Krisha's Success Story
From Kindred Hospital Albuquerque
Krisha, who is disabled and confined to a wheelchair, was admitted to a local hospital in Albuquerque, NM, after experiencing severe pain and swelling in her lower extremity. Following a surgical procedure on her lower extremity, she was discharged to Kindred Hospital Albuquerque for additional wound care treatment and IV antibiotic therapy. Upon admission, the interdisciplinary team crafted a comprehensive care plan based on her medical condition, with a primary focus on advanced wound care treatment and IV antibiotic therapy to aid in her healing process and combat any lingering infections.
Krisha embraced the care plan with the goal of returning home and resuming her normal life. Her advanced wound care treatment included the use of xeroform gauze for her bilateral lower extremities, as recommended by her podiatrist. This treatment involved applying the xeroform gauze three times per week, managed meticulously by the wound care team. Xeroform gauze, impregnated with a petrolatum blend and 3% bismuth tribromophenate, is highly effective in maintaining a moist wound environment and providing antibacterial protection, essential for wound healing and infection control. In addition to the regular dressing changes, Krisha received pinch skin grafts from her podiatrist. These grafts were crucial in promoting new tissue growth and expediting the wound healing process. The advanced wound care strategy also included monitoring the wounds for signs of infection, ensuring that the IV antibiotic therapy was effectively targeting any bacterial presence.
Throughout her stay, Krisha worked with the physical therapy team to address her severe flexion contractures in her bilateral extremities and significant weakness. Although she experienced considerable pain with mobility, the interdisciplinary team's approach ensured that all other functional mobility activities were appropriately deferred until she could engage without excessive discomfort.
Over the course of her stay at Kindred, the combined efforts of advanced wound care techniques, including the use of specialized dressings and skin grafts, alongside vigilant infection control measures and supportive physical therapy, played a key role in Krisha's recovery. Krisha successfully met all the goals set in her care plan and was able to return home while receiving home health services.
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.