Kindred Hospital Houston Medical Center — Local services in Houston

Outstanding Care!!! My brother had a very serious and specialized cardio/pulmonary surgery at Baylor St. Luke's in the Houston Medical Center and was there for six weeks. His surgeon enthusiastically recommended Kindred Hospital in the Houston Medical Center for the next step in his care and recovery. We are so glad that he went there. Adriana Rivera, the Patient Relations Representative, gave a very thorough and informative tour of the facilities and was a strong advocate for my brother. Once he was transported to Kindred and went to their ICU, he received very attentive and compassionate care. The various teams of medical professionals (the wound care team headed by Dr. Maus, the cardiologists, his overseeing physician Dr. Asbury, infectious disease doctor, nephrologist—Dr. Thomas, and pulmonologists) were expert in their respective fields, very attentive, and took the time and care to explain their approach and services. His nurses in ICU, IMU, and Acute Rehab (including David, Ann, Amman, Janice, Caroline, Broonin, Fatu, Oji, Emily, and others) were very conscientious and on top of his needs. They were also very accommodating to me---as I was able to spend the night with him in the hospital. Living 180 miles away from Houston was very tough! But the staff provided great updates and were most understanding and reassuring during my phone calls. My brother had outstanding pulmonary/respiratory therapy---led by Pulmonary Rehab Coordinator Metrice Holmes. She and her team (he also saw Kerry, Matt, and others) offered expert therapy and were extremely encouraging and empowering to my brother. After intensive care and intermediate care, my brother was recommended for Kindred's Acute Rehab program. Lauded as the best acute rehab program in the Houston Medical Center---this rehab really helped my brother regain more strength (after approximately 9 to 10 weeks in a hospital bed). Clinical Rehab Specialist Lachovia White provided superior advocacy and guidance throughout this process, and we can't thank her enough for her personal attention and compassion. The Acute Rehab fourth floor offers a quiet, healing environment and transition from a hospital setting to the hopefulness of going home and resuming a full life. Kindred's sixth floor has an exercise room that provides a fully-equipped area for both physical and occupational therapy that encourages patients to gently push themselves, with a lot of encouragement from therapists, to increase strength and mobility. Throughout his 7 weeks' stay at Kindred, my brother worked with fantastic physical therapists (including Kyle, Benedict, Tammy, Dwight, and many others) and occupational therapists (including Deepa and Laurie) and speech therapists (including Andrea) and others. Along the way, case managers (including Davida and Scharisse) are there to help in any way and smooth the transition to the next phase of care. In the case of my brother, he was able to be discharged and continue rehab and recovery at a skilled nursing and rehab facility close to our home. Davida coordinated everything with our home facility and made this transition very seamless. Going through a very upsetting medical crisis in which our loved one was so far away from home was very scary and filled with unknowns. We had no idea what to do or even what a long-term acute care facility was. We went on faith and the advice of Medical Center professionals who had experience with Kindred. (They had sent transplant patients there.) Sending my brother to Kindred Hospital in the Houston Medical Center was the best decision we made! He got exemplary care that was filled with reassurance and encouragement. The food is very good too and there is free parking! (That may sound slightly trivial, but when you are in a stressful situation and trying to juggle many things---this makes everything just a little bit easier.) We highly recommend Kindred Hospital as an excellent acute care facility. We are grateful for their role in nursing my brother back to health and in offering hope for the future. Thank...

After a rare complication during my 74-year-old husband’s 3rd aortic valve replacement surgery, and after spending 3 weeks in the surgical ICUs of St Luke’s Hospital, my husband was referred to 1of 2 LTACs in the area of the TMC. He had multiple outstanding issues, but the one of greatest concern was the requirement to wean him from a respirator upon which his breathing depended. We chose Kindred as it had the higher positive review score (7/10) and a good record of successful vent weaning. During his 7-week residence my husband spent time on each of the 3 medical/surgical floors there followed by a week in their Acute Rehab Unit. We therefore had a great many experiences, both positive and negative. As some are aware, the medical environment in the United States has changed greatly from the days of our parents. The profit objective drives operations. So, any criticism I offer here may be tied to the “airline model” of staffing being adopted across our care systems. Rotate staff in and out based on the number of patients. A different nurse every day, a different pulmonologist every week. And the occasional staff shortage is encountered. But does not each staff member choose how he/she responds to this system? Is it just a job or is it a passion? A good hospital has trained professionals, reliable and sophisticated equipment, high standards of hygiene, and efficient operations. A great hospital has staff that have all the skills and training that a good hospital has but rises to the top based on the compassionate care provided to a patient. Kindred is definitely a good hospital. And there were certainly many who cared for my husband’s comfort, who treated him with warmth, not as a nuisance. But it is said that one bad apple spoils the barrel, and there were some bad apples at Kindred. Skilled, professional, cold-hearted, even cruel. When in their care my husband languished. My husband, during this period (and the 3 weeks prior to coming to Kindred) was not permitted to eat, drink, or speak. Imagine, more than 7 weeks being muted while the brain was active, more than 7 weeks being thirsty, not allowed a single ice chip. It really felt more akin to torture than care. And certain of the staff almost seemed to relish their power over him. For 4 ½ weeks progress was very slow. Then I learned that we could indicate preferences for the nurses and other technicians who clearly loved their jobs and would do anything to CARE for my husband. Maybe a coincidence, but once I requested a change of floors to escape the negativity from some, he took flight. A doctor friend of ours made this observation, “A positive mentality makes such a difference (with regard to healing) and a positive team/environment makes positive mentality possible.” We would like to recognize those who created a positive team environment. A team that worked together. I know I am leaving out many who attended to my husband’s need for more than just professional attention, but here are the ones we remember as making a difference through conversation, laughter, an interest in him as a person, and cleaning him when it was not their job, suctioning him when it was not their job, caring for his comfort when it was not their job: Respiratory Therapists: Mat, Kerrie, Yemi, Riziki Nurses/Assistant nurses: Fuhmi, Ann, Sharika, Olivia, Addie, Laticia, Kimberly, Carlisle, Danyelle, Yvonne, Jim, Kira, Lolo PT/OT/Rehab gym: Brentan, Alison, Dwight Wound care: Iko Housekeeping: Just great. Always kind and smiling, keeping the environment safe Dr. Colomer, team pulmonology. His decision to encourage my husband to breathe as much and as long as he could on the trach collar, finally set him free. And a final thank you to Adriana. She was initially my tour guide to the facility when I was deciding on the best LTAC for my husband’s needs. But over almost 2 months she became an advocate and a trusted resource for us when things went sideways. Good people make a great organization. Sadly, there were those who made some of our time there feel...

