When Sarah Dieringer of Ellicott City, Maryland, visited family last summer with her husband and 6-month old son, she never expected that her trip to the beach would land her in an Intensive Care Unit.
A life-changing golf cart accident fractured bones in Sarah’s arms, legs and face, leaving her unable to walk or use her arms. Sarah spent several weeks in the ICU, where her doctors explained that inpatient rehabilitation was the next step before she could return home. She knew it was going to be one of the most important parts of her recovery.
An Easy Choice
While reviewing their options for inpatient rehabilitation, Sarah and her husband were looking for a hospital close to home and noticed Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation on the list.
“I worked at Adventist HealthCare in the past and immediately knew this was where I wanted to be because of my experience working there,” Sarah shared. “Knowing the kind of care they provide and the Mission, it felt like a no-brainer to me to be on the other side as a patient myself.”
A clinical liaison from Rehabilitation worked with Sarah and her husband to prepare them for her stay, from receiving insurance approval to answering all their questions. Sarah was nervous, but ready to begin rehabilitation and eager to get home to her family. She knew Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation in White Oak was the place to help her.
Individualized Patient Care
Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation personalizes each patient’s recovery journey, and that starts with the first conversation. Care teams get to know a person and create an individualized plan designed to help them get back to their daily life and the activities they love.
The care teams at Rehabilitation use a multidisciplinary approach. Patients see a variety of team members during their stay depending on their needs. Sarah’s days at Rehabilitation consisted of physical and occupational therapy.
When Sarah was at a point in her recovery where she was able to walk, her care team was there to help her push past the physical and mental hurdles. They helped her gain the confidence to walk and were always supporting her.
“At first, when I took five or six steps, they really made me feel like that was such a big accomplishment,” she explains. Soon, she was walking the hallway to her therapy sessions.
Relearning the Basics
While every aspect of Sarah’s care played a crucial role in her recovery, occupational therapy was particularly instrumental to her progress. Occupational therapists help patients relearn everyday skills and tasks, such as dressing, getting in and out of a bed or chair, cooking, and personal hygiene activities.
Prior to her accident, Sarah enjoyed cooking and used it to relieve stress. Her care team planned several sessions in the hospital’s mock apartment. They found new ways for Sarah to return to cooking at home, and spent a session baking cookies to share with her family when they visited.
A Supportive Care Team
Sarah’s entire care team lifted her spirits during her stay, at a time in her life when she didn’t feel like herself. They recognized how tough her physical recovery was and acknowledged the added pressure Sarah felt as a mom of an infant. They often asked her about her family and to see photos of her son. During her stay, once Sarah was strong enough, she was able to spend time with her son in the lobby of White Oak Medical Center.
Just over a week after she arrived at Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation, Sarah was able to return home to her family. Less than a year after her accident, Sarah is back to chasing around her 1-year-old son, thankful for her time at Adventist HealthCare.
“From my nurses to certified nursing assistants, therapists, case manager, housekeeping, food services and facilities, they were all so kind,” she shared. “They all genuinely cared about my well-being and progress.”
To learn more about Adventist HealthCare Rehabilitation, visit our website.
