First Choice Healthcare Solutions Appoints Dr. Steve Ryland to Lead Major Expansion of Physical/Occupational Therapy Division

MELBOURNE, FL--(Marketwired - Feb 28, 2017) -  First Choice Healthcare Solutions, Inc. (OTCQB: FCHS) ("FCHS," "First Choice" or the "Company"), one of the nation's only non-physician-owned, publicly traded healthcare services companies focused on the delivery of total musculoskeletal solutions with an emphasis on Orthopaedics and Spine care, today announced that Steve Ryland, PT, DPT has been appointed to serve as the Company's Director of Physical/Occupational Therapy ("PT/OT"). 

In this role, Dr. Ryland will oversee the PT/OT Division and implement key expansion initiatives that will increase the number of First Choice-owned and operated, state-of-the-art PT/OT centers serving Florida's high growth Space Coast service region from one to five centers in 2017 -- with the second and third centers slated to open in March and the fourth and fifth center slated to open shortly thereafter. The new First Choice PT/OT centers will be strategically located throughout the service region, currently spanning 72 miles north to south on Florida's central east coast.

As the volume of both surgical and non-surgical patients served by First Choice's Medical Centers of Excellence in Brevard County have continued to increase through employment of additional world class physicians, so, too, has demand grown for best-in-class physical and occupational therapy services for thousands of First Choice patients. Whether prescribed for rehabilitation after a hip, shoulder or knee replacement or spinal fusion, or prescribed as conservative therapeutic care for a musculoskeletal condition or injury, PT/OT is a vital component of achieving optimal care outcomes for patients; and in many cases, PT may be mandated by a medical insurance payer prior to surgical remedies being pursued. 

According to Kris Jones, First Choice's Vice President of Medical Operations, "Our surgical and non-surgical Orthopaedic and Spine patients each require, on average, a PT/OT regimen of 10 treatment sessions with qualified therapists to achieve the best possible outcomes. Considering that the Space Coast service region covers such a broad geographic footprint, to help ensure compliance with prescribed rehabilitative treatment, our physicians and surgeons were having to refer patients to other PT/OT providers. With our planned geographic expansion and leveraging Dr. Ryland's expertise and leadership, not only will First Choice maintain payer compliance with PT/OT mandates, but more importantly, we will be able to provide all of our patients requiring rehabilitation with optimal choice and travel convenience while retaining management and control of their full episodes of care -- from diagnosis to treatment to recovery."

Similar to First Choice's current PT/OT center located in Melbourne, each new PT/OT center will be equipped with the industry's most advanced rehabilitation equipment and staffed by the region's best-in-class physical and occupational therapists and care specialists. Once all First Choice PT/OT centers are operational, they will have total capacity to administer up to 85,000 patient visits each year, generating up to $8 million in annual revenues. 

Prior to joining First Choice, Dr. Ryland was the founder of a very successful PT company, which operated five out-patient physical therapy clinics in Brevard County, Florida for over 15 years. After receiving a Bachelor's degree in Economics and International Affairs from Florida State University and a Bachelor's degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Central Florida, he earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Boston University. Specializing in acute care, sub-acute rehabilitation, outpatient Orthopaedics and home health care, he has also provided preventative care and training to elite and professional athletes, including members of the Ladies Professional Golf Association and the Washington Nationals professional baseball organization. Since forming his private PT practice in 2002, Dr. Ryland has consulted several leading PT providers and business owners across the U.S. on building successful PT/OT practices through effective management systems and techniques. 

Commenting on this key appointment, Chris Romandetti, Chairman, President and CEO of First Choice, said, "We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Ryland to First Choice and look forward to tapping his industry expertise and experience in building world class care facilities focused on achieving optimal outcomes for patients requiring physical rehabilitation. We believe he is the ideal choice for spearheading this exciting new growth initiative for our Company, and expect that our PT/OT division's future success will be positively and measurably impacted by his proven leadership."

Dr. Ryland added, "First Choice is widely viewed to be one of the most exciting, high growth healthcare companies on the Space Coast, which is succeeding at advancing the quality of care offered to patients who live, work and visit this area. It was clear from the start that everyone at First Choice shares my passion for establishing entirely new standards of excellence in healthcare, so I'm thrilled to be joining their impressive team. Moreover, I consider it a privilege to be taking the lead in helping the Company to manage and grow its physical and occupational therapy group and expect to make fast work of helping them to build this division into a significant contributor to its annual revenue and earnings growth."

In closing, Jones added, "The addition of Dr. Ryland and multiple new PT/OT locations is a true testament to our team's dedication and commitment to best-in-class patient treatment and full continuity of care -- for that I am immensely proud and grateful."

About First Choice Healthcare Solutions, Inc.

Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, First Choice Healthcare Solutions (FCHS) is implementing a defined growth strategy aimed at expanding its network of non-physician-owned medical centers of excellence, which concentrate on treating patients in the following specialties: Orthopaedics, Spine Surgery, Neurology, Interventional Pain Management and related diagnostic and ancillary services in key expansion markets throughout the Southeastern U.S. Serving Florida's Space Coast, the Company's flagship integrated platform currently administers over 100,000 patient visits each year and is comprised of First Choice Medical Group, The B.A.C.K. Center and Crane Creek Surgery Center. For more information, please visit www.myfchs.com, www.myfcmg.com, www.thebackcenter.net and www.cranecreeksurgerycenter.com.

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Certain information set forth in this news announcement may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of First Choice Healthcare Solutions, Inc. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's industry, management beliefs and certain assumptions made by its management. Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. Information concerning factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements can be found in the Company's periodic reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, and in its Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise to reflect future events or circumstances or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.