June 22, 2026 — Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Virginia has received the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Stroke Smart Partner designation. The hospital is recognized as the first Stroke Smart Rehabilitation Hospital under the Partner Program. Hospital leaders gathered with representatives from VDH and Stroke Smart America to receive the award.
“This is a significant milestone for Encompass Health Northern Virginia because it formally acknowledges our team's commitment to stroke prevention, early recognition and rapid response,” said Vidhya Kannan, hospital CEO. “This designation signals that our hospital has the protocols, training and partnerships in place to respond quickly and effectively to stroke.”
The Virginia Stroke Systems Task Force adopted Stroke Smart Virginia as a statewide initiative in 2021. The Stroke Smart recognition program celebrates organizations taking action to educate the community about stroke. The initiative encourages timely stroke treatment through education and actions.
“We are so excited to honor Encompass Health Northern Virginia with this Stroke Smart Partner recognition,” said Mary Beth Cox, VDH stroke program coordinator. “Their application was impressive. They have trained all their staff to be Stroke Smart, displayed Stroke Smart materials throughout the hospital, educated all patients and shared Stroke Smart information beyond their walls at community events. Through these actions, they are helping stroke survivors, families and caregivers recognize the warning signs of stroke and be able to call 9-1-1 when every minute counts. It is an encouraging example that can serve as a model for rehabilitation hospitals nationwide."
“Protecting stroke survivors from a secondary stroke is one of the most important opportunities we have to reduce death, disability and suffering,” said Alan Stillman, founder of Stroke Smart America. “Encompass Health Northern Virginia recognizes that stroke recovery does not end at discharge. Through its participation in the Stroke Smart Virginia initiative, the hospital is helping ensure that patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals can recognize the warning signs of stroke.”
Encompass Health Northern Virginia, an 80-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital, provides essential rehabilitative services that help patients recovering from life-altering events such as strokes. Patients receive a minimum of three hours of intensive therapy five days each week, frequent physician visits and 24-hour nursing care. The hospital offers a monthly support group for stroke survivors, as well as caregiver education during a patient's recovery.
“Our patients, families and community can have confidence in knowing they have access to a hospital recognized for its dedication to stroke education and state-of-the-art rehabilitative care,” Kannan said.
Encompass Health Northern Virginia also holds the Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care Certification for Stroke Rehabilitation. The hospital opened to patients in 2010 and recently marked 16 years of providing post-acute rehabilitative care in Loudoun County.