Author: RML Specialty Hospital

Patrick’s Patient Experience

The patient experience cannot be achieved by one person alone in the hospital setting. It is the responsibility of all – nurses, physicians, and therapists, as well as those who support the care experience, from food and nutrition services and the environmental services team, to the individuals processing billing and medical records.

As an environmental service tech at RML, Emma Cortez has an important job. She is responsible for cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting patient rooms and care units, preventing the spread of infection. She regularly interacts with infectious, biological, and sharp, unclean materials. More importantly, she regularly interacts with patients.

The power of a clean room can have a significant impact on the patient experience. The power of delivering compassion and empathy while cleaning that room has even more impact. Father daughter duo Patrick and Cathy recently experienced Emma’s exceptional care.

“Emma was assigned to clean my father’s room. While cleaning his room one day, she starting talking to my dad and had many kind words to say. She told him that he was a strong man and commented on the progress she saw him making with his therapists. She also relayed his progress to me, and reassured me of his strength. My father greatly appreciated her kindness.”

Prior to Patrick’s discharge, Cathy recognized the work of Emma and many staff on Hinsdale’s B1 unit who shared kindness, compassion, and empathy while caring for her dad and helping him reach his goal of returning home. From the patient care technicians to the nurses, physicians, and environmental service techs, each staff member played an important role in her father’s patient experience.

Climbing for a Cause

RML supported the American Lung Association on Valentine's Day by participating in the Fight for Air Climb in Oakbrook Terrace.

Employees raised over $2,300 while climbing 31, 62, or 93 flights of stairs in support of lung health at the fundraising event.

Congratulations and thank you to all RML employees who stepped up to the challenge and raised funds to support research, education, and programs to help those impacted by asthma, COPD, lung cancer, and other lung disease. Lung health is an important part of who RML is and impacts many of the patients we serve. We are proud to sponsor and support the American Lung Association.

Phil’s Magical Journey

Phil arrived at RML with respiratory failure, weighing 732 pounds. He worked hard to wean from the ventilator and breathe on his own again, all while losing 250 pounds.

A very special day this spring marked very important milestones for Phil: one week off of the ventilator, standing unsupported and taking eight steps for the first time in nearly a year.

Phil’s courage was inspirational. In addition to his efforts to overcome health challenges, Phil worked to improve all areas of his life. He applied for and obtained his professional magician certification and has enrolled in GED classes, all from his RML hospital bed.

“Therein lies the real magic,” exclaimed Phil’s physician, Dr. Langdon, speaking about his determination and spirit. On that special spring day, staff gathered around Phil’s bed to cheer him on as he stood on his own and took his first few steps. During breaks in his therapy, he demonstrated magic tricks and entertained staff.

Thank you for your courage and willingness to work, Phil. You are an inspiration to the entire RML family.

Dry Skin Care in Winter

During winter we like to feel toasty and warm, wrapped up in cozy sweaters or blankets, or settled in front of a fire. However, freezing temperatures, low humidity, and furnace-blasted dry air can leave our skin dry, flaky and itchy.

Here are some useful tips to keep skin from getting too dry during the cold weather months:

  • Add humidity to your home and work by using humidifiers.
  • Use an oil-based moisturizer. Ointments or heavy creams seal water in the skin and preserve moisture better when the humidity is low.
  • Generously apply sunscreen before going outdoors. Apply a moisturizing, broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to any exposed areas. Sunscreen protects from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
  • Everyday bathing, hot showers, or baths can strip skin’s natural oils. Limit showers or baths to no more than 10 minutes, pat dry, and moisturize while your skin is still damp. Avoid deodorant bars, antibacterial soaps, perfumed soaps, and skin care product containing alcohol. Instead, use warm water and a mild, fragrance-free soap or moisturizing body wash.
  • Hydrate. Drink 8 to 12 glasses of water per day.
  • Don’t wear wet gloves or socks. They irritate the skin and causes cracks, peels, and in some cases, eczema.

These simple tips should help prevent dry skin. If you experience severe, chronic dry skin, consult your physician or dermatologist.

