Latest news with #EHC
6 days ago
- General
SEND assessment delay 'prolonged injustice' for mum
"Significant delays" by a council in assessing a child's special educational needs caused his mother "prolonged injustice", a government watchdog has ruled. The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman ordered Slough Borough Council to pay her £1,000 for delays and lack of communication. Its report said the council's faults had caused her "significant distress and frustration". The council said it acknowledged the findings of the report and had complied with all of its recommendations. The mother, named as Ms X in the ombudsman's report, asked the council to update her son B's education health and care plan (EHCP) in March 2024. This is a legal document reviewed annually that sets out what a council has to do to meet a child's special educational needs. She wanted the council to update B's EHCP with information from a private occupational therapist's assessment she had sourced, and asked if it could reimburse her for the cost. Ms X then complained "shortly after" about the time the council had taken to update B's EHCP after a review in October 2023, and asked for a personal budget to pay for his occupational therapy. The council replied that B's annual review would take place in April, that she could discuss a personal budget then, and that it might need to take 14 weeks to reassess his needs. The council also said it had "not yet decided" whether to reimburse Ms X for the private occupational therapist's assessment. B's annual review took place in April and the council wrote to Ms X in June saying it had prepared an amended plan, that it would reimburse her for the occupational therapist's assessment and reassess B's needs. In response to her complaint, Slough Borough Council said it would consider her request for a personal budget. It accepted there had been delays in updating B's plan and securing a decision around the private occupational therapist funding. When the council did issue an updated ECHP in September 2024 the reassessment had still not taken place – and was ongoing at the time of the ombudsman's decision in March this year. The council 'said waiting for the outcome of the private OT's review, had delayed this consideration'. The ombudsman ruled this delay was "especially severe" and the the council should pay Ms X £750. In addition, the ombudsman said there was a "lack of communication! from the council in explaining its decision whether to award Ms X a personal budget, and that there was a delay in deciding whether to reimburse her for the private assessment. It said the council should pay Ms X a further £250 for these. The council said: "We are conscious of historic failings and delays within parts of our SEND service and recognise the impact this has had on some families. "In response, we have taken clear steps to strengthen the service — including increasing staffing capacity, improving oversight, and ensuring Education, Health, and Care (EHC) needs assessments are completed in a more timely and consistent way." It added: "We remain committed to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND and to working closely with families to provide the support they need." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Authority to pay £11,750 over special needs case Council to pay £6,500 after failing autistic child SEND delay 'horrible' for boy, 11 Mother awarded £9,400 over education battle for son Slough Borough Council Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman
23-05-2025
- Health
EHC Opens Rehabilitation Unit in Fort Myers, Boosts Florida Footprint
Encompass Health Corporation EHC recently inaugurated the Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Myers, a healthcare facility built as a result of its joint venture partnership with Florida-based Lee Health. The partners joined forces back in 2022 to jointly operate two inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in Southwest Florida, one in Cape Coral and the other one in Fort Myers. Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Cape Coral commenced operations almost within the targeted timeline in 2022. Initially, the Fort Myers facility was expected to be functional in 2024 but during the groundbreaking ceremony of the joint venture hospital in March 2024, the inauguration timeline was revealed to be summer 2025. The Rehabilitation Hospital of Fort Myers is equipped with 60 beds and features private patient rooms, a modern therapy gym with cutting-edge technology, a therapy courtyard, a daily living suite, an in-house dialysis unit and several other lucrative amenities. A multidisciplinary team of specialized nurses, therapists and physicians will deliver tailored physical, occupational and speech therapies to patients recovering from strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputations and complex orthopedic conditions. Patients will benefit from at least three hours of intensive therapy five days a week, regular physician visits and 24-hour nursing support. Such enhanced rehabilitation services will enable patients to resume daily life activities and bring about improved health outcomes across the Fort Myers area. The recent partnership is reflective of EHC's efforts to boost its presence in Florida. The company already boasts a well-established presence in the state and the Fort Myers hospital marks its 22nd facility across Florida. Lee Health, which has more than 10 decades of experience in catering to the health needs of Florida residents, seems to be the apt partner for complementing Encompass Health's endeavor. This month itself, EHC unveiled early-stage plans to build a new 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Apollo Beach, FL. EHC has been able to substantiate the credibility of its affordable and high-quality inpatient rehabilitative services across 38 states and Puerto Rico, as a result of which it remains the trusted partner for several healthcare providers. Joint ventures with regional healthcare providers are beneficial for Encompass Health since they serve as a means to gain an in-depth knowledge of the diversified healthcare needs of a particular region. The latest hospital opening takes the overall count of Encompass Health's inpatient rehabilitation hospitals to 168. The company follows a remarkable expansion endeavor of opening such facilities throughout the year. An increase in the facility count is likely to provide an opportunity for EHC to treat more patients and bring higher revenues. Revenues improved 10.6% year over year in the first quarter of 2025. Management estimates operating revenues to lie between $5.85 billion and $5.925 billion for 2025, the midpoint of which indicates a 9.6% rise from the 2024 reported figure. Shares of Encompass Health have gained 42.6% in the past year compared with the industry's growth of 5.7%. EHC currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Some other top-ranked stocks in the Medical space are CorMedix Inc. CRMD, BioLife Solutions, Inc. BLFS and Integer Holdings Corporation ITGR, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. CorMedix's earnings surpassed estimates in each of the last four quarters, the average surprise being 25.82%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CRMD's 2025 earnings is pegged at 93 cents per share. A loss of 30 cents per share was incurred in the prior year. The consensus mark for revenues indicates a nearly four-fold increase from the year-ago actual. The consensus mark for CRMD's earnings has moved 40.9% north in the past 30 bottom line of BioLife Solutions outpaced estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 112.90%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for BLFS' 2025 earnings is pegged at 2 cents per share. A loss of 7 cents per share was incurred in the prior year. BLFS witnessed one upward estimate revision for 2025 earnings against none downward over the past 30 days. Integer's earnings outpaced estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed the mark once, the average surprise being 2.77%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ITGR's 2025 earnings indicates a rise of 19.4% from the prior-year tally. The consensus mark for revenues indicates a 7.7% increase from the year-ago actual. The consensus mark for ITGR's earnings has moved up 1.1% in the past seven days. Shares of CorMedix and BioLife Solutions have gained 143% and 3.1%, respectively, in the past year. However, Integer stock has declined 1.5% in the same time frame. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report BioLife Solutions, Inc. (BLFS) : Free Stock Analysis Report CorMedix Inc (CRMD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Integer Holdings Corporation (ITGR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Sign in to access your portfolio
