HealthSouth and Martin Memorial Health Systems Announce Plans to Build Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital in Martin County, Florida

STUART, Fla. and BIRMINGHAM, Ala., Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthSouth Corporation (NYSE: HLS) today announced that final certificate of need approval has been received from the state of Florida for a new comprehensive medical rehabilitation hospital in Martin County. The 34-bed hospital will be a partnership with Martin Memorial Health Systems and will provide comprehensive physical rehabilitation to patients who have experienced stroke, trauma, brain and orthopedic injuries or other major illness or injuries.

"This state-of-the-art hospital will provide a new and different type of service in Martin County which will further augment the already strong continuum of healthcare currently available to citizens in the area," said Linda Wilder, president of HealthSouth's southeast region. "We are delighted to partner with such a well-respected provider as Martin Memorial Health Systems in this initiative. Through the combined efforts of our organizations we will establish a high-quality rehabilitation hospital which will improve access to comprehensive medical rehabilitation services."

Construction on the 48,400-square-foot hospital is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2012. The freestanding hospital will be built on the Martin Memorial Hospital South campus and will include 34 all-private rooms, a spacious, on-site therapy gym and cutting-edge rehabilitation technologies. The development of the new rehabilitation hospital represents a significant investment in the community and is expected to generate approximately 80 new, full-time jobs.

With an estimated 27 percent of Martin County's population and nearly 20 percent of Port St. Lucie's population over the age of 65, residents will benefit from direct access to the services offered at a comprehensive medical rehabilitation hospital. Currently, there are no rehabilitation beds in Martin County, with the nearest facilities located in Palm Beach, St. Lucie and Indian River Counties. This lack of access creates a significant burden on patients and their families.

"Martin Memorial's partnership with HealthSouth will provide a tremendous benefit to residents of our community," said Mark E. Robitaille, president and chief executive officer of Martin Memorial. "Having the rehabilitation hospital on the same campus as Martin Memorial Hospital South will offer patients much-needed access to comprehensive healthcare services close to home."

HealthSouth currently operates nine inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Florida. Martin Memorial has been named a Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® winner six times.

"We have been privileged to serve patients in Florida for more than 25 years at our other locations throughout the state and look forward to providing HealthSouth's quality care closer to home for Martin County residents," said Wilder. "This new hospital will ensure that residents have reasonable and appropriate access to the latest rehabilitative treatment and technology in a hospital setting."

About Martin Memorial Health Systems

Martin Memorial Health Systems is a not-for-profit, community-based health care organization that has served the region for more than 70 years. It offers a continuum of care including preventive, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer and cardiac care, wellness and rehabilitation services. Its approximately 2,900 Associates, 375 affiliated physicians and 900 volunteers provide care at 12 different locations serving Martin and St. Lucie counties. Martin Memorial is a six-time winner of the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals Award, was named a Thomson Reuters 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals award winner in 2010, and received designation as a National Employer of Choice designee for 2009 and 2010-11. To learn more, visit mmhs.com.

About HealthSouth

HealthSouth is the nation's largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in terms of revenues, number of hospitals, and patients treated and discharged. Operating in 26 states across the country and in Puerto Rico, HealthSouth serves patients through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation satellite clinics and home health agencies. HealthSouth's hospitals provide a higher level of rehabilitative care to patients who are recovering from conditions such as stroke and other neurological disorders, orthopedic, cardiac and pulmonary conditions, brain and spinal cord injuries, and amputations. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at www.healthsouth.com.

Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts, such as those relating to the likelihood, timing and effects of the completion of this development project, are forward-looking statements. In addition, HealthSouth may from time to time make forward-looking public statements concerning the matters described herein. All such estimates, projections, and forward-looking information speak only as of the date hereof, and HealthSouth undertakes no duty to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Such forward-looking statements are necessarily estimates based upon current information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. HealthSouth's actual results or events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. While it is impossible to identify all such factors, factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated include, but are not limited to, any adverse outcome of various lawsuits, claims, and legal or regulatory proceedings that may be brought by or against the Company; the possibility that this project will experience unexpected delays; the risk of a significant adjustment to the cost of completion; changes in the regulation of the healthcare industry at either or both of the federal and state levels; competitive pressures in the healthcare industry and HealthSouth's response thereto; HealthSouth's ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe staffing shortages and the impact on HealthSouth's labor expenses from potential union activity and staffing shortages; changes, delays in (including in connection with resolution of Medicare payment reviews or appeals), or suspension of reimbursement for HealthSouth's services by governmental or private payors; general conditions in the economy and capital markets; and other factors which may be identified from time to time in HealthSouth's SEC filings and other public announcements, including HealthSouth's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2011 and June 30, 2011.

HEALTHSOUTH CONTACTS:
Media: Casey Lassiter, 205-969-6176 or 205-447-6410
Investor Relations: Mary Ann Arico, 205-969-6175

MARTIN MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS CONTACT:
Scott Samples, 772-223-4920

SOURCE HealthSouth Corporation