Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation - Dallas

A huge thanks and congratulations to the entire Central Texas community for an amazing Van-A-Claus. Thanks to your generosity, we collected 1,136 toys for Operation Blue Santa! These toys will be delivered to children in need in the Austin area so that they can experience the joy of the Season. This year's drive was such a success that we filled up 4 vehicles instead of one and shattered our previous record of approx 350 toys collected! So again, great job to everybody in all of our clinics and a big thank you to our patients, their families and the central Texas communities for your generous donations.

Sincerely, Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation, Outpatient Therapy

Team members from our Far West Region in Dallas-Fort Worth were excited to help make the holidays a little brighter at Mission Arlington. It was great to be part of sorting the many generous donations that help Mission Arlington serve over 200 families per day in Arlington, TX. We are a proud community partner!

Connect with us at 888.722.9567 or go to https://www.bswrehab.com/.

Our DAISY regional award winners earned praise from patients, colleagues and families. Honored as loving caregivers, they are fully invested in their patients’ recoveries. Here’s what makes them special:

Regency Hospital of Meridian: Demetrias Williams
The nominating individual, a bariatric patient with significant wounds, wrote she’d been openly ridiculed and disparaged at a previous hospital. When referred to Regency Hospital of Meridian for further treatment, she “cried, because all I wanted to do was go home and not be made fun of anymore.” Instead, Demetrias’ care restored the woman’s dignity. "As a very large woman, I am used to being ignored, talked about … the bare minimum done because they didn’t want to deal with me. Not once did this nurse make me feel that way.”

Select Specialty Hospital – Canton: Grace Nkwocha
Nominated by a patient, Grace’s ability to provide calm, kind support set her apart. The patient noted she was in pain and anxious upon arrival. Grace picked up on her discomfort and provided immediate assistance. “She was easy to talk to,” the patient remarked. “She set me and my family at ease.”

Select Specialty Hospital – Downriver: Ella Kinsler
A patient’s sibling nominated Ella for her brother’s transition “amazing.” The nominator was impressed by Ella’s ability to include everyone in care conversations, taking time to ensure the patient and his sister understood every option. “She spoke to me kindly, and with professionalism,” the nominator said.

Select Specialty Hospital – North Knoxville: Morgan Saddler
A patient being treated for a significant wound nominated Morgan for making the sometimes-painful healing process bearable. Beyond being an all-around terrific nurse, the patient said that, when she was “freaking out” about dressing changes, Morgan stayed, held her hand and got her through it.

Select Specialty Hospital – York: Jillian Persing
The patient nominating Jillian bracketed the DAISY Award’s core values (integrity, commitment, advocacy, respect and excellence) on the nomination form and noted she demonstrated “All of above!” Jillian was kind, careful and always took time to explain what she was doing while providing care.

Banner Rehabilitation Hospital – Phoenix: Janie Strick
With three separate nominations from patients and families, Janie Strick is “consistently mentioned as a compassionate nurse that goes above and beyond to meet the needs of her patients.” One patient praised Janie’s attentiveness and called her “an exceptional nurse,” adding that she “kept me in good spirits during my recovery. She was so comforting when I felt lonely and kept me smiling.” Another patient of Janie’s, who was admitted after undergoing surgery for a brain tumor, wrote, “I felt completely comfortable and well cared for. Everything she did eased my apprehension and contributed to a positive outcome. As a retired nurse, I was so glad I had the opportunity to experience such excellent patient care.”

Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation – Dallas: Gabriela Velazquez De Cortez
Gabriela Velazquez De Cortez was nominated for being known as an outstanding nurse who is exceedingly attentive, perceptive and kind. “She has a way of making everything alright,” said one patient. “She just looked at me and knew I was in pain. Without even a second thought, she asked me how bad I was hurting and told me she’d be back with something.” Gabriela’s reputation for caring and kindness preceded her meeting with one patient, who said, “When I was admitted, I was told about her since we share the same name.” The same patient noted that Gabriela would always check on her during the day and made sure to look in on her one last time before she left, saying “Thank God for her because she really took great care of me.”

Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation – West Orange: Sabrina Silva
Sabrina Silva was recognized by several nominators for her kindness, compassion and warm-hearted care. One patient shared that she was a source of comfort during one of their most vulnerable times, including that “she would make you laugh even when things were tough” and “made you feel like it was OK.” A patient’s daughter noted that her mother felt more confident and “excelled under Sabrina’s care,” explaining that she “visits her patient’s room as if she’s visiting a friend.” One patient emphasized Sabrina’s willingness to go above and beyond to ensure their questions were answered, sharing, “anytime I needed her, she was always there to help and care for me.” The patient said that upon discharge: “I will be leaving with joy but feeling blessed to have such a wonderful person that I met and such a one-of-a-kind woman.”

Recently, our Baylor Scott & White Rehab Outpatient Therapy Business Development Team was thrilled to get together in person at the Outpatient Leadership Summit in Waco.

Even better, our winning team gathered to check out some other winners at the Texas Sports Hall of Fame! Way to go, team!

As the largest rehabilitation system in Texas and one of the largest in the country, our reputation for providing high quality care draws patients from around the world. To learn more, please contact us at 888.722.9567 or go to https://www.bswrehab.com/.

The first full week of December is National Handwashing Awareness Week.

Harmful germs reside on more surfaces than most people think. Following proper handwashing steps is the best way to prevent the spread of these germs, especially during cold and flu season.

So, no matter where you find yourself, always take time to properly wash your hands.

Good health, family, friends, a pet and more…

Thanksgiving is about taking time to pause and reflect, to consider everything you have and giving thanks for it.

What are you for this Thanksgiving?

Timeline photos

After the trauma of an accident and the hard work of rehabilitation, the act of living day-to-day with a spinal cord injury (SCI) comes with a host of barriers and challenges.

Laura Serratt lives with an SCI. Like many others with her condition, she works hard to eat healthy and stay active. To gain a better understanding of the challenges people like Laura face, the research team at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation (BSWIR) – Dallas reached out to her.

The team’s study, Group Lifestyle Balance for People with a Spinal Cord Injury (GLB SCI), focuses on using different weight loss and exercise strategies to address the unique challenges confronting people with an SCI.

“I was asked to participate in the GLB SCI program, and the experience changed my lifestyle,” Laura said. “I can do so much on my own now.”
Considering how she got to this point, Laura’s story and progress is nothing short of inspiring.

On a foggy winter day, Laura’s idyllic life changed. On the way back from her weekly grocery trip, Laura and her husband were involved in a tragic, single-car rollover accident. A neighbor witnessed the incident; Laura was ejected through the front windshield and her husband was trapped inside the vehicle.

“EMTs found me and by the time our neighbor got back to my husband, he was gone,” she said.

Once at the hospital, the staff worked frantically to stabilize and treat her internal injuries. Laura had fractured two vertebrae in her neck and broken a third. She also had a spinal cord injury midway up her back.

“I was so mad because I didn’t understand what was happening,” said Laura. “Shortly after that, they moved me to Baylor Scott & White rehab...I had never heard of it before and I was so scared, but when I got there, everyone was so comforting.”

Laura spent three months working with the rehab team at BSWIR – Dallas to reach her goals. She said the physical therapy, which she still uses today, was instrumental in regaining her independence.

Laura said her turning point was learning how to drive again. “I could transfer into smaller cars better by folding my chair like a suitcase. That’s when I realized, ‘okay, life is a little easier with this.’”

After therapy, she moved into her parent’s house for a time before she was ready to get back into her family’s home. “I could not have done any of this without my family -- my parents, my kids and my sister.”

Today, Laura reflects on what she got out of her hospital stay rather than the functions she lost. “Baylor’s job was to teach me to live with a spinal cord injury. To this day I still use the tools they taught me. I’m not sure I would have survived had I not gone there.”

And now, after participating in the GLB SCI program, Laura feels even better about her new life at home:

“I can do my own stretches now because of the weight I lost and the increase in physical activity I’ve learned. I stopped smoking. I eat so much better. Everything is so much easier now.”

As Veterans Day approaches, we’re proud to showcase colleagues who served in all branches of the United States military.

We’ll be posting tributes to each branch, a short video describing the value vets bring to our teams and an enterprise-wide moment of silence to salute all veterans.

To our veterans, thank you.