22-05-2025
- Business
3 Low-Volatility Stocks Walking a Fine Line
Low-volatility stocks may offer stability, but that often comes at the cost of slower growth and the upside potential of more dynamic companies. Choosing the wrong investments can cause you to fall behind, which is why we started StockStory - to separate the winners from the losers. Keeping that in mind, here are three low-volatility stocks that don't make the cut and some better opportunities instead. Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.79 Founded in 1920, Snap-on (NYSE:SNA) is a global provider of tools, equipment, and diagnostics for various industries such as vehicle repair, aerospace, and the military. Why Do We Think Twice About SNA? Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion 6.3 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company's increased investments to defend its market position Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up At $322.12 per share, Snap-on trades at 16.1x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with SNA, check out our full research report (it's free). Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.61 With a network of 161 specialized facilities across 37 states and Puerto Rico, Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) operates inpatient rehabilitation hospitals that help patients recover from strokes, hip fractures, and other debilitating conditions. Why Is EHC Not Exciting? Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last two years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 4 percentage points Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 2.2 percentage points Encompass Health's stock price of $119.01 implies a valuation ratio of 24.4x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why EHC doesn't pass our bar. Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.91 With over 2,500 research experts guiding organizations through complex technology landscapes, Gartner (NYSE:IT) provides research, advisory services, and conferences that help executives make better decisions about technology and other business priorities. Why Are We Hesitant About IT? Earnings growth over the last two years fell short of the peer group average as its EPS only increased by 9.3% annually Gartner is trading at $442.91 per share, or 35.7x forward P/E. If you're considering IT for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump's presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth. While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we're leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Sign in to access your portfolio
New Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Candidate held 141 jobs in seven years in India's wildest moonlighting case, says EPFO data via OnGrid
BENGALURU: According to verified data from the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), one candidate has done 141 jobs in just seven years, reveals background verification platform OnGrid. On Monday, it flagged one of the most extreme cases of moonlighting that was witnessed in the country. Through its Employment History Check (EHC) solution, OnGrid identified the candidate who had 141 overlapping employment records. Moonlighting means employees having a second job or side gig alongside their main employment. During Covid period, the moonlighting issue ignited several debates and IT companies such as Infosys and Wipro had warned their employees, saying "no double lives". OnGrid said between 2018 and 2021, the candidate was simultaneously employed by up to 10 organisations at once, without a single day's gap between roles. In 2020, while the world grappled with layoffs and employment uncertainty, this individual clocked 50 new jobs, switching between start-ups, large enterprises, and MNCs, the background verification platform added. 'As remote work, freelancing, and hybrid models become the norm, employment risks are also evolving. Traditional background checks are simply not enough anymore,' said Piyush Peshwani, Co-founder & CEO, OnGrid. 'This case is a wake-up call. It underscores why reliable employment history verification like our EHC is now indispensable for modern hiring.'
05-05-2025
- Business
2 Surging Stocks on Our Watchlist and 1 to Avoid
Exciting developments are taking place for the stocks in this article. They've all surged ahead of the broader market over the last month as catalysts such as new products and positive media coverage have propelled their returns. However, not all companies with momentum are long-term winners, and many investors have lost money by following short-term trends. All that said, here are two stocks we think live up to the hype and one best left ignored. One-Month Return: +20.6% With a network of 161 specialized facilities across 37 states and Puerto Rico, Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) operates inpatient rehabilitation hospitals that help patients recover from strokes, hip fractures, and other debilitating conditions. Why Does EHC Give Us Pause? Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last two years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 4 percentage points Annual earnings per share growth of 4.6% underperformed its revenue over the last five years, showing its incremental sales were less profitable Free cash flow margin dropped by 2.2 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up Encompass Health is trading at $116.64 per share, or 23.8x forward P/E. If you're considering EHC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. One-Month Return: +33.1% The developer of the world's first frost-proof water meter in 1905, Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI) provides water control and measure equipment to various industries. Why Will BMI Outperform? Annual revenue growth of 20% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle Earnings per share have massively outperformed its peers over the last two years, increasing by 36.6% annually Strong free cash flow margin of 15.3% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently At $230.05 per share, Badger Meter trades at 48.9x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it's free. One-Month Return: +40.7% Developing submarine detection systems for the U.S. Navy, Leonardo DRS (NASDAQ:DRS) is a provider of defense systems, electronics, and military support services. Why Should DRS Be on Your Watchlist? Sales pipeline is in good shape as its backlog averaged 54.4% growth over the past two years Incremental sales over the last two years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 18% annually, topping its revenue gains Free cash flow margin expanded by 4.7 percentage points over the last five years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends Leonardo DRS's stock price of $42.93 implies a valuation ratio of 38.6x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it's free. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 175% over the last five years. Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Axon (+711% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.
