Aspire

Following a serious, debilitating stroke John suffered this winter, he is back to enjoying life and his favorite pastime – golf with the help of Grant Regional’s Swing Bed program.

“On February 18th after having lunch, I went to the kitchen and I got dizzy and got the worst headache I have ever had. My wife offered to help me to a chair, but I couldn’t move,” explained John. “Jean called 911 and I was taken to Grant Regional’s ER where I had a CT scan and was then transferred to a larger hospital in Madison.”

“I was in Madison for three days. When I was getting ready for discharge, the planning staff gave us two options for rehabilitation, both of which were in the Madison area,” John explained. “We were aware of options back in Lancaster for rehab and PT and after some convincing, the discharge planning staff made arrangements for me to be transferred back to Grant Regional’s Swing Bed where I stayed for an additional three weeks. I think it’s so important for bigger hospitals to be reminded to offer local options for Swing Bed care.”

“It meant everything to us to be back in Lancaster at our local hospital for physical therapy, occupational therapy and transitional care,” said John. “The staff are so well trained, and they included us in my plan of care. It was so convenient being close to home. Family and friends were able to visit and give support on a daily basis.”

Beyond the expertise, it was the little things that really made a difference. The way his multidisciplinary care team went out of their way to make sure everyone was informed of his progress. But more than anything it was the kindness and concern of his care team that John says he’ll never forget. “When you have something very serious like a stroke, what you want is to know that you’re in good hands and that you’re being well taken care of and listened to,” said John.

With Swing Bed, this type of compassionate care happens every day. It’s the type of care that the Swing Bed team strives to provide for each patient. The team works together, all collaborating to ensure a comprehensive plan of care for patients like John with the goal of strengthening and healing, and ultimately a speedy return home. Swing bed patients receive individualized care including nutrition consultation, and occupational and physical therapy to help them regain strength and return to normal function and independence. “John’s progress during his three weeks in Swing Bed was remarkable,” explained Shelly Taylor-Hampton, PT, DPT, CLT, GCS. “He couldn’t stand or walk by himself when he arrived, but with the individualized plan of care and therapy, he was able to get stronger and focus on his health and learn how to continue his progress at home.”

“The bedside care conferences every day were so helpful,” explained John. “I always knew how I was doing and what to expect because of those meetings. It was helpful to my wife also and she was there every day at that time which gave her a chance to listen in and ask questions. I knew how I was progressing and what to expect next. I loved being in the hospital and by the time I was ready to be discharged I felt like I knew the staff well and felt comfortable with each person. This all definitely helped me with a speedy recovery without a doubt. This is something that can’t be found anywhere else.”

“I had set a personal goal to golf in the Veteran’s Golf Outing in May that I help plan every year. It was a great motivator to keep focused on what I needed to do to get back to golfing in a few short months,” smiled John. “It was an amazing feeling to realize how far I’ve come since my stroke and look back with a huge sense of accomplishment.”

Rehab staff Abby Rassmussen, DPT and Mallory Wieland, PTA helped facilitate a swift transition to outpatient therapy to continue his rehab in order to return to golf. Abby and Mallory took John outside and practiced walking on grass, negotiating curbs and hills just like on the golf course, and even practiced swinging a golf club to ensure proper safety.

“I was able to return home in a relatively short time. I came home confident that I could do all the things I did before my stroke and maybe even more. The doctor has given me permission to drive, golf, mow my lawn, and anything else I want as long as I feel I can manage whatever it is,” explained John.

“He is the center of our family,” shared his wife, Jean. “We’re incredibly grateful for the exceptional care at Grant Regional that helped John’s recovery. It was a very scary time for our family but having him at Grant Regional, so close to home, was such a blessing. Before the stroke he was always very active and, on the go, involved with our family, friends and community. And now, he’s back enjoying life and doing all the things we did together. I’m just so thankful.”

“We can’t say enough about our wonderful local hospital and staff,” said John. “We are so proud of our hospital and everyone there. We have always supported Grant Regional and will continue to do so. Thank you for being there for us.”

Grant Regional is proud to offer physical, occupational, and speech therapy services in the inpatient, swing bed, home health, and outpatient realm. Each area provides specialized care to meet the goals of any individual. Swing bed therapy focuses on improving the person’s ability to safely care for themselves following an injury or medical event, allowing the individual to regain their independence. Home health and outpatient services are a continuation of that exceptional care, focusing on continued recovery and return to daily activities.

Categories: Swing Bed,Physical Therapy,Occupational Therapy,Stroke,Rehabilitation