Local Encompass branch celebrates rebranding

Oct. 16--Outside, Hurricane Michael ravaged the county Thursday afternoon bringing loads of rain and swift wind speeds.

However, inside the office of Encompass Health at 729 Vineyards Crossing, there was nothing but bright smiles because it was the beginning of a new day. Several clinicians were inside celebrating the kickoff of a company-wide rebranding effort that officially rolled out in North Carolina in October.

At the beginning of 2018, Encompass Home Health & Hospice and HealthSouth combined forces to become Encompass Health, complete with a new logo, identity and material for the marketing and sales team.

"Everything from our cars to our displays for our offices to everything you see -- our badges, uniforms," said Ricky Benson, director of the Lexington branch. "So it's a big rollout. ... We've ordered uniforms free for employees with the new logo and the expectation is they wear those. We will provide cars for some of our clinicians with the new logo, so when people see us out in the community, they know that's Encompass Health, not just a nurse in scrubs. You've seen people out in the store and you don't know where they're from. We're looking to distinguish."

The healthcare agency provides skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health aid, social work and more.

According to Benson, Encompass has more than 225 locations across the United States and is the fourth-largest home health agency, although it is growing fast, particularly on the East Coast.

"The company has invested a lot in it and we want to have our brand, our colors, so the community knows who we are," Benson said. "We've had people who've been here for years, and they can tell you that since Encompass has bought out, how much we've grown and how much we're expected to grow."

Benson said Lexington's Encompass serves 265 patients. The branch serves Davidson, Davie, Forsyth and Stokes counties.

The director said the growth is so strong that Lexington's branch will expand to an adjacent office for its sales team, which has grown from two to seven recently.

He added that being located at the Vineyards helps bring awareness to the rebranding effort.

"It is really, really nice," Benson said. "A lot of people say, you know, where's Encompass located, and we're right here next to the Vineyards, and they'll say, 'Oh I know where that's at.' I think once we grow more, our name is out there now and our colors and logo out there, people can say, 'Oh I know that's over by the Vineyards.' People can always call, we can help. even if they don't have a doctor that's referring or the hospital's referring, whatever the insurance is we can look into that. (A person) may need physical therapy and they can call us, we can reach out to their doctor and see if their doctor is agreeable to it."

Benson said that everyone in the office is excited about the transition.

He noted that employees show pride in the new logo and are all motivated to pursue Encompass' main theme and goal -- to create a better way to care.

"The team is awesome, the nurses, the therapists -- they're awesome," Benson said. "And they all work together, that's the main thing. The previous companies I've worked for, you have a nurse and an occupational therapist, but they don't communicate, so it's good to have that communication. And people enjoy what they do. You can have a job and you make all the money in the world, but if you don't enjoy it, then what is. I think our nurses actually care about their patients and that makes the difference."

Ben Coley can be reached at (336) 249-3981, ext. 227 or at [email protected]. Follow Ben on Twitter: @LexDispatchBC

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