When I was doing an preceptorship in rehab while in school, there was a pt who was a quad (secondary to accident) who was permanently at rehab. No insurance-couldnt go to nursing home. Not a US citizen-couldn't get any medicaid (i think that was it, the details are a bit shady) family in other country. other country a third world country w/o capabilities to care for him. I have no idea if he's still there, alive, dead, or if they found somewhere else for him to go-
As far as acute care, we have a pt on my floor who's been inpatient since March. pt was unable to get off vent after CABG. All weaning attempts unsucessful.Not even doing well with trach trials. Trach/peg/severely weak-can't roll self, sit up alone, stand alone, anything.
He keeps having other medical issues. LTC has been considered, but there is only one LTC facility in our area that is vent capable. (i dont know if there aren't beds or they dont want him to go yet)So its 10 months and no end in near sight.
SO...whats the longest inpatient you've seen and why were they there?
(when i was in school, i had no idea people stayed in the hospital for 10 months!)
Specializes in Cardiothoracic Transplant Telemetry.
At the hospital I work at there is a transplant pt. who just hit a year-she just cant stay off of a vent.
A few months ago there were a couple of gastric bypasses in stepdown that had been in the hospital for a year.
We send patients on LVADs home.
Months long stays aren't that uncommon when people are very sick and waiting for transplants-recovery and rehab can be lengthly too.
We spent 5 months rehabing a transplant- took her from so weak she couldn't move her own legs- to walking on her own and doing all of her own ADL's----She was at home for 1 week, and came back in acute rejection---she was recently transferred to a long term subacute facility....These are the patients that break my heart.
Don't get me wrong, on the other end of the spectrum we have patients that come in, get their transplant, and go home in less than two weeks.
You just never know how people are going to do. Some of the patients that have the hardest recoveries go home and do absolutely fantastic. I have learned to never give up on anyone, and to never take anything for granted. I also would not trade my specialty for anything in the world
Nightcrawler, BSN, RN
320 Posts
At the hospital I work at there is a transplant pt. who just hit a year-she just cant stay off of a vent.
A few months ago there were a couple of gastric bypasses in stepdown that had been in the hospital for a year.
We send patients on LVADs home.
Months long stays aren't that uncommon when people are very sick and waiting for transplants-recovery and rehab can be lengthly too.
We spent 5 months rehabing a transplant- took her from so weak she couldn't move her own legs- to walking on her own and doing all of her own ADL's----She was at home for 1 week, and came back in acute rejection---she was recently transferred to a long term subacute facility....These are the patients that break my heart.
Don't get me wrong, on the other end of the spectrum we have patients that come in, get their transplant, and go home in less than two weeks.
You just never know how people are going to do. Some of the patients that have the hardest recoveries go home and do absolutely fantastic. I have learned to never give up on anyone, and to never take anything for granted. I also would not trade my specialty for anything in the world