Core Insights - The Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Myers aims to provide essential rehabilitative services for patients recovering from various conditions, including strokes and spinal cord injuries, with a focus on regaining function and independence [1] - The hospital features advanced rehabilitation technologies and a comprehensive care approach, including physical, occupational, and speech therapies [2][3] - Encompass Health operates the hospital as part of its extensive network, which includes 168 inpatient rehabilitation hospitals across the United States [4] Company Overview - Encompass Health is the largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the U.S., with a presence in 38 states and Puerto Rico [4] - The company is recognized for its high-quality rehabilitative care and has received accolades from Fortune and Forbes for its workplace environment and trustworthiness [4] Partnership and Community Impact - The partnership between Encompass Health and Lee Health aims to enhance access to high-quality rehabilitative care in the Fort Myers community [3] - Lee Health has a long-standing history in Southwest Florida, evolving to meet community health needs since 1916 [6]

Industry Overview - The U.S. healthcare sector is facing challenges due to technological innovation, policy shifts, financial pressures, and changing consumer expectations [1] - The sector has underperformed compared to the S&P 500, growing only 2.5% in 2024 versus the benchmark's 23.3% increase [2] - Total U.S. healthcare spending has increased from $1.4 trillion in 2000 to $4.9 trillion in 2023, despite the healthcare sector's weighting in the S&P 500 dropping to a 25-year low of about 10% [3] Growth Drivers - An aging population and rising health issues like obesity and diabetes are contributing to sector growth [4] - Key areas such as telehealth, surgery, data analytics, and biotechnology are experiencing significant advancements [3] - The integration of AI in medical research is expected to drive long-term changes in the sector [5] Investment Opportunities - Stocks like Bioventus Inc. (BVS), Amicus Therapeutics, Inc. (FOLD), Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (RIGL), and The Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG) are identified as having potential for growth [2] - Bioventus has an expected earnings growth rate of 34.7% for the current year, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate improvement of 43.5% [7] - Amicus Therapeutics shows an expected earnings growth rate of 116.7%, with a 20.9% improvement in earnings estimates [8] - Rigel Pharmaceuticals has an expected earnings growth rate of 20.2%, with a 13.3% improvement in earnings estimates [9] - Ensign Group has an expected earnings growth rate of 13.5%, with a 1.5% improvement in earnings estimates [10]