Lori Bedard, Regional President Southeast Region, Encompass Health

In an interview with Invest:, Lori Bedard, regional president of Encompass Health Southeast Region, highlighted the expansion of rehabilitation services in Florida, including five new hospitals planned, and the use of predictive analytics to enhance patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

What led to Encompass Health being named one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2024, especially in relation to its Tampa Bay operations?

For us, our employees are really at the heart of what we do. If you’re familiar with inpatient rehab, you’ll know it’s an intensive, labor-driven business that provides life-changing rehabilitation services for people with new disabilities. Our work is demanding and profoundly impactful because our patients face significant challenges in regaining day-to-day functionality.

What sets us apart is the exceptional care and dedication of our team. Having the right people is essential — not only for our success, but also to create a supportive environment for our employees. Taking care of patients experiencing transformative life events can be both challenging and stressful.

That’s why we focus so much on ensuring our employees feel valued and heard within the organization. We prioritize employee engagement, work hard to reduce turnover, and foster an environment where healthcare professionals feel supported. Given the national shortage of nurses and therapists, it’s critical to provide a strong, responsive working environment. For us, caring for our employees is just as vital as caring for our patients.

How is Encompass Health preparing to meet the future demands for healthcare professionals?

Our workforce needs are expanding rapidly. In Florida alone, we currently have 21 hospitals, with 16 in our region, and we’re opening five more next year. Thankfully, our centralized recruitment team plays a crucial role in helping us fill positions, which has been a tremendous asset, particularly in the aftermath of the pandemic when healthcare staffing became exceptionally challenging.

Tampa, specifically, has been one of our better markets for recruitment. It’s a highly desirable location for clinicians, so we face fewer challenges here compared to other areas. That said, attracting and retaining healthcare professionals remains a priority.

One of our key strengths is providing growth opportunities for employees. With our expansion, staff members have the chance to advance their careers within the organization. I started with the company 27 years ago as a physical therapist and have been given tremendous opportunities to grow professionally.  We want to make those same opportunities available to our talented staff.

We offer a range of development programs to help them in their career progression. We have initiatives to prepare employees for leadership roles, such as CEO development programs, as well as career ladders for clinicians to advance within their fields. These programs not only support individual career aspirations, but also strengthen our workforce to meet the evolving demands of healthcare.

How will Encompass Health’s new facilities improve rehabilitation services in the Tampa Bay area?

In Florida, several years ago, the state eliminated the certificate of need process, which previously required healthcare organizations to undergo a rigorous approval process to build new hospitals. Removing that barrier has fueled significant healthcare growth across the state, including in the Tampa Bay region.

Previously, the certificate of need process limited the availability of hospital beds, but with that restriction gone, we’ve seen tremendous development in healthcare in the state of Florida. Over the past four years, our region has opened six new hospitals, with another five set to open next year. Wesley Chapel and St. Petersburg are part of that expansion, and both projects are positioned to address the increasing demand for rehabilitation services.

Florida is home to the second-largest over-65 population in the country, which is a key demographic for our patient base. As the aging baby boomer generation continues to grow, the need for specialized healthcare services like inpatient rehabilitation intensifies. These new facilities will allow us to serve more patients effectively while supporting the region’s expanding healthcare demands.

What are some key partnerships your organization has with local businesses, educational institutions, or government entities?

In the post-acute sector, our primary focus is maintaining strong relationships with acute care hospitals, as they are the primary source of patient referrals. These partnerships are critical, particularly as acute care hospitals face increasing pressure to treat patients efficiently. We work closely with them to ensure seamless transitions for patients from acute care to rehabilitation, freeing up hospital beds for other patients.

In some markets, we have formalized joint venture partnerships with health systems, such as Lee Health in Fort Myers, Naples Community Health in Naples, Health First in Melbourne, and Cleveland Clinic in Stuart. While we don’t have similar partnerships in Tampa Bay, we collaborate extensively with acute care hospitals here to provide high-quality post-acute care. These relationships are key to ensuring that patients receive the comprehensive, timely care they need while supporting the broader healthcare ecosystem.

How is Encompass Health incorporating innovation to improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency?

Technology plays a pivotal role in our operations. We’ve partnered with Cerner to develop an electronic medical record (EMR) system tailored to our needs. This system has enabled us to leverage data from thousands of patients to create predictive analytics tools that enhance care delivery.

For example, we use predictive analytics to identify patients at risk of readmission to the acute care hospital during their stay or after discharge. By pinpointing specific factors linked to readmissions, we can proactively address them. Our React program is designed to reduce hospital readmissions by alerting staff and physicians to reassess at-risk patients and address changes in condition.

Similarly, we’ve implemented predictive analytics for falls, identifying high-risk patients and implementing targeted interventions to prevent falls. These tools have led to significant reductions in acute care transfers and patient falls, directly improving outcomes.

How is Encompass Health working to mitigate costs for patients while maintaining high-quality care?

Our cost per discharge is well below the industry average, thanks to our scale and operational efficiencies. As the largest provider of inpatient rehabilitation, we benefit from economies of scale in purchasing and distribution, which helps reduce costs.

Labor, the largest cost in healthcare, has been particularly challenging for many organizations. However, our effective recruitment and retention strategies have allowed us to avoid relying on costly contract labor since early this year.

Retaining staff is a key part of our cost management strategy. By fostering a supportive work environment and offering meaningful career opportunities, we ensure our employees are engaged and committed. The nature of our work — helping patients recover and regain their independence — is deeply rewarding and plays a significant role in retaining our workforce.

Ultimately, our ability to control costs while delivering exceptional patient care is rooted in our focus on innovation, operational efficiency, and employee satisfaction.

What changes do you foresee for the rehabilitation industry in Tampa Bay in the next two to three years, and how will Encompass Health contribute to its growth?

The rehabilitation industry in Tampa Bay and across Florida is poised for significant growth due to the state’s demographic trends. By 2030, nearly 24% of Florida’s population is projected to be over the age of 65. This shift, coupled with the aging baby boomer generation, will continue to drive demand for high-quality healthcare services, including rehabilitation.

For Encompass Health, that means assessing markets continuously to identify areas where additional rehabilitation beds are needed. We are dedicated to ensuring patients can access the best care close to home, which is crucial for family involvement in the recovery process. Families play a vital role in advocating for patients and supporting their ongoing recovery needs once they leave the hospital.

Our double-digit growth over the last four years reflects this demand. However, navigating the healthcare system can be challenging, and patients often need guidance to understand the differences between care settings. Not all facilities that label themselves as “rehab” meet the rigorous standards of a licensed rehabilitation hospital like ours. That’s why education is a key focus for us. We have dedicated teams that engage directly with patients and families to help them make informed decisions about their care.

Additionally, we aim to be well-positioned in the market to reach those who need us. With plans to expand in Wesley Chapel and St. Petersburg, we’re strategically growing to serve more communities. At the heart of it all, our mission remains the same: to provide accessible, high-quality rehabilitation care that empowers patients to regain their independence and quality of life.

Ultimately, our vision is to lead the way in setting a gold standard for rehabilitation, ensuring every patient in Florida has access to the care they need.