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Welcome to Encompass Health Western Massachusetts

We know that choosing where to receive care after a life-changing illness or injury is an important decision for you and your loved ones. At Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts, we are committed to helping you get back to what matters most. Located in Ludlow, we are a leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation for stroke, brain injury, hip fracture and other complex neurological and orthopedic conditions.

When you choose Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts for your rehabilitation, you receive compassionate care from an expert team of physical, occupational and speech therapists; physicians; nurses; dietitians; pharmacists; and case managers who work together to create a plan to help you meet your unique goals.

At our hospital you will receive:

  • Three hours of therapy, five days per week
  • 24/7 nursing care, including nurses who specialize in rehabilitation
  • Frequent visits from a physician*

*We provide access to independent physicians.

Learn what to expect during inpatient rehabilitation

Better Rehabilitation Starts Here

Each patient’s recovery is different. At Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts, our expert clinicians combine the latest technologies, real-world simulations and advanced therapies into a treatment plan that helps you achieve what’s important to you. Our specialties include but are not limited to:

 

 

Superior Amenities at Our Hospitals

53-beds

53-private-rooms

Nonsmoking

Telephones

Televisions

Cafeteria

Free WiFi

Pet friendly

Tours available

Interpreter services

Student observation hours

Support groups

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What to Expect

Take a look at what happens during a stay at our hospital

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Get in Touch With Us

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Join Our Team

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Careers

We Proudly Display Our Gold Seal of Approval™

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification in pulmonary rehabilitation.

Stroke Rehabilitation

Our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification in stroke rehabilitation.

Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Our hospital has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification in brain injury rehabilitation.

Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC)

Patient and Family Advisory Councils serve as the “patient voice” and the institutional infrastructure for including the patient and family member perspective in hospital organizational decision-making. Councils are typically comprised of patients, family members, executive leadership and staff, working in partnership to assure the delivery of the highest standard of comprehensive and compassionate care is delivered at each hospital. They may include:

  • Providing information to hospital leaders and staff about patients needs and concerns
  • Helping plan patient-care areas and new programs
  • Making changes that affect patients and family members
  • Encouraging patients and families to be involved and to speak up
  • Strengthening communication among patients, family members, caregivers and staff

For more information on this committee and to become involved, please contact Director of Quality & Risk Management, Deb Santos, 413.308.3323, deborah.santos@encompasshealth.com

Read the 2023 Annual Report (pdf)

Read the 2021 Annual Report (pdf)

Leadership and Staff

John R. Hunt
John R. Hunt

Chief Executive Officer

John joined Encompass Health in January of 2016 with almost 30 years of experience in the rehabilitation field.

John joined Encompass Health in January of 2016 with almost 30 years of experience in the rehabilitation field in both clinical and administrative roles. In addition to acute inpatient rehabilitation, he has worked in outpatient, acute medical and private practice. John has served as a rehabilitation clinical consultant regionally and nationally with a focus on patient care and superior clinical outcomes. He holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in speech-language pathology from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

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Adnan Dahdul
Adnan Dahdul, M.D.

Medical Director

Dr. Dahdul has served as medical director of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts since 1995.

Dr. Dahdul has served as medical director of Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts since 1995. He is an active member of the greater Springfield medical community and a member in good standing of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Dr. Dahdul completed a hospital leadership fellowship at UCLA San Francisco. He received the Encompass Health Medical Leadership award in 2011 and has developed several outstanding communication tools helping Encompass Health Western Massachusetts patients safely transition from the hospital back to their primary care physicians.

Dr. Dahdul is an independent private practice physician.

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Danuta Budzyna
Danuta Budzyna

Human Resources Director

As the director of human resources, Danuta oversees all aspects of human resources management.

As the director of human resources, Danuta oversees all aspects of human resources management. Danuta holds a degree in business administration and brings over 20 years of HR and management experience to the Encompass Health team. Prior to joining Encompass Health, she has held various HR leadership positions, with many in a regional capacity covering multiple states.  Her diverse HR background and concentration in healthcare administration gives her a wealth of experience in talent management, benefits administration and regulatory compliance. Her focus in these areas will further enhance Encompass Health’s known reputation in clinical outcomes, patient experience and employee satisfaction.

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Luke Carbonaro
LUKE CARBONARO, MPH, CHSP, CEM

Facilities Management Director

Luke started his career in healthcare in 2007 in medical billing.

Luke started his career in healthcare in 2007 in medical billing and has progressed in a unique manner including experiences in prehospital care, public health, fire & life safety, environment of care, environmental health and safety, emergency management and facilities compliance. He has worked in diverse settings including Manhattan, Baton Rouge, Raleigh, Providence and Upstate New York. Luke earned master’s degrees in emergency management and public health and is active with the American Society for Health Care Engineering, the American College of Healthcare Executives and is part of the healthcare caucus leadership team of the International Association of Emergency Managers. He also proudly served as a firefighter for 10 years and attained the rank of captain.

