Patient Stories

When faced with a serious illness, unexpected complications can often land patients in the hospital at the same time they are already trying to manage other healthcare stressors. Afifa experienced this firsthand when side effects from her chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer brought her to the emergency room at Marshfield Medical Center in early September.   “I had major symptoms—diarrhea, nausea, dehydration, and extreme fatigue,” Afifa recalls. “My magnesium and potassium levels were low as well, so they had to admit me to the hospital.”  But Afifa was resistant to the idea of staying in the hospital. She says that…

Denton’s mom, Joyce, is no stranger to ER visits. At 100 years young, she has struggled with frequent urinary tract infections. Ordinarily, she’s sharp and alert, but when one strikes, disorientation and confusion sets in.   That’s how Denton knew it was time to take her to the ER at Chandler Regional Medical Center in early September. Based on previous visits to the hospital for the same problem, he was expecting a long stay. But this time was different: Joyce was offered enrollment in the Dignity Health Home Recovery Care program, which sends eligible patients home to finish their course of…

Sometimes you just have a sense that a medical problem is getting too serious to ignore, and that was the case for William. “I had a serious infection in my hand,” the 84-year-old shares. With a history of atrial fibrillation and diabetes, he says, “I told my wife, that infection level gets too bad, it’s liable to do something to my heart, and my sugar, and I got scared.”  That prompted William and his wife of 60 years, Judy, to head to the emergency room at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center near their home in Chandler, Arizona. “They said it’s a…

Chest discomfort and shortness of breath landed David in the emergency room at Hershey Medical Center. “I thought I was having a heart attack,” he says. “It turns out it was more of an anxiety attack.” Congestive heart failure was to blame for his symptoms, and he needed IV medications and continued care.   Within a couple of hours of his arrival in the ER, David was offered the opportunity to finish his course of treatment at home with the Penn State Health Home Recovery Care program. “When they came to me with the proposal to go home, the smile on…

Although Carmen had a history of chronic respiratory problems and was no stranger to hospital stays, when she went to the emergency room at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in early July for breathing trouble, she had quite the unexpected experience.  “I stayed at the hospital for one night, Monday night,” she remembers. “Around 3:00 pm on Tuesday they offered for me to go home.” The offer was for admission to the Gundersen Home Hospital program, which allows eligible patients to complete their hospital care in the comfort and convenience of their home.   “I said, ‘why me?’ and they explained that…

At 91 years young, Gene knew that feeling lightheaded and “woozy”, along with having difficulty breathing, was cause for concern. He went to the emergency room at Chandler Regional Medical Center where he was diagnosed with influenza and possible underlying COPD.  A week after being admitted to the hospital he was feeling much better, but still needed breathing treatments and medical care. When he was presented with the option of returning home to complete his care, he says, “I was glad to go home.”  Gene was part of the Dignity Health Home Recovery Care program. He was sent home with…

When Nancy started feeling ill just two weeks before her Alaskan cruise, her husband Nick kept a close watch on her, monitoring her symptoms for a week. It seemed Nancy was progressing, but Monday morning brought alarm when Nancy slid out of bed, lacking the energy to stand.  Nick was able to get her into a chair and called the doctor to request a same-day appointment. Still concerned, Nick retrieved their pulse oximeter to check her oxygen levels which measured at 70, then 65.  Nick immediately called the paramedics who arrived shortly to administer her oxygen, stabilize her and transfer…

When Joseph started having pain in his inner thigh, he knew something was wrong. Since he couldn’t put any weight on his leg, he decided to go to the emergency room at Henry Ford Hospital where he was diagnosed with cellulitis.  The next day Joseph was approached about Henry Ford Care at Home which brings all the essential elements of hospital care to the comfort of a patients’ home. Having launched earlier that day through a partnership with Contessa, Joseph was told he would be the very first patient.  “They explained to me how Henry Ford Care at Home works…

A few days after being diagnosed with COVID-19, Mitch developed a bad cough and had trouble breathing. He went to the ER where he was treated for low oxygen levels.   After being admitted to Marshfield Medical Center, a physician spoke about the possibility of Home Recovery Care which is provided through a partnership with Contessa. This meant he could go home immediately and begin receiving hospital-level care.  “Knowing that I could be at home but still receive the same care I would if I were in the hospital made it a very easy decision,” shared Mitch.  Mitch returned home with…

When Cliff had trouble breathing, his wife took him to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center. The nearly 80-year-old lives with claustrophobia and was fearing nights alone in a hospital room. That’s when he was approached about Gundersen Home Hospital. He eagerly enrolled into the program. “I was sent home at 4:30 pm and received an oxygen system with six tanks. A nurse came out with a kit that included a pulse oximeter, blood pressure cuff, scale, thermometer and tablet. He really took care of me and spent a lot of time with me and my wife,” said Johnson. Cliff’s acute care registered nurse…