How Encompass Health Is Using Prefabrication to Expand Rehabilitation Care Across America

Encompass Health is the nation’s largest rehabilitation hospital provider. It builds about six to ten hospitals each year. Each new facility requires approximately 150 employees before opening.

Why the company uses prefabrication

At Advancing Prefab 2026, Offsite Dirt Network spoke with Thomas Boyle of Encompass Health about healthcare construction, standardization, and continuous improvement.

The company uses prefabrication to reduce project timelines, improve schedule certainty, and expand access to rehabilitation care.

Growing demand for rehabilitation care

Standardized building components

Encompass Health has standardized repeatable parts of its facilities instead of redesigning them for every project.

Why speed matters

Delayed openings mean patients wait longer for care. Prefabrication allows components to be manufactured before they arrive onsite, which reduces construction risk and can help facilities open faster.

Kit-of-parts construction

The article describes growing interest in “kit-of-parts” construction. This approach uses standardized components that can be scaled across multiple projects. It supports efficiency, consistency, and faster delivery.

Market conditions

Continuous improvement

Boyle said culture is a major driver of success at Encompass Health. Teams evaluate design decisions, construction sequencing, partnerships, and operations to find improvements.

Frequently asked questions

What is Encompass Health?

It is the nation’s largest rehabilitation hospital provider.

Why is prefabrication valuable in healthcare construction?

It improves schedule certainty, reduces timelines, standardizes components, and helps accelerate delivery while maintaining quality.

What is kit-of-parts construction?

It uses repeatable building components across multiple projects.