Patient’s Age: 65-years-old
Admission Date: 06/06/19
Admitted From: Mt. Sinai West
Discharge Date: 06/28/19
Discharged To: Home
Length of Stay: 23 days
Reason for Stay: Short-term rehabilitation.
How did this patient hear about Gallatin Center? Hospital Social Worker.

Details of Experience:
Mrs. Brown was admitted to Mt. Sinai West on 5/27/19 for septic shock, secondary to pneumonia. Upon admission to the hospital, Mrs. Brown was having significant trouble breathing. Previously, on January 2019, she went to the emergency room for shortness of breath, progressively worsening cough, nasal congestion, subjective fevers, and fatigue with persistent chest tightness, which was made worse upon exertion. The patient has a long history of chronic pain in her lower back caused by a herniated disc, and pain in both knees caused by arthritis.

Symptoms of chest pain and shortness of breath returned in May, and Mrs. Brown was admitted to the hospital. Her chronic pain prevented her from living the independent lifestyle she was accustomed to. With the pain in her knees, walking was becoming a constant issue. The family would try to assist her in any way they could while being mindful of her need to be independent. As the months went by, her breathing became more and more difficult. With Mrs. Brown’s frailty, physical and occupational therapy were ordered. Still, the medical staff believed she needed further medical attention and continuation of therapy. The hospital social worker presented the patient and her family a list of skilled nursing facilities. After meticulous research, the family reported back to Mrs.Brown that the Riverside Premier Rehabilitation Center would be the best choice.

Mrs.Brown was admitted to the Riverside on June 6th. Her journey to recovery began the very day she arrived. Staff members from each department welcomed her with open arms, offering to assist her in any way possible. Mrs. Brown’s evaluation therapists developed a road map for her recovery. The plan revolved around pain management, learning compensation strategies if she should feel pain, increased safety awareness, facilitated sitting tolerance and posture control, breathing therapy, and walking with a rollator. At the beginning of her therapy, progress was slow as a result of pain in the patient’s lower back.

Medical staff at the Riverside immediately implemented pain management protocols in order for her to participate in therapy. After finding the proper medication balance and changes to the approach in therapy, progress moved forward. After two weeks of working with physical and occupational therapy, Mrs. Brown was walking 50 feet with minimal assistance, able to tolerate sitting for long periods of time, and feel less pain while walking.

The patient felt she accomplished so much in her short time at the Riverside. Her discharge date was set for June 28th. On the day of the discharge, she was overjoyed to be returning home to an independent life. As she waved farewell to the staff, Mrs. Brown wished everyone the best and blessings onto them and their families. On behalf of the Riverside, we wish Mrs. Brown all the best.