Tom Laughlin named CEO of future Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of St. Augustine
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., Sept. 16, 2021 – Tom Laughlin has been named CEO of the future Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of St. Augustine. The 40-bed hospital, which is under construction at 65 Silver Lane, is expected to begin caring for patients in February 2022.
Laughlin, who assumed the position on Aug. 30, 2021, will be responsible for overseeing the future hospital’s day-to-day operations as well as patient care and quality. The hospital will provide 24-hour nursing care and physical, occupational and speech therapies to patients recovering from major illnesses and injuries including stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, amputation and complex orthopedic conditions.
“Tom’s extensive healthcare leadership experience, including several years serving as CEO of another Encompass Health hospital, makes him a perfect fit to lead our new hospital in St. Augustine,” said Linda Wilder, Encompass Health’s South Atlantic Regional President. “I am confident in Tom’s vision for the hospital and look forward to opening this new hospital to help patients heal and find hope again through rehabilitative services customized for their needs and goals.”
For the past two years, Laughlin has served as CEO of Wesley Rehabilitation Hospital, an affiliate of Encompass Health and joint venture partnership with Wesley Medical Center. In this role, he was responsible for operations of the 65-bed hospital and establishing relationships with local community organizations. Under Laughlin’s leadership during the pandemic, the team at Wesley Rehabilitation Hospital continued to maintain strong patient outcomes while also achieving some of the highest patient satisfaction scores in the company. During his time at Wesley Rehabilitation Hospital, he reinstated the Inclusion and Diversity Council at the hospital. Prior to joining Encompass Health, Laughlin served in leadership roles at Olathe Health System, Incorporated; Cerner Corporation; and Providence Health.
A licensed physical therapist with 20 years of leadership experience, Laughlin completed his bachelor’s degree at Kansas State University and his master’s degree in physical therapy at Kansas University Medical Center. Laughlin has recently served as director of the Royal Family Kids Club, a mentoring club for abused and abandoned youth, and co-leader of the Kansas City Area Rehab Managers.
About Encompass Health
As a national leader in integrated healthcare services, Encompass Health (NYSE: EHC) offers both facility‑based and home‑based patient care through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health agencies and hospice agencies. With a national footprint that includes 144 hospitals, 249 home health locations, and 94 hospice locations in 42 states and Puerto Rico, the Company provides high‑quality, cost-effective integrated healthcare. Encompass Health is ranked as one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. For more information, visit encompasshealth.com, or follow us on our newsroom, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.