The Pulse

Patient Information: Male, Age 72

Diagnosis: Muscle Weakness / General Debility

History: This gentleman had a fall and was hospitalized due to a femur fracture. He experienced multiple medical complications and surgeries and was admitted to a skilled nursing facility. He was transferred to this skilled nursing facility for long-term care two and half months after his fall and was referred to therapy due to weakness, balance deficits, inability to walk and inability to perform self-care. Prior to his fall he lived at home and was independent with all mobility and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Patient Information: Male, Age 75

Diagnosis: Peripheral Vascular Disease / Falls / Muscle Weakness

History: This gentleman was referred to a skilled nursing facility with severe debility after hospitalization due to a fall at home. Following the fall, he laid on the floor for two days before being discovered by his home health nurse. At the time of hospital admission, he suffered from acute renal failure, altered mental status, and infected wounds on both legs. Prior to the fall, this gentleman lived alone, walked with a straight cane, and was independent with all self-care, household and community activities.

What do you do in your free time?
Free time? What is this ‘free time? We have horses, we kayak, cross country ski, and volunteer at our community water system.

How long have you been with ACP? 
1.5 years
 
What is your career background? 
I’ve been in various manufacturing entities for several decades as an Operations Manager, Quality Manager, Project Manager, Engineer, and Production Manager. I have 3 college degrees and 3 professional certificates. I’ve worked domestically and internationally as a geologist and geophysical technician and spent time in state and federal governments.

What inspired you to work with ACP? 
I was mainly inspired to move on from where I was working and I am grateful to be a part of the kindest organization I’ve ever encountered.

Hypertonia is a common impairment associated with a wide range of neurological conditions and can significantly impair function and lead to joint pathologies. The use of biophysical agents including patterned electrical neuromuscular stimulation (PENS), TENS-LVPC motor stimulation to acupoints, and subthermal ultrasound over GTOs may assist in tone reduction (ACP, 2019). Research supports the use of electrical stimulation as an adjunctive tool in the treatment of hypertonicity which may facilitate improved range of motion and mobility.

Patient Information: Male, Age 73

Diagnosis: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation.

History: This gentleman was referred to a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation services to address significant weakness and functional decline after an exacerbation of COPD.

Patient Information: Female, Age 69

Diagnosis: Heart Failure / Dysphagia

History: This woman, a long-term rehab center resident, was admitted to the hospital due to heart failure which resulted in dysphagia (difficulty swallowing). A feeding tube was placed and she was not allowed to eat or drink by mouth. Following hospitalization, she was referred to speech therapy with a goal to return to eating a regular diet and drinking thin liquids independently in the dining room.

Hypertonia is defined as excessive muscle tone which leads to stiffness with movement or inability to move a joint and often occurs with neurological conditions such as upper motor neuron lesions (CP, CVA, TBI, SCI, MS) and basal ganglia disorders (PD, Huntington
disease, Dystonia). While the terms spasticity and hypertonia are often used interchangeably, spasticity is actually a subtype of hypertonia in which muscle tone is increased by the speed of joint movement. (NIH, 2019)

Patient Information: Female, Age 80

Diagnosis: Mixed Incontinence

History: This woman, an independent living resident with a 40-year history of incontinence, was referred to outpatient therapy due to increased incontinence episodes. She had mixed incontinence (impaired urge sensation and pelvic floor muscle weakness) resulting in decreased socialization. She was considering the use of a pessary (a insertable prosthetic device that may help with stress incontinence) and took medication for overactive bladder.

Patient Information: Male, Age 77

Diagnosis: Oropharyngeal Dysphagia / Hypoxic Respiratory Failure / Childhood bulbar polio
with paralyzed vocal cord

What do you do in your free time?
On Saturdays, as time allows, I hike with a group of buddies and all our dogs. We have some amazing trails here in No. Nevada!  I’m also the music director in my church – I have a worship band, arrange all our music, and play guitar/sing with a wonderful group of musicians and vocalists. They make even me sound good.  Other than that, I’m quite boring – but I love to eat and love to cook. I am very thankful for my family, good friends, a beautiful area to live in, stellar coworkers, hot showers and Sunday afternoon naps. 
 
How long have you been with ACP? 
I’ve been with ACP for 4+ years.  Time flies when you’re having fun. I love ACP and what we do.
 
What is your career background? 
In my short college career, I majored in music, theater and dance, which prepared me for… not a whole lot.  I’ve been an Exec Assistant/Facilities-Office Manager for more years than I care to admit. I started in the Fire Protection and Mechanical Engineering field, which I loved, and later moved into Healthcare, and eventually 14 years at a disease management company, Alere Medical, from startup to acquisition by a large, international company. I supported the CEO and Executive Team, interfaced with the Board of Directors, and project managed the building of Alere offices all over the country: Reno, Orange County, Denver, Columbus, Chicago, Miami. We acquired several companies and then ultimately sold Alere to Inverness Medical (who is now known as Alere).  A fun ride and once-in-a-lifetime experience!
 
What inspired you to work with ACP? 
After the Alere offices closed in Reno, I accepted an office manager position at a financial services company. They were a great group of people, but the business left me feeling uninspired. Being a (big) handful of years away from retirement, I wanted to find a job that would spark a little passion again. When I saw an ad for a support position at ACP where a friend worked, I decided to check it out. Then I met Debbie – who wouldn’t want to work for Debbie? The rest is history.