Mesquite, Texas – September 21, 2026 -- Ernest Health has secured development sites in six North Carolina markets for freestanding inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, marking Phase 1 of a statewide expansion program. The company controls parcels in Winston-Salem, Mooresville, Gastonia, Hickory, South Asheville/Arden and Goldsboro through development partner Summit Healthcare Group.
Six sites move from announcement to construction-ready status
Summit Healthcare Group, a Winston-Salem-based healthcare real estate firm founded in 2008 with more than 750,000 square feet of ground-up healthcare delivery experience, now holds control of all six parcels. The sites span the Piedmont Triad, the Lake Norman and Gaston County submarkets of Charlotte, the Catawba Valley, Western North Carolina and Eastern North Carolina. Each location was chosen for proximity to acute care referral sources, transportation access and local older-adult population density.
Hospitals will treat stroke, spinal cord and complex orthopedic patients
Each facility will provide 24-hour nursing alongside physical, occupational and speech therapy for patients recovering from strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. Planned amenities include all-private patient suites, a therapy gym, 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.
Ernest Health CEO says capital and leadership are already committed
"Sites are secured, our development partner is engaged and Phase 1 is underway," said Jake Socha, CEO of Ernest Health. Robin Saxon, Chief Strategy and Development Officer, said the six markets were selected through analysis of access gaps, referral patterns and population need, and that the company waited until it controlled the ground before announcing the program.
Additional North Carolina markets are under evaluation for future phases
Ernest Health currently owns and operates 45 medical rehabilitation hospitals across 14 states. Bed counts, opening timelines and local clinical partnerships for each of the six Phase 1 hospitals will be disclosed as the projects advance through planning, permitting and regulatory review.