LAKELAND, Fla., Jan. 5, 2022 – Sharon Hayes has been named CEO of the future Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Lakeland. The 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital, which is under construction at 1201 Oakbridge Parkway, is expected to begin caring for patients in March 2022.

Hayes, who assumed the position on Nov. 18, 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.

“Sharon’s extensive experience in various healthcare leadership roles makes her a perfect fit to lead our new Encompass Health hospital in Lakeland,” said Lori Bedard, president of Encompass Health’s Southeast region. “I am confident in Sharon’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.”

Hayes most recently served as CEO at several Community Health Systems (CHS) hospitals, including Bayfront Health in both Brooksville and Spring Hill, Florida, and Bayfront Health Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Florida. At Bayfront Health Medical Center, she led efforts to expand the cardiac and neurology programs at the 290-bed Level II trauma facility, as well as successfully led the hospital through a cultural transformation resulting in improvement of all quality and outcome indicators, including patient satisfaction scores. Earlier in her career she served as CEO at multiple HCA-operated hospitals from 2012 to 2019, and in multiple leadership roles at CJW Medical Center, a two-campus facility which is part of HCA, for seven years. She previously served as chief nursing officer and administrator at Jack Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where she directed all aspects of clinical services at the 460-bed tertiary care facility with Level II Adult and Pediatric Trauma programs.

A registered nurse more than 20 years of acute care leadership experience, Hayes completed her bachelor’s degree in nursing at University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her master’s degree in business administration at Florida Atlantic University.

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 145 hospitals, 249 home health locations, and 95 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.