Ernest Health acquires Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals, expanding national network. MESQUITE, TEXAS - Ernest Health, a national leader in post-acute rehabilitation, recently signed a definitive agreement to acquire Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals. Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals is a network of seven medical rehabilitation hospitals located in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, and Florida. Upon completion of the transaction, Ernest Health will expand its footprint from 38 to 45 medical rehabilitation hospitals across the United States. The hospitals provide specialized rehabilitative care to patients experiencing disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses, or chronic medical conditions. "The acquisition reinforces Ernest Health's commitment to advancing post-acute rehabilitative care through innovation, quality, and compassion," says Jake Socha, President and CEO of Ernest Health. "Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals' mission and culture align with ours at Ernest Health, as we continue to deliver exceptional outcomes, maintain clinical and operational consistency, and preserve our culture of accountability and performance." Socha says the transition of Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals to Ernest Health will occur seamlessly over the coming months, with no disruption to operations or services. Reunion employees will have the opportunity to remain with their current facilities and transition to the Ernest Health organization. As the Reunion hospitals join Ernest Health, they will continue operating through a locally led hospital model, similar to Ernest Health's current approach. This model allows hospitals to respond efficiently and effectively to the specific needs of the communities they serve, while sharing knowledge, protocols, and innovations across the organization. "Together, we are building a stronger, more innovative organization," Socha says. "We remain focused on delivering exceptional patient care and outcomes, while positioning ourselves for long-term sustainability and growth. Joining with an organization the caliber of Reunion Rehabilitation Hospitals is a win-win for the communities we serve. We're excited to welcome the Reunion team to Ernest Health and remain passionate about making a positive impact on our patients' lives."

Joy Miller promoted to Chief Clinical Officer at Ernest Health. MESQUITE, Texas - Today Ernest Health announced the promotion of Joy Miller to Chief Clinical Officer, recognizing her 30+ years of clinical leadership and her lasting impact on patient care, nursing excellence, and leadership development across the organization. "Joy has been a cornerstone of our clinical and leadership teams for nearly two decades," said Jake Socha, CEO and President of Ernest Health. "Her vision, expertise, and dedication to nurse development have strengthened every aspect of our patient care and set the standard for excellence across our hospitals." Miller, who has 32 years of experience as a registered nurse, began her career in 1991 and spent her early years in critical care before advancing quickly into leadership roles. In 1995, she became a Clinical Chief Nursing Officer for a full-service community hospital. Miller transitioned to the post-acute sector in the late 1990s. Her experience includes nursing administration leadership roles in clinical settings, including corporate oversight and consulting. Throughout her career, she has maintained her certification in rehabilitation nursing, demonstrating her commitment to specialized, high-quality patient care. Miller entered the inpatient rehabilitation space in 1998 as Chief Nursing Officer at a rehabilitation hospital in Texarkana and later served as National Director of Nursing for a major healthcare organization. She was the first nurse hired at Ernest Health in 2004, helping establish the organization's clinical standards and culture. After a brief time away, she returned in 2018, serving in several roles, last of which was EVP of Nursing Operations, before assuming her new role as Chief Clinical Officer. At Ernest Health, Miller has focused on advancing clinical excellence and building a strong pipeline of nursing leadership. Guided by the organization's core principles, she has promoted the next generation of leaders, fostered retention, and implemented best practices that consistently achieve nationally recognized patient outcomes. Her initiatives include expanding Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) certification among staff and leaders, expanding care capabilities for higher-acuity patients, and developing clinical pathways for the Transitional Outcomes Program to support patients' post-discharge. Reflecting on her work, Miller said, "Ernest Health's Guiding Principles align with my personal leadership philosophy in creating strong teamwork and commitment to patient outcomes. This is the force that fuels my work life." Miller earned her nursing degree from Northwest College in Senatobia, Mississippi, and completed additional coursework at Texas A&M University-Texarkana and Chamberlain University in Illinois. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her five children, four grandchildren, two dogs, and four horses, as well as hiking Arkansas state park trails. Ernest Health is thrilled that Joy will be stepping into this role and invites everyone to join Ernest Health, Inc. in congratulating her on this well-deserved promotion.

Lynn Fleming promoted to Chief Operating Officer at Ernest Health. MESQUITE, Texas - Today Ernest Health announced the promotion of Lynn Fleming, MS, CCC-SLP, to Chief Operating Officer, recognizing her 30+ years of leadership and dedication to advancing high-quality patient care and operational excellence across the organization. Fleming, who most recently served as Chief Clinical Officer, has played a pivotal role in shaping Ernest Health's clinical strategy, patient outcomes, and workforce development initiatives nationwide. In her new role as Chief Operating Officer, she will oversee operational strategy and performance across Ernest Health's network of specialty hospitals, supporting the organization's continued growth and commitment to deliver exceptional rehabilitative care. "Lynn has been instrumental in shaping the clinical excellence and culture that defines Ernest Health today," said Jake Socha, President of Ernest Health. "Her dedication to our patients, hospitals, and people has made a lasting impact across the organization. I'm excited to see her bring that same leadership and vision to her new role as Chief Operating Officer." Fleming began her career as a speech-language pathologist and has built a distinguished career in healthcare leadership, serving in both regional and national roles. She earned a Bachelor in Communication Disorders from the University of Memphis Lambuth in Jackson, Tennessee, and a Master's in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi. Prior to joining Ernest Health, Fleming served as Regional Vice President at HealthSouth for seven years, where she gained extensive experience in rehabilitation services and hospital operations. A founding leader of Ernest Health since its establishment in 2004, Fleming has held several key executive roles, including Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations and Chief Clinical Officer. During her tenure, she oversaw clinical and case management services for more than 6,000 employees nationwide and played a key role in the organization's expansion, helping open 28 freestanding rehabilitation hospitals and supporting three strategic acquisitions. Fleming has also championed programs designed to strengthen clinical leadership and employee development across the organization, including the Clinical Career Ladder, Nursing Preceptor Program, and Neuro-IFRAH training. These initiatives have contributed to Ernest Health maintaining one of the strongest employee retention rates in the rehabilitation industry. Her leadership has also helped drive strong clinical outcomes across the organization. Since 2006, Ernest Health's inpatient rehabilitation hospitals have consistently participated in the UDS PEM Top Performer Program, which recognizes the top 10% of rehabilitation hospitals nationwide for quality outcomes. In 2025, 22 Ernest Health inpatient rehabilitation hospitals received the Top Performer designation, with eight ranking in the top 5% nationally. Many of these hospitals have earned this recognition every year since opening. Additionally, Newsweek named 15 Ernest Health inpatient rehabilitation facilities among the "2025 Best Rehabilitation Hospitals." "I'm dedicated to helping our hospitals achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients through high-quality clinical care," Fleming said. "In addition to patient-centered programming, my passion is mentoring and developing our leaders across Ernest Health." Please help Ernest Health, Inc. congratulate Lynn on her tremendous contributions to Ernest Health, its hospitals, and its people as she begins this important new leadership role.