Construction continues on the new Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Cape Coral located at the corner of Pine Island Road and Pondella Road. A May opening is planned. CHRIS STRINE

Cape Coral will soon be the new home of a 40-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital.

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Cape Coral is currently under construction and slated to open in May 2022 at 1730 N.E. Pine Island Road, at the intersection of Pondella Road.

The new facility will provide services for patients recovering from things like brain injuries and strokes.

There will be a gym, courtyard, dialysis suite, game room, dining room, in-house pharmacy and more.

“Our goal is to get them back to walking again, talking again and caring for themselves,” said CEO for Encompass Health Cape Coral, Michelle Fitzgerald. “The one-story design helps patients get around better and the free-standing hospital allows for more convenient access.”

Cape Coral was selected after market research determined the city was an underserved area for these types of services.

“The typical patient population is over 65,” Fitzgerald said. “Cape Coral has a reputation as a growing retirement community and it’s important for patients to receive care in the places they live.”

Encompass Health 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.

Encompass Health has 145 hospitals in the country, 249 home health locations and 95 hospice locations in 42 states and Puerto Rico.

Fitzgerald most recently served as CEO at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. In this role, she led efforts to consistently exceed key clinical outcomes, reduce staff turnover, increase employee engagement and she served as the COVID-19 incident commander.

“Michelle is a highly accomplished leader with extensive experience in acute care, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, physician office and ambulatory clinic settings, and we are honored she has accepted the role as CEO of the future Encompass Health hospital in Cape Coral,” said Lori Bedard, president of Encompass Health’s Southeast region. “She has excelled in numerous leadership roles in a rapidly changing healthcare environment with a focus on patient care and outcomes, compliance, financial integrity and innovation. She has a proven ability with enhancing team performance and productivity, and I am confident in Michelle’s vision for the hospital.”

Fitzgerald said she is most looking forward to helping provide Cape Coral residents with the care they need, collaborating with local health care providers and getting involved in the community to help promote health, wellness and patient advocacy.