Concierge’s Name: Aaron Orshitzer
Patients Age: 72-years-old
Admission Date: 05/13/2020
Admitted From: St. Luke’s Hospital
Discharge Date: TBD
Discharged To: Discharge Home
Length of Stay: TBD
Reason for Stay: Short Term Rehabilitation
How did this patient hear about the Riverside? Hospital social worker

Details of experience:
Mrs. Hellen L. was admitted to The Riverside Premier Rehabilitation and Healing Center from St. Luke’s on May 13, 2020. In 1995, Ms. L. was in a car accident and never fully recovered from it. Since her accident, she would get around in a motorized wheelchair.

One day in January of 2020, Hellen was in her apartment and accidentally rolled the wheelchair over her foot, with her leg stuck under the chair. No one was home to help her, so she pulled her leg out from under herself. Ms. L. noticed her leg swell up, and she immediately went to the doctor. The doctor told her she would need angioplasty surgery. She got the surgery at Harlem Hospital. After the surgery, they discovered that she had gangrene in her toes and was told that they would have to amputate them. After hearing the hard news, Ms. L. accepted it, knowing that her life was in danger. During the surgery, the doctor noticed that the gangrene had spread through the leg; and they would have to amputate most of the leg.

After a period of time in the hospital, Hellen needed to go to a subacute rehab facility for therapy. Ms. L. decided she would go to the Riverside because of the proximity to her home. Upon arrival, Hellen was greeted by our skilled rehab department. Hellen started working with the therapist right away. After working tirelessly for around a month, she was fitted for a prosthetic leg. Ms. Lewis is now able to walk on her own and continues to do therapy to strengthen her leg. In her own words, she said, “I recommend The Riverside therapy team to everyone. If not for them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.” Hellen is continuing to improve every day and will soon be able to be discharged. When she leaves, she will be able to physically walk out!