Speech Therapy Following Brain Injury and COVID-19

Concierge Director: Fatma Mujovic
Patient Age: 44 years old
Admission Date: 7/27/20
Admitted From: Kingsbrook Hospital
Discharge Date: 12/22/20
Length of Stay: 149 days
Reason for stay: Recovery
How did this patient hear about The Phoenix Rehabilitation and Nursing Center? Through the hospital discharge planning department.

Details of Experience:
Mr. Harris was admitted to The Phoenix Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on July 27th, 2020, from Kingsbrook Hospital, where he had been admitted due to a non-traumatic brain injury and recovered from COVID-19. He also had cardiac arrest before his admission. Additionally, he also suffered from depression. During his first 24 hours in the community, Mr. Harris was welcomed by the outstanding nursing department and his social worker.

During Mr. Harris’s first month in the community, he refused speech therapy. He had trouble swallowing, and so The Phoenix accommodated him with a puree diet. When he did begin speech therapy, he had a difficult time. Mr. Harris lost 11 pounds from July 17th to August 5th, 2020. Speech therapy developed a treatment plan to help improve his speech while the recreation team helped provide emotional support, and the social workers kept close contact with his family and made sure they were constantly updated.

As Mr. Harris’s stay continued, he began to progress. He started gaining strength and getting better with swallowing. Speech therapy began incorporating more solid foods, helping Mr. Harris with weight gain and increased energy. Recreation was able to continue offering emotional support.

On December 22nd, 2020, Mr. Harris was discharged to the community. His Social Worker reached out to Mr. Harris post-discharge, where he shared that he was doing well.

The team at The Phoenix wishes Mr. Harris the best!