daily tasks, adapting to functional limitations and developing strategies for managing ongoing health needs.
Rehabilitation teams work with patients to establish individualized goals and monitor progress throughout treatment. Depending on the patient’s circumstances, goals may include transferring safely between a bed and chair, improving walking ability, regaining communication skills, managing daily personal care or becoming more independent at home.
The recognition also highlights the trust patients and families place in rehabilitation providers during periods that can involve substantial physical, emotional and practical challenges.
Specialized Rehabilitation for Complex Medical Conditions
Encompass Health hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation services for people recovering from a range of serious medical conditions and injuries. These include strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions.
Each condition can affect a person’s functioning in different ways, making individualized treatment an important component of rehabilitation.
Stroke recovery
A stroke can affect movement, balance, speech, language, memory and other abilities, depending on the part of the brain affected and the severity of the event.
Following initial medical treatment, some patients require intensive rehabilitation to improve their ability to move, communicate and carry out everyday activities. Physical therapy may focus on strength, balance and mobility, while occupational therapy can help patients practice activities such as dressing, bathing and other tasks associated with daily living.
Speech-language therapy may be appropriate for patients experiencing communication difficulties or certain swallowing problems.
Rehabilitation goals vary from person to person. Some patients may focus on improving walking or transferring safely, while others may work toward greater independence in personal care and household activities.
Brain injury rehabilitation
Brain injuries can produce a wide range of physical, cognitive, communication and behavioral challenges. Rehabilitation may therefore require input from professionals with different areas of expertise.
Treatment plans can be designed around the patient’s specific needs, including mobility, coordination, memory, problem-solving and communication. The clinical team evaluates the patient’s abilities and works toward achievable goals as recovery progresses.
The level and type of support required can change over time, making ongoing assessment an important part of treatment.
Spinal cord injuries and amputations
Patients recovering from spinal cord injuries may need rehabilitation to improve mobility, build strength, learn new movement strategies and adapt to changes in physical function.
For patients who have undergone an amputation, rehabilitation may include strengthening, balance training, mobility exercises and preparation for using assistive devices or prosthetic limbs when appropriate.
Treatment also may focus on helping patients manage everyday activities and adapt their living environments to support greater independence.
Complex orthopedic conditions
Complex orthopedic conditions can affect mobility, strength and the ability to perform routine tasks. Following significant injuries or surgical procedures, patients may require structured therapy to rebuild function and return to daily activities.
Rehabilitation programs can help patients work toward safer movement, improved balance and greater confidence with functional tasks. The treatment approach depends on the patient’s medical status, the nature of the injury and the recommendations of the clinical team.
Across these conditions, the purpose of inpatient rehabilitation is to provide coordinated care that addresses the patient’s medical and functional needs while supporting progress toward individualized recovery goals.
Intensive Therapy Supported by Medical Oversight
Encompass Health hospitals provide patients with a minimum of three hours of intensive physical, occupational and/or speech therapy five days per week, alongside frequent physician visits and 24-hour nursing care.
This structure combines rehabilitation activity with ongoing medical supervision. The specific therapies provided depend on the patient’s condition, abilities, treatment plan and clinical requirements.
Physical therapy commonly focuses on movement, strength, balance, coordination and mobility. It can help patients practice functional movements and improve their ability to move safely.
Occupational therapy concentrates on activities associated with everyday living. These may include dressing, bathing, eating, household tasks and other activities required for greater independence. Therapists may also help patients identify adaptive strategies or equipment that can make daily tasks more manageable.
Speech-language therapy can address communication and other relevant functional challenges, depending on the patient’s needs. For some patients, this may involve working on speech, language comprehension or cognitive-communication abilities.
The therapies are coordinated with physician oversight and nursing care. Physicians monitor relevant medical issues and help guide treatment, while nurses provide continuous support and observe changes in the patient’s condition.
The interdisciplinary team develops customized treatment plans that reflect each patient’s recovery goals. As the patient progresses, the team can reassess those goals and adjust the treatment approach where needed.
Intensive rehabilitation can require sustained participation and considerable effort. The combination of specialized therapy and medical support is intended to help patients work toward functional improvement in a structured environment.
Personalized Care and the Path Toward Greater Independence
A central feature of inpatient rehabilitation is the development of treatment plans based on individual patient needs.
Two people recovering from the same type of injury may have different abilities, health histories, home environments and personal priorities. Their rehabilitation plans therefore may differ in the activities emphasized, the pace of progression and the goals established for discharge.
For one patient, the primary objective may be to regain the ability to walk safely with assistance. Another patient may need to improve balance, communication or the ability to perform personal care tasks.
Clinical teams assess these requirements and work with patients to establish goals that are relevant to their circumstances. Progress is monitored during treatment, allowing the team to identify improvements, address challenges and determine what additional support may be needed.
Preparing for discharge is another important part of rehabilitation. Depending on the patient’s needs, this may involve discussing follow-up services, equipment, home safety, caregiver support and continuing therapy after leaving the inpatient facility.
The transition from inpatient rehabilitation to home or another care setting requires consideration of the patient’s functional abilities and ongoing medical needs. Planning for that transition can help patients and families understand the support available and the next steps in recovery.
Although rehabilitation cannot guarantee a particular outcome, coordinated treatment can help patients work toward their personal goals and make progress within the limits of their condition.
Recognition Reflects the Importance of Inpatient Rehabilitation
Encompass Health’s recognition by Newsweek for the seventh consecutive year comes as its rehabilitation hospitals continue to provide specialized services for patients recovering from serious illnesses and injuries.
The inclusion of 78 hospitals across 32 states on the America’s Best Physical Rehabilitation Centers 2026 list represents a record for the company and exceeds the number of recognized hospitals reported by any other inpatient rehabilitation provider.
Newsweek’s evaluation incorporates federal quality metrics, professional recommendations, accreditation data and online patient reviews. Together, these measures provide multiple perspectives on rehabilitation facilities and their services.
For patients and families, choosing an inpatient rehabilitation provider involves considering clinical requirements, location, available services, care coordination and individual recovery goals. Rankings can serve as one source of information, but they should be considered alongside professional medical guidance and the specific needs of each patient.
Encompass Health’s clinical teams deliver intensive therapy, frequent physician oversight and round-the-clock nursing care to patients who need structured support during recovery. Through individualized treatment plans and multidisciplinary care, the organization aims to help patients regain function, improve independence and work toward the best possible outcomes.
As the company marks its seventh consecutive year of recognition, the latest ranking draws attention to the role inpatient rehabilitation plays in the recovery journey and to the clinicians who help patients navigate the challenges that can follow major medical events.
For Encompass Health, the record number of hospitals included in the 2026 ranking is a recognition of the work being carried out across its national network and the continuing importance of specialized rehabilitation services in helping patients move toward greater independence and quality of life.
Source link: https://www.encompasshealth.com/
