{"id":2819,"date":"2018-01-18T20:00:45","date_gmt":"2018-01-19T02:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=2819"},"modified":"2022-01-19T20:54:18","modified_gmt":"2022-01-20T02:54:18","slug":"east-galesburg-woman-heals-from-surgery-closer-to-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/east-galesburg-woman-heals-from-surgery-closer-to-home\/","title":{"rendered":"East Galesburg woman heals closer to home"},"content":{"rendered":"

In June, 62-year-old East Galesburg resident Mary Knox underwent spine surgery to repair damage caused by scoliosis. Her surgery was at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center<\/a>, with Daniel Fassett, MD, of OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt included surgery on my whole spine,\u201d she said. \u201cThe scoliosis<\/a> had gotten pretty bad, and it had gotten worse over the years from arthritis.\u201d For years, Mary had pain in her lower back. Her legs were always tingly and numb, and she used a walker to help her along.<\/p>\n

Following the surgery, she had no idea where she was going to go for rehabilitation. Last year, Mary\u2019s doctor sent her to a nursing home for some rehab support. Mary had a fine experience at the nursing home, but knew she wanted something more.<\/p>\n

Finding a better option<\/h2>\n

Before leaving OSF Saint Francis, Mary learned about the Closer to Home program at OSF HealthCare Holy Family Medical Center<\/a> in Monmouth.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Fassett<\/a> said some people go directly home following the kind of surgery I had, but thought the Closer to Home program would be a better option for me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

The Closer to Home program eliminates the inconvenience and worry of rehabilitating away from a patient\u2019s support system, according to Frank Lasala, MD, chief medical officer at OSF Holy Family.<\/p>\n

Closer to Home allows patients who aren\u2019t in need of acute care in a hospital to move to another level of care before discharge. Patients can receive 24-hour skilled nursing care and individualized physical, occupational and speech therapy, in addition to other services.<\/p>\n

Dr. Lasala said the program began about a year ago, after OSF Illinois Neurological Institute approached the hospitals that already had swing beds \u2014 a room that can be converted from acute care to skilled care \u2014 about beginning a program to provide postsurgical rehabilitation care for those patients who had complex spinal fusion surgery.<\/p>\n

Dr. Lasala said OSF Holy Family has worked to establish a comprehensive team approach.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all work hard on this, and we are proud of our facility, our nurses, case manager and therapy department,\u201d added Dr. Lasala. \u201cWe do interdepartmental rounding on patients Monday through Friday \u2014 that includes a pharmacist, physical therapist, case manager, nurse and physician.\u201d<\/p>\n

Building up strength<\/h2>\n

Shannon McVey, social worker\/case manager at OSF Holy Family, said the high nurse-to-patient ratio and physical and occupational therapies \u2014 offered six days a week \u2014 as well as the amenities of a private room and restaurant-style dining are reasons the Closer to Home program is a better option.<\/p>\n

But most important, patients are close to home and their personal support system. For Mary, this meant being able to have her sister, friends and stepchildren visit.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing to Monmouth was a good idea,\u201d Mary said. \u201cHaving a private bathroom was important to me and being able to be by myself and just rest was important, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the week Mary was at OSF Holy Family, the caregivers helped build up her strength and confidence. \u201cThe nurses, aides, therapists \u2014 everyone was just wonderful,\u201d she said. \u201cThey kind of catered to me \u2014 it was nice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, Mary\u2019s recovery is going well. The pain is gone, as is the tingling and numbness in her legs. And with the aid of OSF outpatient therapists coming to her home, unassisted walking will be her next achievement.<\/p>\n

Mary wishes she was recovering faster, but knows she needs to bide her time, as her type of rehabilitation can take several months. \u201cI tend to be a little impatient,\u201d she said. \u201cI told Dr. Fassett, \u2018I just want to dance with my son at his wedding reception\u2019 \u2014 and I think I\u2019ll get there.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In June, 62-year-old East Galesburg resident Mary Knox underwent spine surgery to repair damage caused by scoliosis. Her surgery was at OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center, with Daniel Fassett, MD, of OSF HealthCare Illinois Neurological Institute. \u201cIt included surgery on my whole spine,\u201d she said. \u201cThe scoliosis had gotten pretty bad, and it had […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":2822,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[99,223,294],"tags":[626,755,372,739,352,154],"coauthors":[688],"class_list":["post-2819","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-neurosciences","category-patient-story","category-rehabilitation","tag-osf-holy-family","tag-osf-ini","tag-osf-saint-francis","tag-scoliosis","tag-spine","tag-surgery"],"yoast_head":"\nEast Galesburg woman heals from surgery closer to home<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"62-year-old Mary Knox underwent spine surgery in Peoria. 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