Encompass Health Names Kristy Bruner CEO in Evansville
Kristy Bruner, a veteran health care executive, will lead Encompass Health Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital, an 80-bed facility on Warrick Trail.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
Encompass Health has named Kristy Bruner CEO of Encompass Health Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital, an 80-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital at 9355 Warrick Trail. The hospital, a joint venture between Encompass Health and Deaconess Health System, plans to open a new 40-bed unit soon.
Why it matters
The leadership change and planned expansion signal growth in inpatient rehabilitation capacity for Evansville residents. The hospital's consolidation of its Midtown Evansville location will also shape how local rehabilitation services are organized.
The hospital currently operates 80 beds, and a planned new unit would add 40 more, while CEO Kristy Bruner brings more than 25 years of health care experience. No opening date for the new unit was given, and the source did not specify how many staff positions the expansion will create.
The players
Encompass Health
Encompass Health is a national provider of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and home health services, co-owning this Evansville facility with Deaconess.
Deaconess Health System
Deaconess Health System is an Evansville-based nonprofit health system that serves southwestern Indiana and neighboring communities.
Kristy Bruner
Kristy Bruner is a health care executive with over 25 years of experience who previously led an Encompass Health hospital in Lakeview, Kentucky.
The details
Kristy Bruner joined Encompass Health in 2024 after serving as CEO of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Lakeview in Kentucky. She began her career as a registered nurse at Deaconess Midtown Hospital in Evansville, and holds a bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Southern Indiana and a master's in health care administration from Ohio University.
Timeline
Deaconess Rehabilitation Hospital opened to patients in 1995.
Kristy Bruner joined Encompass Health in 2024.
Kristy Bruner was named CEO of the hospital on November 9, 2026.
The hospital plans to open its new 40-bed unit soon.
Roadmap
The Evansville hospital is one of Encompass Health's joint ventures with a regional health system, a model the company uses to expand inpatient rehabilitation capacity locally. Leadership moves like Bruner's appointment, which follows her prior CEO role in Kentucky, reflect how the company staffs these facilities as it grows.
Evansville patients needing inpatient rehabilitation will have access to a hospital with 80 beds now and 40 more once the new unit opens. The consolidation of the Midtown Evansville location means some patients and staff will be moving to the Warrick Trail campus.
The takeaway
Expansion of inpatient rehabilitation beds in Evansville means more capacity for patients recovering from illness or injury. Staff and patients affected by the Midtown consolidation should watch for details on how services will transition.
Further reading
For more on staffing and career openings in the sector, browse Nursing Jobs in Evansville.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Evansville Courier & Press.
