OCALA, Fla., April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- HealthSouth Corporation (NYSE: HLS) today announced that it has received permission from the state to proceed with building a comprehensive physical rehabilitation hospital in Ocala, Fla. The 40-bed hospital 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 which will further augment the already strong continuum of healthcare services provided in Ocala/Marion County," said Linda Wilder, president of HealthSouth's Southeast region. "We look forward to working with other providers in the community to integrate this new service in Marion County."

Construction on the 49,900-square foot hospital is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2011. The proposed comprehensive physical rehabilitation hospital will include 40 all-private rooms, a spacious, on-site therapy gym and cutting-edge rehabilitation technologies. The development of Ocala Rehabilitation Hospital of Marion County, LLC represents a $21 million investment in the community and, once fully operational, is expected to generate approximately 112 new, full-time jobs.

With 81,000 residents over the age of 65, Marion County is the largest county in Florida that currently doesn't have access to inpatient rehabilitation—a number that is expected to grow at a rate of 18 percent, faster than any other county in Florida. There is limited access to inpatient rehabilitative services in the area.

"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 offering high-quality services closer to home for Marion County residents," said Wilder. "Currently, Marion County residents have very limited access to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital requiring patients and their families to travel to Gainesville or Spring Hill. This new hospital will ensure that residents have appropriate and reasonable access to the latest rehabilitative treatment and technology in a hospital setting."

HealthSouth currently operates nine inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and one long-term acute care hospital (LTCH) in Florida.

About HealthSouth

HealthSouth is the nation's largest provider of inpatient rehabilitative healthcare services. Operating in 26 states across the country and in Puerto Rico, HealthSouth serves patients through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, long-term acute care 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 injury, and amputations. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at www.healthsouth.com.

Statements contained in this press release which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. In addition, HealthSouth, through its senior management, 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. Actual results may differ materially from the results 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 to differ materially from those estimated by HealthSouth include, but are not limited to, any adverse outcome of various lawsuits, claims, and legal or regulatory proceedings that may be brought against it; significant changes in HealthSouth's management team; HealthSouth's ability to attract and retain nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals in a highly competitive environment with often severe 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; 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; general conditions in the local or national 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 10K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Media Contact
Casey Lassiter, 205-969-6176

Investor Relations Contact
Mary Ann Arico, 205-969-6175
maryann.arico@healthsouth.com

SOURCE HealthSouth Corporation