Jean: A Return to Routine

Jean, a retired secretary for the Gyles County School System, worked on the family farm with her husband. On January 10, 2010 she was admitted to a short-term acute care hospital with exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A few days later she was transferred to another short-term hospital, intubated and placed on a ventilator.

By now Jean had been diagnosed with pneumonia and septic shock. As she recovered, unsuccessful attempts were made at the short-term hospital to wean her from the ventilator.

To help her wean, the decision was made to send Jean to Kindred Hospital Nashville for long-term specialized care. The respiratory therapists at Kindred worked with Jean and within a few weeks she was weaned from the ventilator. Jean was very motivated and began receiving aggressive rehabilitation therapy, which she tolerated well, to build her strength and stamina.

One week prior to her discharge, Jean was back to reading the newspaper over coffee each morning. On her day of discharge, she bathed and dressed herself and was ready to return to her normal routine.