- Nafisa Kha, Pharm.D

Road to Recovery: Pam’s Story

On March 20, 2003 I was admitted to RML Specialty Hospital after a 28-day stay in Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. I was battling streptococcal pneumonia and breathing with the help of a ventilator.

While in ICU, I was put in a drug-induced coma. I only have 24 hours worth of memories from my ICU visit due to the coma. My doctors estimated that it would take a minimum of six months to wean from the ventilator.

I was devastated to learn that I would probably not be able to walk again and could possibly be on a ventilator for the rest of my life. Since bicycle riding was one of my favorite activities, this news was hard to handle.

The employees of RML were very patient and understanding. They helped me fight to get off of the ventilator and on my feet again. The support of the occupational, physical, respiratory and speech therapists allowed me to wean from the ventilator.

What impressed me most about RML was the level of communication between all the employees. For example, I was terrified of getting my tracheotomy and feeding tubes removed. I mentioned this to one of the nurses, and the nurse and the staff reassured me that they would make sure I was comfortable during the procedures. Needless to say, everything went well.

Despite my original prognosis, I was at RML for less than two weeks. I was able to go on my first bike ride in August 2003, just six short months after my stay in intensive care. That first ride was only three miles long, but I was ecstatic. Three years later I completed my first 40 mile ride and in 2008, I was able to ride for 50 miles.

I cannot thank the employees at RML enough for the huge part they played in my road to recovery.

– Pam McQuillen

Education Simulation Lab Opens

RML's Education Simulation Lab featuring Sage the Sim Man is open at RML Hinsdale. Donors, community members, physicians, former patients, and staff joined us to celebrate this technologically advanced space that will have a lasting impact on the patients and communities we serve.

Simulation training will help RML meet the demands of the rapidly changing healthcare environment. The lab will increase the clinical capabilities and expertise of staff, improving quality and reducing healthcare system costs.

Mannequin simulations use high fidelity simulators – mannequins that breathe, with breath sounds, heart tones, and palpable pulses. The mannequin has a monitor that displays EKG, pulse oximeter, blood pressure, arterial wave forms, pulmonary artery wave forms, and more. Sage the Sim Man simulates vital cues, providing real-time information and allowing for virtual feedback.

By practicing clinical skills in a safe and regulated environment with a simulation mannequin, clinicians learn exceptional evaluation and treatment techniques while increasing team work and communication skills.

This project would not have been possible without the support of Foglia Family Foundation and Sage Products. Thank you to both organizations for their continued support of RML.

If you are interested in touring the Education Simulation Lab, please contact Jennifer at 630.286.4400.

 

RML Chicago Opens High Acuity Unit

In complex environments like long-term acute care hospitals (LTCHs), reducing medical errors while serving increasingly complex patients saves lives and reduces costs. RML continuously identifies opportunities to meet the needs of patients in this ever changing healthcare landscape. As a result, a high acuity unit opened at RML Chicago this week.

This specialized, technologically advanced six-bed unit will allow clinicians to care for patients with acute needs requiring high observation. This is similar to treating patients in an intensive care unit setting in a traditional hospital, within RML’s LTCH scope of limitations.

Much planning and educational training went in to the opening of this unit. Thank you to all of the staff who contributed their time and talents --- it was a true multi-disciplinary team effort.

If you have questions about RML’s high acuity unit, including referring a patient, contact RML’s Intake Department at 773.826.6400.

Alternative Pain Management Therapies

In most hospitals, pharmaceuticals are the first response to pain. RML’s rehab team is currently trialing non-pharmacological alternatives to pain management.

Rehab therapists are testing a wearable device that uses electrical stimulation to trigger pain relief responses in the brain. The stimulator is worn on the upper calf, activating sensory nerves in the leg. This stimulation signals the brain to release endogenous opioids, which block pain signals in the body.

How does electricity alleviate pain? Researchers believe the electrical impulses interrupt messages about pain sent from the nerves to the brain. The electricity blocks the activity of the pain receptors. If the brain doesn't get these messages from the nerves, it doesn't know that there is pain. Researchers also believe that electrical stimulation encourages the body to produce more of its own endorphins, which are natural pain relievers.

