Ernest Health Announces Six-Hospital Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Expansion Across North Carolina

MESQUITE, Texas, Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- 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

SOURCE Ernest Health, Inc.