The heads back to Texas this weekend for the Baird Wealth Management Texas Open in Rockwall, TX! Our staff will be on-site providing top care to the top pickleball athletes of the world. Good luck to all competitors! PPA Tour

If you’ve sustained a life-changing injury or survived critical illness, adjusting to what comes next can be challenging. Physical therapists and physical therapy assistants can provide a roadmap to recovery. Across Select Medical’s continuum of care, our PTs and PTAs develop individualized treatment plans that meet patients where they are, with a goal to improve over time.

Physical therapy is a unique science and art that uses a variety of techniques, procedures and equipment to restore function, reduce pain and prevent future injury.

Physical therapy can help people:

• Relearn how to sit, stand and walk independently
• Overcome movement limitations due to surgery or injury
• Improve endurance, balance and overall conditioning
• Return to work or prevent worksite injuries
• Prepare for cancer surgery and rebuild after treatment

When Stephen Giese first contracted COVID-19, he showed no symptoms. Soon, however, his condition deteriorated. The Dallas-area professor, writer and golf coach became incoherent and was rushed to Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Irving. He was intubated, placed on a ventilator, sedated and underwent treatment for multiple COVID-related complications, including a fever, respiratory failure and brain dysfunction.

Three weeks later, Stephen had stabilized, but remained unconscious. He was unable to breathe on his own, move his limbs, eat, speak or think clearly. Doctors recommended Select Specialty Hospital – Dallas for its experience in treating COVID-19 survivors.

Stephen’s primary goal was to liberate from the ventilator and begin to regain his strength and abilities. Over the next two months, a physician-led team of therapists, nurses and pharmacists guided Stephen’s progress.

As sedation drugs were dialed back, to slowly return to Stephen to consciousness, respiratory therapists began to drop ventilator settings, giving Stephen’s lungs a chance to work on their own. Once his heart and breathing rates steadied, physical therapists began a mobility program that focused on range of motion exercises and simple activities, such as rolling over in bed. In time, the ventilator was removed, and, although Stephen still required airway and oxygen support, he was ready to be transferred to Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation (BSWIR) – Dallas.

Upon admission, Stephen required significant assistance including a mechanical lift to transfer him in and out of bed. Nurses and aides provided all his personal care needs.

It was difficult, but Stephen understood “God had a plan for me” and would not let him falter.

Short term, his goal was to walk several steps, with longer-range plans to walk, play with his grandchildren and golf again. His wife, Kathy was there to support him every step of the way.

Even when visitation was restricted to prevent the spread of COVID-19, she sat outside watching him through his room window.

“Between God and Kathy, I am still here” Stephen said.

Before becoming ill, he’d also experienced chronic pain, which flared again due to the virus. He never refused a therapy session, however, because he knew each one got him closer to home.

“The therapy team was very encouraging, always happy,” Stephen said. “They’re positive people to be around. I credit my team for every bit of my success. They pushed me to do things, but not too much.”

Stephen spent two more months at BSWIR-Dallas, rebuilding strength, skills and stamina as he worked up to three hours of physical and occupational therapy each weekday. He felt a deep sense of accomplishment when was finally able to stand with only a walker.

One of his activities was working out and trying new exercises in BSWIR-Dallas’s new, therapy pool.

As he progressed, visitation reopened and Kathy trained alongside his therapists to learn how to help Stephen with self-care and mobility in preparation for a safe return home.

Nearly five months after becoming ill, Stephen had met all goals, surprising even himself. He didn’t just take a few steps, he proudly recalled, he walked 50 feet with a walker and assistant!

BSWIR’s support continued outside the hospital as a team of rehabilitation-trained therapists visited as part of the hospital’s “Real Life Rehab” program. They helped Stephen adjust to home life and provided exercises to continue to improve his mobility and ability to perform daily activities with confidence.

As Stephen prepared to transition to outpatient rehabilitation, he experienced some heart rate issues. Medications were adjusted and, after a short delay, he started therapy at a BSWIR outpatient center near his Dallas area home.

Stephen’s advice to anyone going through similar health issues is three-fold. One, take advantage of every opportunity for therapy and help available. Second, stay positive. And finally, trust your care team. “The people at Baylor Rehab are genuinely loving and want you to reach your goals.”

Our physical therapists and physical therapy assistants play essential roles in recovery. Whether it’s helping critically ill patients relearn how to sit and stand, navigating new realities alongside spinal cord injury survivors or aiding athletes bouncing back from sports injuries, they improve lives across the country every day.

