KK,
I practice in Charleston, SC. My father fell in July, sustaining a near
complete C4 SCI. My sister and I spent months at his bedside, trying to get
Dad the best care possible. Sadly, it was difficult to succeed. Dad's case
is severe and difficult, and taxed the dedication, experience, and devotion
of the rehab hospitals we had him in (3 in total, due to Medicare time
restraints). I have CCed my sister, Ann. She may be able to add to my
comments. We were in and near the Woodlands hospitals for months ending in
Nov, 2010.
I would say that Dr Hire ("Dr Hear") at Reliant Hospital was the best for
SCI. DR Latta, at Health South and at Triumph Hospital was a very close
second, and either could care for me anytime. Dr Latta was very good at
personally investing in my Dad's story and case. DR Hire may have had a bit
more experience w/ SCI complications, but the 2 are so close, it becomes a
matter of preference, and not science.
Relient was the best of the 3 hospitals, I believe. All 3 failed to perform
at my practice standards, forgetting to keep pressure off the wound, head
above bed by 30 degrees, etc. The minor details matter to me. I believe in
saving pennies and I believe in aiming for perfection. In both cases, the
little things can add up to wins for my Dad's recovery. Scientifically, that
may be hard to prove, but I still try to give every detail my best, while
majoring on the majors.
The PT at Triumph was dismal, due to a ego disorder in the PT director.
Speech was poor there as well. The ST was going thru a divorce and missed
treatments on my Dad, a patient who lost his only means of communication
(speech) due to a post operative stroke.
PT at HealthSouth was pretty good, except that there is a systematic flaw in
the way that Rehab hospitals do rounds. See below. PT/OT at HS included
Joseph Becker (director), and others. Speech there was weak until we got
them to bring in Ann McDonald, and independent Speech Therapist (not near
Bryan, Texas?).
Rounds at all 3 Rehab Hospitals I experienced have a fatal flaw. (I believe
this flaw is present in 99% to 100% of Rehab Hospitals. I know it is present
in TIRR as well). The fatal flaw = The therapist treating the patient write
reports that are read and summarized by the director during rounds.
Decisions are made by the Rehab Doctor using this second hand, nonverbal
communication. Medicare and private insurance companies also rely on this
poor communication method to deny care. I do not allow second hand
communication in my ER. (If Mary saw a complication in a case, I need to
hear it from Mary, and see her face as she relates what she saw. Written
charts will NEVER replace that level of communication).
The senator will probably do well, and that was a major reason TIRR took
her. She will recover well and they will get the credit and the federal
grants. It would have been politically dangerous to refuse this case, no
matter what the prognosis. I believe she would have been accepted in any
case, even if she had sustained the much more deadly bilateral injury.
In summary, Heaven is aware of the burden and oppression that exist for SCI
pts. God will more than make up for the suffering endured at the hands of a
broken world. Jodi Erickson Tada can speak to this with more authority than
I. Until Heaven, I would trust the above doctors and Health South therapist
(except ST). Reliant therapist may be just as good. Avoid Triumph therapist
until their emotional ills are resolved and the patients become more
important than themselves.
In His Reliable Grip,
Dr Bo
_____
From: KK [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 9:57 AM
To: Dr. Bo Machado; MS Quads
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] The 10 Best Hospitals for Wheelchair Users
Dr Bo,
Are you in the Houston area? I figured the senator got to TIRR because her
husband was a NASA employee & had big news following.
I am in The Woodlands, above Houston. Haven't had much luck finding help in
my area.
KK
_____
From: Dr. Bo Machado <[email protected]>
To: KK <[email protected]>; MS Quads <[email protected]>;
[email protected]
Sent: Mon, January 31, 2011 8:30:50 AM
Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] The 10 Best Hospitals for Wheelchair Users
I have personal experience w/ TIRR in Houston. Here are the sobering facts:
* TIRR boast great success because they turn down patients that have a
poorer prognosis. For example, they have a wound team but will not take
patients with a wound. This is a fact I have PERSONNALY witnessed.
o Athletes, younger patients, no wounds,.
* Good numbers leads to good grants and federal funding and US News
and World Reports top 10.
This an unhealthy cycle IF you are excluded from admission. It could be a
blessing if you get accepted, but I am not scientifically convinced they
have better skills and results due to the patient selection bias. They DO
have more and newer gizmos, but gizmos often do change outcome.
The best care will come from a team that PERSONALLY invest in you AND has
LOTS OF EXPERIENCE with your type of injury. That could be in any town!!
You all are often in my prayers,
Bo Machado MD
-----Original Message-----
From: KK [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 9:18 AM
To: MS Quads; [email protected]
Subject: [QUAD-L] The 10 Best Hospitals for Wheelchair Users
http://www.wheelchairpride.com/2011/01/10-best-hospitals-for-wheelchair-user
s.html
*****************
This is only part of the article.
********************************
So, what were the top ten hospitals for wheelchair users according to
rehabilitation physicians selected by US News and World Report?
1. Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Chicago Ill
2. Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation, West Orange, NJ
3. University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA
4. Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Boston, MA
5. TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, TX
6. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
7. Craig Hospital, Englewood, CO
8. Rusk Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
9. Shepherd Center, Atlanta, GA
10. Moss Rehab, Elkins Park, PA
