Alan: Long Term Care Leads to Recovery

When Alan, 61, came to Kindred Hospital Westminster from a short-term acute, his condition was bleak.

At the short-term acute care hospital he had developed a strangulated bowel requiring emergency surgery, and a major part of his intestinal system was removed. Alan was also morbidly obese, and as a result of the emergency surgery, was in a drug-induced coma. On a respirator and in kidney failure, Alan was not expected to survive.

His doctors at the traditional hospital transferred Alan to Kindred Hospital Westminster for continued care.

Alan came to Kindred in respiratory and kidney failure, with cardiac complications and a gastric feeding tube. Because of his obesity and other complications Alan was at high risk of developing infection and wounds.

Kindred’s interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, specialists and therapists evaluated Alan and developed a treatment plan tailored to his complex needs. Their goals were to help him regain his strength with adequate nutrition and to wean him from the ventilator.

With continual physical therapy, respiratory care and constant turning to avoid wounds, Alan was on the road to recovery. During his stay, he joined us for our annual hospital Christmas party, remarking that this was the first time he’d had the holiday spirit in three years.

In February Alan was discharged, achieving independence with the help of an electric wheelchair. He has since returned to his hobby of ham radio operating and is plans on getting married.

Kindred Hospital Westminster’s success is apparent in stories like this as well as in our quality scores – our patients and families rate our quality of care at over 93 percent and 96.8 percent would recommend Kindred.