HealthSouth Corporation today announced an exclusive, three-year agreement to become the "Official Sports Medicine Provider" to the Washington Redskins of the National Football League.

As the nation's largest provider of outpatient surgery, rehabilitation and diagnostic healthcare services, HealthSouth will provide a variety of medical services to the Washington Redskins in the areas of diagnostics, prognosis, recommendations for treatment, implementation of procedures, follow-up and rehabilitation.

James R. Andrews, MD, a nationally renowned sports medicine specialist and medical director for HealthSouth, will lead the HealthSouth medical team, working to provide the Washington Redskins with the best available medical care in the country.

"Our goal in seeking a sports medicine partner was to establish a range of healthcare services to provide to our players," said Stephen T. Baldacci, President of the Washington Redskins. "That range of services needed to be flexible, comprehensive from a single source, and, above all, the absolute best medical care for our players. HealthSouth was always our number one choice and clearly meets all of these objectives. Dr. Andrews is the pre- eminent sports medicine expert and is already working closely with our head trainer, Bubba Tyer, and our training staff. Dr. Andrews and his staff share our long-term vision and day-to-day philosophies, and we are delighted to have achieved such a significant partnership with HealthSouth."

"As the only healthcare provider in all 50 states, we have the opportunity to provide sports medicine to numerous teams, but we are especially proud of this new relationship with the Washington Redskins," said Richard M. Scrushy, HealthSouth Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. "Our goal, under the leadership of Dr. Andrews, is to provide the best sports medicine, orthopedics, and rehabilitation techniques available to the Redskins players. We know that healthy players are a vital part of any sport, and our job is to get any injured player back in the game as soon as possible."

HealthSouth, with more than 2,000 locations in all 50 states, the United Kingdom, Australia, Puerto Rico and Canada, currently provides sports medicine coverage to the PGA, the Senior PGA, the LPGA, NFL Europe, and the Continental Basketball Association, as well as more than 2,000 high schools, 125 colleges and universities and 50 professional teams across the country. HealthSouth can be found on the Web at http://www.healthsouth.com/ .

For more information or interview opportunities, please contact Kristi Gilmore at 205-970-7824.

SOURCE: HealthSouth Corporation