When Bertha arrived at Kindred Hospital, she required respiratory care, ventilator weaning, and rehabilitative therapy. After working with her interdisciplinary care team, she was able to discharge to an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility. 

A Patient Success Story from Kindred Hospital El Paso

A 62-year-old wife and mother of three who loves to be active and clean her house, Bertha had her health and well-being seriously threatened when she suffered respiratory failure, requiring her to be placed on a ventilator at University Medical Center of El Paso. Bertha also had a sepsis infection that was thought to have been caused by pneumonia. She was transferred to Kindred Hospital El Paso for respiratory care, ventilator weaning, and rehabilitative therapy.

Over 32 days at Kindred, Bertha was gradually weaned and ultimately liberated from the vent. She then regained the ability to speak and communicate, an important milestone that helped her engage fully in her therapy. Physical and occupational therapists led Bertha through exercises to get her walking again and performing daily tasks such as dressing. Speech therapists helped her learn to swallow safely again.

Thanks to Bertha’s significant progress and her strong determination, she was able to be transitioned to an inpatient rehab facility to continue intensive therapy.

Now Bertha looks forward to returning home and spending time with her family and dogs. Her recovery at Kindred reflects the meaningful impact of interdisciplinary respiratory care and rehabilitation in restoring function following critical illness. 

Learn more about: Respiratory Care