Press releases. Ernest Health Announces Six-Hospital Inpatient Rehabilitation facility Expansion Across North Carolina. 22 September 2026 Ernest Health, a national owner and operator of freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, today announced Phase 1 of its North Carolina development program: six freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Winston-Salem, Mooresville, Gastonia, Hickory, South Asheville/Arden and Goldsboro. Sites have been secured in all six markets and are under the control of the program's development partner. The hospitals are being developed in partnership with Summit Healthcare Group, a Winston-Salem-based healthcare real estate development firm founded in 2008 that has delivered more than 750,000 square feet of ground-up healthcare projects. Site control is in place across all six markets. Specific parcels have been identified, secured and placed under the control of Summit Healthcare Group, spanning the Piedmont Triad, the Lake Norman and Gaston County submarkets of the Charlotte region, the Catawba Valley, Western North Carolina and Eastern North Carolina. Each site was selected for its proximity to acute care referral sources, access to major transportation corridors and the size of its older adult population. Each hospital will serve patients recovering from debilitating illnesses and injuries, including strokes and other neurological disorders, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. In addition to 24-hour nursing care, each hospital will offer physical, occupational and speech therapies designed to help patients restore function and improve their quality of life. Care will be provided by specialized nurses, therapists and physicians. The hospitals are designed around a hospitality-first philosophy that pairs advanced clinical care with the comfort and refinement of a boutique hotel. Spacious, all-private patient suites feature residential-style finishes, generous natural light and room for family members to stay close, creating a calm, restorative environment where patients can rest, recover and heal with dignity. Beyond the patient suites, each hospital will offer a spacious therapy gym with advanced rehabilitation technologies, an activity of daily living suite, an in-house dialysis suite, a restaurant-style dining room, an on-site pharmacy and a landscaped therapy courtyard. Every space is intended to make the path to recovery feel less like a hospital stay and more like a return to home. "North Carolina is a priority state for Ernest Health, and we are moving decisively," said Jake Socha, CEO of Ernest Health. "Sites are secured, our development partner is engaged and Phase 1 is underway. Our intention is to build the leading rehabilitation network in this state, and we have committed the capital, leadership and clinical expertise to do it. As we have for more than 20 years, our focus remains on bringing world-class care and outcomes to every North Carolina market we enter." "Each of these six markets was selected through rigorous analysis of access gaps, referral patterns and population need," said Robin Saxon, Chief Strategy and Development Officer of Ernest Health. "We did not announce these markets until we controlled the ground. With every site secured and a proven North Carolina development partner in place, we move from announcement to construction without delay. Phase 1 establishes our footprint in this state. It does not define the limit of our commitment to it." Additional markets are under evaluation for subsequent phases. Bed counts, opening timelines and local clinical partnerships for each Phase 1 hospital will be announced as projects advance through planning, permitting and regulatory review. About Ernest Health Ernest Health owns and operates 45 medical rehabilitation hospitals in 14 states, providing specialized rehabilitative care for patients recovering from disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses or chronic medical conditions. Its hospitals are managed locally to meet the needs of the communities they serve while sharing clinical knowledge, resources and best practices across the organization. For more information, visit ernesthealth.com About Summit Healthcare Group Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Summit Healthcare Group is a full-service healthcare real estate development company specializing in acute care hospitals, medical office buildings, ambulatory surgery centers and primary care facilities. For more information, visit summithg.com See news story here: Ernest Health Announces Six-Hospital Inpatient Rehabilitation Expansion Across North Carolina - ernesthealth.com

Ernest Health has announced plans to build six inpatient rehabilitation hospitals across North Carolina, with sites secured in Winston-Salem, Mooresville, Gastonia, Hickory, South Asheville/Arden and Goldsboro. The company has partnered with Winston-Salem–based Summit Healthcare Group for the development. Each hospital will serve patients recovering from strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopaedic conditions. The facilities will feature private patient suites, therapy gyms, dining rooms and therapy courtyards. Ernest Health currently owns and operates 45 medical rehabilitation hospitals across 14 states. The company said additional North Carolina markets are under evaluation for future phases, with bed counts and opening timelines to be announced as projects advance through planning and regulatory review.

Ernest Health breaks ground on new hospital in Broomfield, Colorado. Ernest Health today broke ground on a new 56-bed medical rehabilitation hospital in Broomfield, Colo. The hospital will be the second location of Denver Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, which operates in Thornton, Colo. The new facility will be Ernest Health's sixth hospital in the state. Denver Regional Rehabilitation Hospital of Broomfield will provide specialized care to patients who have experienced disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses, or chronic medical conditions, including strokes, brain injuries, spinal injuries, neurological disorders, orthopedic conditions, amputations, and more. "This is an exciting milestone as we expand Ernest Health's ability to reach more Coloradans with high-quality rehabilitation," says Jake Socha, President and CEO of Ernest Health. "Broomfield and surrounding communities are growing, and with that growth comes a greater need for specialized post-acute care. We're proud to continue our investment in Colorado to bring high-quality inpatient rehabilitation closer to home for many patients and families." The new facility will include more than 53,000 square feet on 7.2 acres of land. It will include all private patient rooms, a therapy gym equipped with the latest rehabilitative technology and equipment, a therapeutic courtyard, and an activities of daily living suite that allows patients to practice daily, at-home activities while under the supervision of a healthcare professional. Services provided at Denver Regional Rehabilitation Hospital of Broomfield will be led by a physician and delivered by an interdisciplinary healthcare team. They include: * Around-the-clock rehabilitative nursing care * Physical, occupational, and speech therapies * Respiratory therapy * Dietary services * Case management * Pharmacy services * Social work services, and more "Many patients from Broomfield and the surrounding areas currently have to travel farther from home to receive specialized inpatient rehabilitation," says Christine Duron, CEO of Denver Regional Rehabilitation Hospital. "Having this level of care available in their own community will make a meaningful difference for patients and their families. It will reduce many of the emotional and financial burdens that come with traveling for care, while allowing families to stay close to their loved ones throughout their rehabilitation journeys." The new hospital is expected to treat more than 1,000 patients each year and employ about 175 staff members once it is fully operational. "Ernest Health's new facility in Broomfield represents a significant long-term investment, generating 175 jobs for skilled professionals as well as a boost to our economy. At the same time, this high-quality facility strengthens Broomfield's reputation as a premier destination for healthcare and provides residents with a closer option for care and rehabilitation," said Broomfield's Mayor Guyleen Castriotta. Denver Regional Rehabilitation Hospital of Broomfield is expected to open in 2027.