Concierge: Christina Mitchell
Patient: Wesley Kenney
Age: 67 years old
Admitted: 5/24/24
Admitted From: Hendersonville Medical Center
Discharged: 06/14/2024
Discharged To: Home With Outpatient Rehab Services
Reason for Stay: Status Post R/Below the knee amputation (BKA)
Details of Experience:
Mr. Wesley Kenney was referred to our community for therapy and wound care from Hendersonville Medical Center after, Initial testing revealed DX: of Arterial Occlusive Disease progressing into gangrene, resulting in the amputation of his right leg.
Mr. Kenney was admitted to our community on May 24, 2024, status post Right Below Knee Amputation. He arrived at our short-term rehab unit via EMS and was greeted by his night shift nurse and CNA, who would provide his care and perform initial assessments. The next morning, Mr. Kenney met Christina, his concierge, who presented him with a welcome kit and information about CareRite’s Amputee Training and Rehabilitation Program. We then set a time for that week for him to speak one-on-one with Todd Schaffhauser and Dennis Oehler (3 time Paralympic Gold Medalists), the founders of this exclusive program for amputees.
After meeting with the Concierge, Therapy, Social Services, wound care, and Activities Director, the Nurse Practitioner and members of his nursing staff spoke with Mr. Kenney and began putting together a care plan. Upon admission, it was noted Mr. Kenney had decreased bilateral upper body strength, low endurance, and weakness in general. Goals were set to maximize Independence, endurance, and transfers and allow healing at the surgical amputation site.
During the first week at Gallatin Rehabilitation, Mr. Kenney spoke with Todd Schaffhauser via FaceTime. He had a positive outlook for his future and was eager to get started. They discussed incision healing, and the importance of mobility for maintaining independence. They also discussed follow up and Mr. Kenney shared that BULOW prosthetics would be following him. He also talked in depth with Todd about his wood working and the desire to carve his “peg leg” out of cedar. Todd gave him the name at BULOW of someone who could help him accomplish that goal.
Mr. Kenney stated that our therapy department was great during his time in our community. When I came in here, I had never been so weak in my entire life, and they were able to help me regain my strength—very quickly, too, I might add. They educated me on safety and taught me several techniques to help me safely transfer. I enjoyed working with them all.”
Upon discharge, Mr. Kenney could transfer safely and be out of bed and mobile in his wheelchair all day. He exceeded his goals of regaining strength and endurance in a short period of time. He was discharged home on June 14, 2024, with home health to continue his therapy. He will later start outpatient rehab once his incision is fully healed and his surgeon releases him to move forward with BULOW prosthetics.
We wish Mr. Kenney luck on his journey and look forward to his visit. He has assured me he will be by to show us his hand-carved cedar prosthetic once it’s finished.