Concierge: Diva Ferreira

Admission Date: August 13, 2022

Admitted: From Home

Discharge Date: September 22, 2022

Discharge To: Home

Length of Stay 39 Days

Reason for Stay: Waiting for Right Leg Ischemia and Prosthetic Training (awaiting for delivery)  

Details of Experience:

Ms. Pauline Lewin arrived at Jupiter Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center on August 13th, 2022, from her place of residence. Before she came to us, she was a recent Below Knee Amputation (BKA) on June 22nd, 2022. She noticed something different with the feeling in her stump. So, she decided to go to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center Emergency Room on August 13th, where she was diagnosed with Right Leg Ischemia. When she was discharged from the hospital, she went to rehab.

When she was discharged from this initial rehab, she did not feel prepared to go home by herself, and she also had other health care concerns. She called her surgeon and shared that she felt that she was not prepared to be home alone yet, and required additional assistance and asked to schedule a visit with the surgeon. At this appointment, she was introduced to Matthew Hill, who is a member of our Marketing and Admissions team here at Jupiter Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center. With the patient, Matt reviewed the brochure specific to our Amputee Rehab Program, which is only offered at CareRite communities. The two gentlemen that support this program are Told Schaffhauser and Denis Oleher, both amputees and gold medal winners in the Paralympics. This program is named The Amputee Walking School. 

At this time, Pauline decided to come to Jupiter. Upon arrival, the Concierge greeted her. She and I spoke for a while about all the issues that she was having with her stump and how her mental state was not the best due to losing a partial limb. I told her I was here to support her and would be there for her when she needed someone to talk to. She met the staff later that day, including our Administrator. She said she was having some pain, and I shared that information with the Med nurse. We wanted Pauline to be comfortable.

The next day, the patient said that the pain was really bad and that she had phantom pain, which indicates that she felt pain in her missing limb. I spoke with nursing to ensure she had a lower threshold of pain prior to therapy. She was then greeted by Debbie, the Physical Therapist, and Colleen, Occupational Therapist, who were preparing to complete the initial evaluation.

While Colleen was with us, her prosthetic was already being prepared for fitting. She was working on upper strengthening and controlling her phantom pain awaiting delivery. Once she received her prosthesis, she was taught how to don and doff the device. The patient was shocked by how the prosthesis worked so very well. The Physical Therapist Assistant Sean and Mitch, the Prosthetist, were amazed at her progress, given this was the first time parallel bars. She was getting better every day and stronger every day.

Ms. Lewin stated to me while she was leaving that she would like to thank the therapists, concierge, and all the other staff for all their support. She was able to perform her activities of daily living (ADLs) and mobility. She will have physical and occupational therapy services at home. I remain in contact with Ms. Lewin, and she is doing very well. We all here at Jupiter Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center wish her continued success.