This pain controlling alternative is technological rather than pharmaceutical. Rehab services at RML also use other non-pharmacological, complementary techniques to reduce pain including:

  • soft tissue mobilization,
  • massage,
  • hot or cold packs,
  • and empathy and compassion.

Insomnia and Sleep Aids

Sleep is arguably the most important part of a healthy lifestyle. A good night’s sleep can improve health, focus, creativity, memory, and mood. Sleep can help you live longer, lower overall stress, and improve the quality of life. Sleep has been shown to decrease inflammation in the body, which has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and arthritis.

Most people do not get a good night’s sleep due to pressures at work and at home. They might suffer from chronic insomnia and stress. People over-medicate with stimulants, such as caffeine, which prevents them from sleeping.

Here are some non-pharmacological aids to help you sleep:
- Light exercise an hour or more before bedtime can help a person fall asleep faster.
- Minimize light, noise, and excessive temperature in the bedroom.
- Resolve stressful issues or problems before going to sleep.
- Listen to soothing music or meditate 15 minutes beforehand.
- Avoid drinking fluids to prevent frequent bathroom visits.
- Stop caffeine intake in the late afternoon.

Developing a nightly sleep ritual with the above aids on a consistent basis can help improve sleep.

Over the counter sleep aids are available when non-pharmacological measures are insufficient. Most sleep aids contain diphenhydramine, mostly used for allergic reactions. It can cause sedation, so is used to help with sleep. Tolerance can develop over time, so the longer it is used, the less likely it will help. Diphenhydramine is known to produce a “hangover” effect of grogginess the next morning. Other medications contain doxylamine (Unisom) which works similar to diphenhydramine. Melatonin can be used to help prevent jet lag and reduce the time to fall asleep, though its effects are mild at best.

Drinking alcohol may seem like a good idea, but persistent use has been shown to create more sleep disorders.

Prescription benzodiazepines such as zolpidem (Ambien), or hypnotics such as eszopiclone (Lunesta) are available from your physician. Side effects are mostly mild to moderate, such as dry mouth, daytime drowsiness, stomach pain, and headache. These medications are considered controlled substances, and dependence and abuse can happen without proper supervision from a physician.

A good night’s sleep is crucial for a healthy life. If experiencing insomnia, first start with non-pharmacological aids. Consult with your doctor before starting any over-the-counter medications or if a prescription is needed for stronger relief.

- Min Ko, PharmD

The Gift of Breath

Meet John. Seven years ago, John had double lung reduction surgery. Diseased tissue was cut out of both of his lungs, reducing the size and capacity of his lungs, in hopes of saving his life. The surgeries were his only option at overcoming the emphysema that was destructively taking his breath away.

Following his surgeries, John spent time at RML to wean from the ventilator and learn to breathe on his own again. John is a survivor: he fought through the anxiety of learning to breathe again without the help of a machine, determined to get home to be with his daughter and dog.

Today John walks 2.5 miles a day, takes care of two active dogs, and is an important part of his daughter’s life. John is an inspiration to all who fight lung disease.

For the past two years, John has given back and shared his story to inspire others. He walked with RML at Healthy Parks, Healthy Patients 5K. He also joined us at our annual Golf & Tennis Tournament to thank donors and staff for the difference they made in his life.

Reducing Heel Pressure Ulcers

Hospital acquired pressure ulcers are costly to patients and organizations financially, physically, and emotionally. Heels are the second most common site with 43% of pressure ulcers developed in hospitals occurring on the heel.1 ,2

Committed to patient safety and quality outcomes, RML piloted a program aimed at preventing heel pressure ulcers. In partnership with Sage Products, RML Hinsdale’s B-1 unit tested a new methodology and product, Sage’s Prevalon Heel Protector with Integrated Wedge (boot).

Staff became vigilant in assessing the largest organ of the body, skin. Nurses and patient care technicians worked with RML’s wound care team to proactively develop a plan customized to the needs of each patient. This method of heightened skin assessment, awareness, and new product intervention resulted in the heel pressure rate decreasing by almost half in a relatively short amount of time.

