Dolores' Success Story
From Kindred Hospital San Antonio Central
Dolores, a retired yet active woman who enjoys staying busy around the house and taking casual walks with her neighbors, faced a significant setback when she had to undergo a scheduled procedure for a coronary bypass to replace both her aortic and mitral valves. During her extensive cardiac surgery, she required an aortic balloon pump and ECMO support, which led to a hospital stay of over 30 days.
Following her hospital stay, Dolores was admitted to Kindred Hospital San Antonio Central for comprehensive rehabilitation that included both physical and occupational therapy. Upon her admission, the interdisciplinary team crafted a personalized care plan tailored to Dolores's medical condition, with the primary goal of getting her back on her feet. Given Dolores's heart condition, the team understood the importance of starting her rehabilitation slowly to avoid overworking her heart. In physical therapy, Dolores began with gentle exercises focused on improving her cardiovascular endurance, strength, and mobility. The sessions included monitored walking on a treadmill, light resistance training, and balance exercises. Her physical therapist gradually increased the intensity of the workouts as Dolores's heart condition improved, always ensuring she remained within a safe range.
In occupational therapy, the focus was on helping Dolores regain her ability to perform daily activities independently. This included exercises to improve her upper body strength and coordination, as well as practicing tasks such as dressing, cooking, and other household chores. The therapist also worked with Dolores to develop strategies to manage fatigue and conserve energy, ensuring she could comfortably return to her active lifestyle.
After making significant progress at Kindred, Dolores was discharged to a lower level of care at an Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) facility to continue her rehabilitation. At the ARU, she will continue to receive specialized physical and occupational therapy. From the entire staff at Kindred, we wish her all the success in her recovery.
Care for Complex Conditions
Patients come to our hospitals with serious conditions such as respiratory failure, complex wounds, sepsis, stroke, congestive heart failure, or even a combination of these. Their diagnoses are often complicated by existing health problems like diabetes or COPD. Many of our patients require treatments such as mechanical ventilators, dialysis, or IV therapy.