Paul: Home for Christmas

Paul, 78, underwent an elective procedure following a significant history of invasive bladder cancer at a short-term acute care hospital in September. Post operatively, Paul experienced severe anemia and subsequently suffered multiple complications thereafter, including acute respiratory failure requiring tracheotomy and mechanical ventilation.

Unable to fully recover in the short stay of a traditional hospital setting, Paul was transferred to Kindred Hospital Bay Area – Tampa on November 11 for extended recovery time and continued care.

The Kindred interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, specialists and therapists evaluated Paul upon admission and developed a treatment plan tailored to his complex medical needs.

He was ventilator dependent with a history of difficulty weaning, NPO with PEG for all nutrition, on CPAP at 40% FIO2 and had a tracheostomy. He initially required moderate assistance for all functional mobility and transfers out of bed and was able only to walk only 6 feet with a rolling walker and significant physical assistance.

During his journey to wellness at Kindred Hospital, Paul experienced continued difficulty weaning from his Trach Collar and oxygen. The one request from Paul and his loving wife, Kathleen was to be home in time for Christmas.

Through the tireless efforts of the committed interdisciplinary team at Kindred Hospital, Paul was discharged home on December 14, decannulated and completely free of artificial airway support, on a mechanical soft diet with thin liquids without any restrictions for 100% PO nutritional support, no longer needing a PEG tube. He was able to successfully ambulate more than 750 feet with a rolling walker and supervision, independently performing all functional mobility and transfers.

Paul and Kathleen thanked the team at Kindred Hospital Bay Area – Tampa for giving them their life back for Christmas!

Thank you, Paul and Kathleen, for allowing us to serve you.

Kindred Hospital Bay Area – Tampa’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 97.8 percent and over 99 percent would recommend Kindred. Kindred Hospital Bay Area – Tampa is part of a network of three Kindred hospitals in Central Florida, including Kindred Hospital Bay Area – St. Petersburg and Kindred Hospital Central Tampa.