Delivering Harmony Across the Care Continuum

Kevin Vaillant, a 63-year-old retiree from Rockville, received life-saving cancer treatment at Shady Grove Adventist Aquilino Cancer Center. When he broke his hip, he again turned to Adventist HealthCare for emergency care, orthopedic surgery and then for inpatient rehabilitation where he regained his mobility.

Bad Break

In early December 2023, just two weeks after retiring from a 40-year career in Information Technology, Kevin was enjoying a day at home when he fell on a hardwood floor.

“I stood up to walk to the bathroom, took three steps and fell,” Kevin said. “It is still unclear what caused me to fall. I tried to stand but screamed when I realized I was in impossible pain.”

Hurting too badly to move and with his phone out of reach, Kevin remained on the floor for more than six hours until his wife, Tracie, arrived home from work, found him and called 911. The ambulance took Kevin to Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center, where X-rays in the Emergency department showed a left hip fracture. He would need hip replacement surgery.

“I have known a lot of people who have had hip replacements, and for most of them, the surgery was elective,” Kevin said. “That was not the case for me.”

Surgery and a Crossroads in Care

Kevin was admitted to the hospital and, two days later, had surgery to remove the damaged portions of his hip and replace them with artificial components.

“The surgeon told me afterward, the break was severe,” Kevin said. “It was near the ball of the hip, which had fallen out of the socket.”

Right away, work began to prepare Kevin for the next step in care.

“The care team established goals and a routine for me quickly,” he said. “Within a day, I had to move to a chair instead of sitting on the bed. The team had an aggressive plan in place to control my pain and progress toward my leaving the hospital.”

Kevin, in consultation with Tracie and his care team, had an important decision to make: Should he go home or to an inpatient rehabilitation facility? He decided his top choice would be to complete inpatient rehab at nearby Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation Rockville. A glowing report from Tracie, who toured the facility while Kevin was still hospitalized, cemented the decision.

“The staff at Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation Rockville told Tracie I would be doing three hours of physical therapy and occupational therapy daily,” Kevin said. “On the one hand, I thought it was going to be really hard and painful. On the other hand, though, I thought it was what I needed.”

Swift Progress

Kevin was at Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation Rockville for 10 days, a time he compared to being on a cruise because of the structured schedule and options for care. Each day, he spent 90 minutes building strength and range of motion in physical therapy, and 90 minutes honing his abilities to complete daily tasks in occupational therapy. That work was daunting.

“I had been dressing myself, showering and doing other everyday activities all my life without a thought, but when I started working with occupational therapists to walk with a walker, I realized I had to learn how to do this stuff all over again,” Kevin said. “That was a scary thought. I ran marathons years ago and worked out most of my life. Now, I’m 63 and have to relearn how to put one foot in front of the other.”

The results of his hard work, however, were almost immediate. Kevin estimates he made a 20% to 30% overall improvement each day during his stay at the hospital. By the final days of his stay, he was able to get out of bed when he needed to, go to the bathroom alone and walk the hallway by himself. Special classes blended fun activities with functional work and coping skills and kept him engaged in care.

“I attended a drum class, which was exciting for me as a musician,” Kevin said. “We sat in chairs and drummed on exercise balls as we watched videos. Another class focused on meditation, which I used to relax and help calm the pain in my leg. I was able to choose which classes to attend, and I liked that.”

Kevin returned home on Christmas Eve, two days ahead of schedule.

“Everyone at Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation Rockville was so helpful, and the care and food were great,” Kevin said. “It speaks to the quality of care I received that a small part of me missed the hospital when I left. It was almost like leaving a friend.”

Successful Transition

When Kevin got home, he realized how far he had come in a short time.

“Seven days or so earlier, I could not imagine how I would get up the steps to my house,” he said. “My rehab therapists had asked about the layout of my house so they could orient their training toward my situation. When I returned home, I was perfectly prepared.”

Within a week or two, he was moving around the house well and showering on his own. Now, he walks with a cane – the only sign, he says, that he went through a major injury and surgery – and relishes the fact he has achieved the goal he set during recovery.

“The medical team asked me to name a goal, and I said I wanted to be 90% recovered within six months,” Kevin said. “I have achieved that. I can do everything I did before. Now, I am just a bit more deliberate.”