The PPA Tour has returned to the Lonestar State! The PPA Tour Round Up begins today at Lifetime Frisco in Frisco, TX. Clinicians from Baylor Scott & White will be on-site to provide the world's top athletes with care.

Good luck to all competitors this weekend!

Our DAISY regional award winners earned praise from patients, colleagues and families. Honored as loving caregivers, they are fully invested in their patients’ recoveries. Here’s what made them special:

Critical Illness Recovery Hospital DAISY Winners:

Regency Hospital – Toledo
Sarah Johnson was nominated by a colleague for the compassionate support she showed a family who had already started grieving as they faced difficult, end-of-care decisions. Sarah “thoroughly educated the family on their choices and helped them feel comfortable. She never rushed them,” said her colleague.

Select Specialty Hospital – Akron
Cynthia Crowder was nominated by a patient’s partner for exceptional, efficient skills and warm-hearted treatment. Admission and assessment screenings were conducted quickly and with respectful acknowledgement of pre-existing claustrophobia and panic disorders. “Select is blessed to be represented by such a wonderful nurse,” the nominator wrote.

Select Specialty Hospital – Harrisburg
Michelle Moore earned praise from her colleague for “always going the extra mile for her patients.” Her journey from nursing assistant to registered nurse inspires colleagues, including the one who nominated her. Michelle pitches in “without hesitation,” doing whatever is needed to support patient care.

Select Specialty Hospital – Jackson
Anita Bolls’ helpfulness and clinical skill exemplify the Select Medical Way, a colleague wrote. Families “fight” to have her be their nurse after just one meeting. Additionally, Anita’s diplomatic skills defused challenging situations, keeping colleagues, patients and families all safe.

Select Specialty Hospital – Milwaukee West Allis
A patient’s wife nominated Sara LaFrenz for providing an all-around exceptional care experience. When concerns were raised, Sara “validated them, took notes and told me exactly how she was going to fix it,” said the patient’s spouse. Unsurprisingly, things improved greatly. “This is a woman who needs to be in a leadership position. What she can teach can’t be found in any book,” said the nominator.

Select Specialty Hospital – Quad Cities
Kristin Lincoln was nominated by a patient’s daughter for her unflagging support. She went “above and beyond a million times over,” including appearing for a night shift just to comfort the patient and his daughter during a difficult time. “God knew the only nurse in the world who could be there with my dad that night was Kristin. What she provided that night and the months leading up to it is immensely appreciated.”

Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital DAISY Winners:

Cleveland Clinic Rehabilitation Hospital, Beachwood
Selena Fluker was nominated by a colleague and praised for regularly going “well beyond what is expected of her to make sure that each of her patients has their needs met.” The nominator noted Selena’s strongest quality is being an advocate for her patient’s stating, “Her tenacity and determination to ensure that patients have what they need is well-respected by those around her.” Selena’s colleague recalled a time when a patient asked to borrow a wheelchair from the hospital, but had no way to return it. Selena volunteered to pick it up. When Selena arrived, the patient told her she needed some medications picked up, but had no one to do it. Again, Selena ensured the patient received their medications. The patient referred to Selena as “an angel” and said that without her help, the patient didn’t know what she would do, “The kindness and compassion Selena shows to her patients is unparalleled.”

Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital
Leslie Zimmerman was nominated by a patient who described her as “pure awesomeness!” The patient shared that she appreciated Leslie’s compassion and empathy, adding that she was an “extremely attentive and observant” nurse who “delivered a profound and unique quality of care to me.” At one point, when the patient’s pain became too much, Leslie held her hand and consoled her while subsequently making sure that the patient’s physicians were aware and addressed the issue. According to the patient, Leslie also “encouraged me to advocate for my care” and said that upon discharge, “I will take a little piece of Leslie’s heart with me.”

Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation – Dallas
Angela Onyebueze was recognized for her patience and kindness by the adult child of a 90-year old patient who needed rehabilitation after several falls left her with injuries and a multitude of health challenges. Angela’s nominator explained that their mother’s goal was to return to living independently after her rehab stay and acknowledged how Angela’s care and teaching made that goal a reality. “If it weren’t for Angela providing this care to my mom, there would have been no way for her to return home independently.” Angela also went out of her way to find food that the patient would eat when she did not care for what was on the menu, adding, “We just want to thank Angela for all her devotion while mom was in rehab.”