Dec. 10, 2025 – Wayne Boutwell has been appointed chief executive officer of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Columbia. The 96-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital is located at 2935 Colonial Drive in Columbia, South Carolina. Boutwell comes to Encompass Health Columbia after serving the past four years as CEO of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Bluffton.
“I have a strong understanding of the impact our rehabilitative services make on a community,” said Boutwell. “I look forward to joining the team in Columbia and advancing our level of expert care for those recovering from a life-changing illness or injury.”
Boutwell brings diverse health care experience to Encompass Health Columbia, including executive leadership roles with acute care and long-term acute care hospitals. At Encompass Health Bluffton, he led the achievement of The Joint Commission (TJC) Disease-Specific Care Certification for Parkinson’s Disease and Stroke Rehabilitation. Boutwell successfully eliminated all contract labor and kept registered nurse turnover low. He also executed two nursing student affiliation agreements with local colleges.
“Wayne is a strategic thinker and a results-driven leader,” said Ronnie Wagley, president of Encompass Health’s South Atlantic region. “He is strong in hospital operations, patient experience and quality management. Wayne is also dedicated to developing high-quality teams, so I am confident he will have great success leading our hospital.”
Boutwell earned a Master of Business Administration from Mercer University and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Phoenix. He is active with the American Heart Association, previously serving on Columbia and Bluffton-Savannah’s executive leadership teams. Boutwell has served as a board member with the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce. He is also a fellow with the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Encompass Health Columbia opened to patients in 1989 – making it one of the Company’s most long-standing hospitals. The hospital holds Disease-Specific Care Certifications for Stroke, Amputee and Hip Fracture Rehabilitation from The Joint Commission.