MUSCLE SHOALS, Ala., – The Alabama State Health Planning and Development Agency’s Certificate of Need (CON) Review Board has approved North Alabama Shoals Hospital’s application to add seven (7) additional private inpatient rehabilitation beds to the J.W. Sommer Rehabilitation Unit. Combined with two previously provisioned beds not yet in operation pending this process, the expansion will result in nine (9) new private beds—increasing total bed capacity from 32 to 41 to better serve patients across Northwest Alabama and the Tennessee Valley.

“We are extremely pleased with the SHPDA CON Review Board’s approval, which affirms the Administrative Law Judge’s recommended order following more than a year of advocacy, evidence-based testimony, and a contested case hearing,” said Braxton Holloway, Chief Operating Officer of North Alabama Shoals Hospital. “This expansion will have a meaningful impact for patients and families in the Shoals who deserve access to exceptional inpatient rehabilitation close to home. We were intentional in our planning to ensure construction will not disrupt patient care operations, and the rehabilitation unit will remain fully functional throughout the project.”

The project represents an investment of just over $4.4 million and includes a secondary expansion unit designed to meet growing clinical demands for intensive rehabilitation following stroke, trauma, neurological illness, and complex conditions. Pre-construction planning has already been underway, awaiting final bed approval, and the hospital expects to move forward with construction in 2026.

“This decision reflects our commitment to investing in high-quality specialty services that strengthen our region’s healthcare system. We are proud of the teams who have advocated for this project and grateful for community support throughout the CON process,” said Mike Howard, Market President & CEO for North Alabama Shoals Hospital and North Alabama Medical Center.

Founded in 2003, the J.W. Sommer Rehabilitation Unit is the area’s only acute inpatient rehabilitation unit, offering 24-hour nursing care, advanced therapy services, and daily physician oversight in a hospital environment. The unit is a vital resource for patients recovering from:

· Stroke

· Traumatic brain or spinal cord injury

· Orthopedic trauma and hip fracture

· Neurological disorders

· Amputation

· Complex medical and functional conditions requiring intensive rehabilitation

North Alabama Shoals Hospital will begin additional public updates as construction timelines are finalized.