Long-term acute care hospitals (LTCHs or LTACHs) such as Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals play a critical role in caring for some of our nation’s sickest and most medically complex patients. To help inform policy discussions in Congress about improving access to long-term acute care and supporting the patients who need it, Cornerstone joined other industry stakeholders in developing new Long-Term Acute Care Hospital Reform Policy Principles. Read more here.

Lenny lived an independent life at home with his wife of 47 years and adult son. He had received a left ventricular assist device months before his admission. Lenny was admitted to Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Little Rock with endocarditis, a life-threatening infection of the heart’s lining or valves. Learn more about his recovery here.

After 3 to 4 days of worsening symptoms and a home pulse oximetry test that showed his oxygen saturation in the 60s, Richard, 62, decided it was time to visit the ER. There, he was admitted with progressive shortness of breath, chills, worsening cough and sputum. Richard’s condition was serious – he was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure with respiratory acidosis along with atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, meaning his heart could not pump enough blood and his lungs were unable to effectively oxygenate it. During his stay, Richard had to be intubated and placed on mechanical ventilation multiple times. The complexity of Richard’s condition meant he needed the type of long-term acute care that Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals excel at providing.

Mrs. Easter was admitted to our Muskogee hospital to receive continued care for multiple complex medical conditions. When Mrs. Easter arrived, she was on a ventilator, unable to eat or participate in any functional activities. Mrs. Easter, who was independent prior to her hospitalization, shared that her goal was to restore her independence. As our clinical team worked with Mrs. Easter to wean her from the ventilator, our rehabilitation staff helped improve Mrs. Easter’s strength and endurance. Upon discharge to her home, Mrs. Easter was able to breathe on her own, walk up to 1,000 feet without assistance, and return to a normal diet! We’re so proud to help Mrs. Easter achieve her goals!

In June, Ms. Deleon was in a car accident and suffered multiple fractures, a neurological injury, and respiratory failure. After multiple surgeries, Ms. Deleon transitioned to Cornerstone to receive continued care. When Ms. Deleon arrived, she was on a ventilator and unresponsive. She needed total assistance from our rehabilitation team to perform activities of daily living. After an evaluation, our Conroe team outlined a goal-oriented treatment plan comprised of aggressive pulmonary care and intensive rehabilitation to help Ms. Deleon return to her prior level of independence. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of our team, Ms. Deleon achieved these goals! She was weaned from the ventilator and able to walk with a platform walker for 20 feet!

At Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington, we’re dedicated to serving our patients! Mr. Dail transitioned to our hospital to receive continued care for pneumonia and sepsis. When Mr. Dail arrived at Cornerstone, he was sedated and on a ventilator. Although Mr. Dail knew his rehabilitation would be challenging, he worked tirelessly with our team to achieve his goals. After weeks of hard work, our respiratory therapists weaned Mr. Dail from the ventilator. With this respiratory improvement, Mr. Dail began the Early Mobility Program with our rehabilitation team.

In December 2020, Ms. Brewer tested positive for COVID19. At first, Ms. Brewer attempted to self-quarantine at home, but quickly realized she needed additional care. Once Ms. Brewer arrived at a local hospital, she was diagnosed with pneumonia and spent 25 days in the ICU before transitioning to Cornerstone in January. When Ms. Brewer arrived at our Little Rock hospital, her oxygen levels required constant monitoring from our respiratory team to ensure she wouldn’t need to return to a ventilator. With her oxygen needs in mind, we worked with Ms. Brewer’s physician to develop a treatment plan designed to improve her strength and endurance.

At Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Huntington, our team members remain dedicated to providing hope and high-quality care to patients and their families. When Mrs. Ellis transitioned to Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals to receive continued care for COVID19, she was on a ventilator and limited in her mobility. After being on a ventilator for so long, Mrs. Ellis’ family was nervous about her prognosis. However, they placed their trust in our team and the care we provide.

Ms. Howard transitioned to Cornerstone Specialty Hospitals Little Rock after suffering respiratory failure from open-heart surgery. When she arrived at Cornerstone, Ms. Howard had a trach, required oxygen assistance to breathe, and a feeding tube to eat. During the first three days at Cornerstone, Ms. Howard took her first steps since her hospitalization two weeks prior. Within nine days, Ms. Howard passed her swallow test and was weaned from the ventilator. She was so excited to breathe on her own again!

ScionHealth is proud to share more about one of the leading female executives in its company – Nakia Tremble, Senior Vice President of Operations for Specialty Hospitals in the Mid-America Region.