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Deb Carney
Deb Carney

Director Therapy Operations

Deb has practiced in the field of occupational therapy for more than 12 years.

Deb has practiced in the field of occupational therapy for over 12 years. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in health science and a master’s degree in occupational therapy from Russell Sage College, she joined the Encompass Health team in 2004. She has held multiple positions at the hospital and was promoted to the director of therapy operations in 2016. Her knowledge and experience in acute rehabilitation has fostered exceptional patient care and excellent clinical outcomes.

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John Flaherty
John Flaherty

Controller

Prior to joining Encompass Health, John served as an audit manager for Alexander, Aronson, Finning & Co., P.C.

Prior to assuming his position at Encompass Health, John served as an audit manager for Alexander, Aronson, Finning & Co., P.C. in Westborough, Massachusetts. He also previously worked in several financial services positions for UMass Memorial Healthcare, Worcester, Massachusetts. A certified public accountant, John earned his certificate in accounting at Assumption College. He is a graduate of the College of the Holy Cross.

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Craig Johnson
CRAIG JOHNSON, MSN, MHA, RN

Chief Nursing Officer

Craig has been a nurse for more than 25 years, with experience in acute care hospitals, physician practices and acute rehabilitation.

Craig has been a nurse for more than 25 years, with experience in acute care hospitals, physician practices and acute rehabilitation. He received his bachelor’s degree in nursing from the State University of New York in Plattsburgh and a master’s degree in both healthcare administration and nursing from the University of Phoenix. Craig started his nursing career in critical care, transitioning into nursing leadership after several years at the bedside. He has led individual nursing units, departments and service lines and has expertise in building and using electronic medical records. He has a passion for the profession of nursing as well as leading and mentoring staff. He brings the knowledge gained through his many experiences to Encompass Health to lead the nursing department toward the highest quality patient outcomes, patient satisfaction and employee engagement. When he is not working, Craig enjoys spending time with his family and many animals. He loves music, both listening to and playing.

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Deborah Santos
Deborah Santos, RN, BSN, CRRN

Director of Quality

Deb has worked in the rehabilitation field since 1994, serving in roles such as staff nurse, clinical supervisor and more.

Deb has worked in the rehabilitation field since 1994, serving in many roles which include staff nurse, clinical supervisor, PPS coordinator and Functional Outcome Measures/documentation educator. She is a CPR instructor and holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Having been a Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN®) since 2008, Deb acts as a CRRN® review course instructor for Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts and other Encompass Health hospitals.

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Brian Schermerhorn
Brian Schermerhorn

Business Development Director

Brian joined Encompass Health in November 2020 to provide oversight to the hospital admission and business development team.

Brian joined Encompass Health in November 2020 to provide oversight to the hospital admission and business development team. With more than 15 years in healthcare, he provides a vast perspective into business development practices through his experience in local, regional and national markets. Brian is a senior leader with a record of accomplishment for growing new and existing home health and hospice markets. He brings knowledge of developing sales training programs, enablement tools and design of cross‑functional workflows to support quality-led care for patients, families and caregivers.

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Kathleen A. Serafino
Kathleen A. Serafino

Director of Case Management

Kathleen has been a social worker and case manager in a hospital setting for more than thirty years.

Kathleen has been a social worker and case manager in a hospital setting for more than thirty years. She received her bachelor's degree in social work from Western New England College in 1985 and began her career at Encompass Health in March 1996 in the capacity of discharge planner. Kathleen was promoted to case manager in 1997; and, in 2018, she assumed the role of director of case management. Her “patient-first” approach and team focus have resulted in a high level of patient and family satisfaction.

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Christine Vala
Christine Vala

Director of Pharmacy

Christine comes to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts with years of knowledge and experience in the area of pharmacy management.

Christine comes to Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts with years of knowledge and experience in the area of pharmacy management. She has donated her time at community events such as Western Mass AIDS Foundation, Light the Night LSS, vaccine clinics as well as working with disabled citizens. She received two community service awards from Walgreens and a citation from the State Senate for her commitment to “Providing Direct Care to People with Intellectual Developmental Disabilities.” She was the primary preceptor for the Western New England University School of Pharmacy Residency Program since 2016, as well as the Preceptor of the Year in 2018. She is skilled in establishing and maintaining excellent communication and relationship skills with patients and employees. Christine is patient-care oriented while bringing forth a compassionate and friendly attitude. She is a strong leader who works well under pressure and exudes positivity.

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