When Joan arrived at Mother of Mercy skilled nursing facility, she had just completed an extended hospital stay for acute respiratory failure with hypoxia, cardiomyopathy, chronic kidney disease, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and a pressure ulcer on her heel. These conditions had left her weak and dependent on others for her mobility needs.

Rehab Director Emily Guggenberger, COTA/L, CLT, quickly stepped in with a team of therapists to guide Joan’s rehabilitation journey. The therapy team set initial goals for Joan, which included increasing sitting balance and bed mobility with a plan to progress to using a mechanical lift for transfers.

Despite medical setbacks, Joan was dedicated to the effort—and Emily and her team never stopped believing in her.

Over the course of nine months, Joan advanced from complete dependence on mechanical lifts to pivot transfers, and then finally amazed everyone by walking with a front-wheeled walker. The therapy team also addressed Joan’s broader needs, including lymphedema treatment and management, fitting for a custom ultralight manual wheelchair, and obtaining diabetic shoes.

With a home safety assessment and caregiver training completed, Joan was prepared to return home safely.

Even after discharge, Joan’s progress continued. She graduated from home health therapy services and was able to return to Mother of Mercy for outpatient therapy. With determination and the support of her caring therapists, Joan achieved abilities once thought impossible.

Joan’s recovery is a testament not only to her determination but also to the compassionate expertise of her rehabilitation team. Together, they turned a challenging journey into a remarkable success story.

At RehabVisions, stories like Joan’s happen because of trusted partnerships with facilities like Mother of Mercy. Our experienced rehab teams bring compassion, clinical expertise and measurable outcomes to every patient we serve.

If your facility is looking to strengthen therapy outcomes, streamline operations and grow revenue, learn more about partnering with RehabVisions.

If you’re a therapist seeking a supportive environment where you can grow your career and change lives, RehabVisions may be the place for you. Let’s build the next success story together.