Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo names new CEO

A Largo-based inpatient rehabilitation hospital has found its new CEO, according to a Thursday announcement.

Nolan Willoughby, 32, has been appointed to the chief executive officer role at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo after serving as interim CEO, according to a release. Willoughby joined the 70-bed inpatient hospital in 2022, when he was hired as the hospital’s controller. He then quickly moved into the associate administrator role before taking on the top position.

“Nolan is the right person to serve as Encompass Health Largo’s CEO,” Lori Bedard, president of Encompass Health’s Southeast region, says in the release. “He is a visionary leader and a strong communicator. With his insight and experience, the hospital will continue advancing patient care.”

Willoughby brings nine years of experience in hospital operations and finance to the CEO role, with special expertise in accounting and budget management, building key relationships with stakeholders and leading process improvement, the release says. 

Before joining Encompass Health, Willoughby previously worked as controller of Memorial Hospital of Tampa and Tampa Community Hospital, according to his LinkedIn page. He spent two years at LifePoint health as a market senior accountant and controller and also worked as a staff accountant for Welch & Company, a Kentucky-based CPA firm. 

Willoughby earned a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Morehead State University, the release says. 

“I am proud to be part of the Encompass Health Largo team,” Willoughby says in the release. “The work we do every day for our patients makes a lasting impact. I am committed to building on the strong reputation we have for delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.”

The Largo hospital, located at 901 Clearwater Largo Road North, is one of Encompass Health’s longest-standing hospitals, opened to patients in 1989. The Encompass Health corporation is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama and has grown to become one of the largest owner and operators of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the U.S., with a national footprint that includes 174 hospitals in 39 states and Puerto Rico.

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo is a Joint Commission-accredited inpatient facility offering intensive therapy for recovery from stroke, neurological disorders, orthopedic issues and brain injuries, according to its website. The hospital provides 24/7 nursing care, specialized therapies and physician oversight aimed at improving patient independence.