The pilot program not only helped with the prevention of heel ulcers, but also with the treatment. In two cases, the prescribed methodology and use of Prevalon boots contributed to the treatment of newly developing wounds.

Thank you to Sage Products and all clinical staff involved in the pilot program. Your commitment to making RML a safer, healthier environment for our patients is greatly appreciated.

Read more: B1 Initiative to Prevent Hospital Acquired Heel Pressure Ulcers
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1. Amlung, S.R., Miller WI, Bosley L.M. Adv. Skin Wound Care Nov/Dec 2001: 14(6); 297-301.
2. Walsh, J., DeOcampo, M., Waggoner, D. Keeping heels intact: evaluation of a protocol for prevention of facility-acquired heel pressure ulcers. Poster presented at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care, San Antonio, TX, Apr 2006.

Medication Myth Busting: Generic Drugs

Today, nearly eight of ten prescriptions filled in the United States are for generic drugs. The use of generic medications is expected to grow over the next few years as a number of popular drugs come off of patent through 2015.

Here are some facts about generic drugs:

  • FDA requires generic drugs to have the same quality and performance as brand name drugs. When a generic drug product is approved, it has met rigorous standards established by the FDA with respect to identity, strength, quality, purity, and potency.
  • Generic drugs are required to have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration as the brand name product.
  • Generic drugs do not need to contain the same inactive ingredients as the brand name product.
  • The generic drug manufacturer must prove its drug is the same as (bioequivalent) the brand name drug.
  • Research shows that generics work just as well as brand name drugs.
  • When it comes to price, there is a big difference between generic and brand name drugs. On average, the cost of a generic drug is 80 - 85%lower than the brand name product.
  • Generic manufacturers are able to sell their products for lower prices because they are not required to repeat the costly clinical trials of new drugs and generally do not pay for costly advertising, marketing, and promotion.
  • FDA monitors adverse events reports for generic drugs. FDA is actively engaged in making all regulated products – including generic drugs – safer.

Please note, this article is for informational purposes only, clarifying myths regarding generic drugs, not endorsing them. Please consult your physician to decide if a generic drug is appropriate for you.

-Smriti Chawla, Pharm.D.

The Happiest of Birthdays

“Care, courage, loving and most of all respect for each other,” Dolores gleefully exclaimed as she reflected on her time at RML and the staff who saved her life.

Dolores came to RML after being in nursing homes and hospitals for almost two years. She was unable to walk for six months. Her prognosis was not good: if an infection in her leg did not clear up she would need amputation. Hospice was also a consideration.

Dolores received exceptional treatment from physicians, nurses and rehab staff at RML. Her team of occupational therapists, Matt and Kathy, and physical therapist Amanda worked diligently to get Dolores back on her feet. She recently WALKED out of RML with a walker and discharged to home.

Dolores celebrated a joy-filled birthday at RML on May 19th. She reported that this day brought her as much joy as she experienced when she got married and had her children.

Dolores celebrated unexpected gifts this birthday: another year of life, the ability to walk, and the opportunity to go home.

The Right Care at a Critical Time.

 

RML is a nonprofit specialty hospital with locations in Chicago and Hinsdale serving patients with catastrophic or acute illnesses complicated by multiple medical issues.

Our mission: To provide quality, compassionate care to patients from our referring community who suffer from prolonged, severe illness.

The Road to Recovery

April Braker was a patient with RML October 2018.  She came to us from NMH with a rare autoimmune encephalitis. April came back to visit  November 2019 , just a little over a year since she left RML for Acute Rehab.

This week, April spoke at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine about her experience and recovery from this rare illness.

Wedding Surprise for Dad!

This weekend at RML Specialty Hospital Hinsdale we were truly honored to share in a very touching moment for one of our patients. Shara, the daughter of one of our patients, brought her wedding party and had her wedding ceremony at RML so her ailing father could attend. Per Shara, “We planned this ceremony in less than 12 hours and everything worked out perfectly. It was nice to share the moment with the staff that took care of my dad, we really appreciated everyone’s kindness and compassion, especially during my dad’s final days there.” We wish you and your new husband a lifetime of happiness Shara and thank you for allowing us to be part of your special day with dad.