EXHIBIT (23)-1

                          CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP
                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption  "Experts" in the
Registration  Statement (Amendment No. 1 to Form S-3, No. 333-39825) and related
Prospectus of  HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation  for the  registration  of shares of its
common stock and to the  incorporation by reference  therein of our report dated
February  24, 1997,  except for the first  paragraph of Note 15, as to which the
date is March 12, 1997, with respect to the  consolidated  financial  statements
and  schedule of  HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation  included in its Annual  Report (Form
10-K/A) for the year ended  December  31, 1996 and our report  dated  August 20,
1997 with  respect to the  supplemental  consolidated  financial  statements  of
HEALTHSOUTH  Corporation  included  in its  Current  Report on Form 8-K/A  dated
August 26, 1997, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



                                        ERNST & YOUNG LLP



Birmingham, Alabama
November 25, 1997