Mr. Katz
Before and After Success Story
Mr. Katz was 62 years old when he was in a motorcycle accident that caused him to sustain multi-system trauma, which included: a severe laceration of the spleen, a liver laceration, multiple rib fractures, clavicle and scapular fractures. He also had respiratory failure that required a tracheostomy and prolonged mechanical ventilation, as well as a chest tube placement. Once he was stabilized at Ocala Regional Medical Center's Trauma Center, he came to Kindred Hospital - Ocala.
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When Mr. Katz first arrived at our hospital, he continued to have complications including a gastrointestinal bleed, which required multiple blood transfusions, and extensive pain from his fractures. He began trying to wean off the ventilator, and his respiratory ability was touch and go.
Mr. Katz was in need of a multi-disciplinary approach to his medical care through respiratory therapy, dietary assistance, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. Our physical, occupational and speech therapists identified many limitations, such as higher anxiety levels due to being short of breath and pain.
After two months with us, Dr. Raj removed Mr. Katz’s chest tube, the respiratory therapy team weaned Mr. Katz from the ventilator and his trach was removed.
The nursing team worked with Mr. Katz on wound care and pain management, while the physical therapy team focused on increasing his strength and mobility. Mr. Katz was able to begin walking more than 250 feet with only stand-by assistance. The occupational therapy team helped him work on living skills, and he was able to perform them in no time with minimal assistance. The speech therapy team worked with Mr. Katz on a mechanical soft diet.
He is now a step closer to getting home where he will eventually return to work and enjoy the company of his cat, Gizmo! We are so proud of you, Mr. Katz!
Shawn
Recovering From An Accident
Shawn was admitted to a local trauma unit after being in a motorcycle vs. car accident. He sustained multiple traumas, including acute respiratory failure, which meant he needed to have a tube placed in his windpipe to help him breathe. This led to the placement of a PEG tube, which was placed in his stomach o help him get the nutrients he needed. Shawn sustained fractures of his ribs, cervical spine, left upper and right lower leg which required an amputation above the knee. Shawn also had a liver and kidney laceration. Once stabilized, he came to us at Kindred Hospital - Ocala with acute respiratory failure.
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When he first arrived, our physical, occupation and speech therapy teams discovered he was dependent for all mobility and self-care. Shawn was receiving his nutrition from a PEG tube in his stomach. Initially, he was limited by his fractures, decreased motivation to participate and overall increased pain during therapy. He was not able to bear weight on his legs at all.
With an aggressive multi-disciplinary approach, Shawn was able to get up and moving in order to go to rehab. Our nursing staff worked with Shawn to manage his pain and prevent infections from occurring. He had his trach removed and was able to safely eat a regular diet of thin liquids after our speech therapy team completed a modified barium swallow study.
When he was ready to go home, he had learned to get up from sitting or lying down using a slide-board and required moderate assistance with bathing, dressing and grooming. He was improving with verbally communicating his wants and needs, and demonstrated better insight for safety with his current medical situation.
Shawn and his family said they are very thankful to the staff for their continued support and heroic efforts. The team at Kindred Hospital - Ocala is proud to see him strong enough to get to rehab!
Good Luck, Shawn!
John
Strong Enough To Go Home
John, 54, suffered a heart attack with septic shock and was admitted to a short-term hospital. He needed a transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), which is a diagnostic test that uses ultrasound waves to make images of the heart chambers, valves and surrounding structures. After the procedure, he went into cardiac arrest and suffered an embolic stoke, with left-sided weakness. John struggled with weaning off the ventilator, so he had a tracheostomy placed and needed a PEG tube in his stomach for nutrition. Soon, he finally moved off the ventilator and was breathing with a trach collar with 40 percent oxygen.
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John came to Kindred Hospital - Ocala from a short-term acute care hospital after respiratory failure, and he had an altered mental status and nausea. John needed special interdisciplinary care from our team of doctors, nurses, specialists and therapists. He required minimal assistance for all mobility with adaptive devices, stand-by assistance for self-care and was on mechanical soft puree-only diet. During therapy, he was limited by issues with his heart rate and blood pressure.
After a few weeks of aggressive rehabilitation, John was able to get up and moving, walking more than 250 feet with a single-point cane and performing all of his daily activities such as bathing and personal hygiene. He was on his way to returning home.
John was able to safely eat a regular diet of thin liquids following a bedside swallow evaluation and his trach was removed. John was able to return home with home health services. Congratulations, John! We're proud of you!