Our Patient, Michael…
Michael is a 77-year-old man who was admitted with multiple health issues including COPD, CAD, renal disease, and hyperglycemia. The short-term acute hospital where he had previously been was not able to wean him from mechanical ventilation. He could not feed himself independently, and the extent of his physical strength was to sit on the edge of the bed with two caregivers in attendance.
Michael’s care plan at SHW included an intensive regimen of nursing care, nutritional support, and respiratory, physical and occupational therapies.
During his stay with us, his strength gradually increased until he was able to walk 100 feet with just a little staff assistance. He was able to take at least fifty percent of his daily nutrition by mouth, and was able to bathe and toilet himself. During this time he was weaned completely off the ventilator, and was subsequently discharged home with his tracheotomy tube removed.
Our Patient, Marjorie…
Marjorie is a 72-year-old woman and diagnosed with lupus, respiratory failure, hyperglycemia, and dementia. At her previous hospital she had failed numerous attempts to be weaned from a ventilator and the referring physician held little hope of doing so.
An intensive regimen of nursing care, nutritional support, and respiratory, physical and occupational therapies was put in place, with a rigid schedule of activity. While in our care, Marjorie was completely weaned off the ventilator. Within another 30 days, she had the tracheostomy tube removed, and was able to be discharged into a long-term care facility.
Our Patient, Charlene…
Charlene is a 65-year-old woman who came to us ventilator dependent after a surgery for a bowel obstruction. She was very weak and could not sit up on the edge of the bed and was ventilator dependent despite the best efforts of her previous acute care hospital.
Her personal care plan was developed with nursing, rehabilitation, dietary, and respiratory care. With aggressive therapy, she was able to walk with the assistance of only one person within a short time. Soon thereafter, she was able to walk 150 feet unassisted, and that was soon followed by being completely weaned off ventilator support. Her tracheostomy tube was removed next, and she was able to return to her home.