KINDRED DESERVES 0 STARS! MY FAMILY MEMBER WAS THERE FOR AN EXSTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. HE DEVELOPED OTHER PROBLEMS WHILE THERE. I ATTEMPTED TO INFORM THE STAFF OF ANY CHANGES, BUT EACH TIME I CAME BACK TO FOLLOW UP ,NO BODY KNEW, EVERY DAY WAS A NEW DAY! NO CONTINUITY OF CARE. NO COMMUNICATION EXEPT 3 NURSES DURING THE TIME THERE. JONI, PATRICIA AND THE FIRST NURSE THAT ADMITTED HIM. WHEN THERE WAS A PROBLEM IT WAS STATED," THE TECH, RESPITORY, OR THE NURSE WILL DO IT OR I WILL LET THEM KNOW' THE PHYSICAINS DO NOT COMMUNICATE WITH EACHOTHER OR THEY OVIOUSLY DON'T READ EACHOTHERS NOTES, HOWEVER IN ORDER FOR A PATIENT TO TRUELY HEAL IT TAKES A VILLAGE ALL WORKING TOGETHER. THE BASICS OF MEDICINE! ADMITTED FOR SLOWER WEANING FROM THE VENTALATOR, WHICH WAS SUCCESSFUL SHORTLY AFTER HE WAS ADMITTED. I TOLD MY FAMILY (PT) MEMBER THEY SEEM TO BE OK. HE SAID NO, THEY ARE NOT! I SAID GIVE THEM A CHANCE, BOY, WAS I WRONG! HE WAS DUMPPED BY MEMORIAL HERMANN (TMC)BUT THE ADMISSIONS PERSON SHOULD HAVE LOOKED CLOSER AND FAMILY ASSESSMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COMEPLETED( HISTORY COMPARED). THIS TELLS THEM MORE DETAIL SOMETIMES THAN WHAT THEY ARE READING. KINDRED RIPPED HIS NEW PEG OUT 3 TIMES AND EACH TIME I CAME THE NEXT NURSE DID NOT KNOW IT WAS RIPPED OUT THE DAY BEFORE. TPN GOING PERIPHERAL, I WAS TOLD LATER NO THAT WAS PPN, BUT WHY DID THE BAG SAY DIFFRENT WITH WARNING NOT TO GIVE PERIPHERALLY?, LYING IN URINE UNTIL THE FLOOR WAS WET (OCCASIONALLy), CONTINUED INFECTION BUT NO PRECAUTIONS NOT TO CROSSCONTAMINATE, EXSPECIALLY WITH TRACH SUCTION( NO ONE DID STERAL SUCTION, THAT I WITNESS) CENTRAL LINES SITE OPEN NEEDING CHANGED, THE ANSWER GIVEN( NEXT IS THE SCHEDULED CHANGE) CASEMANAGEMENT, SO! NOT INFORMED AND MS. LAURA OF NO ASSISTANCE UNTIL THE MONEY WAS RUNNING OUT( FIRST TIME I MET HER.) THE 2ND TIME WAS A CALL BECAUSE WE COULD NOT MEET , SHE STATED HE DID NOT NEED THIS LEVEL OF CARE! I INFORMEND HER I COULD NOT TAKE HIM HOME. BUT I GAVE MS. LUCIA SOME FACILITY NAMES FROM THE BEGING OF TIME. HE WAS SENT TO THE NEW FACILITY MONDAY LATE EVENING , I WAS OK BECAUSE I NEEDED OUT OF KINDRED! NOT KNOWING THE RECENT CHANGE, THE IJ WAS EXPOSED, HE ABD WAS MORE DISTENED (THE FACILITY HAD RIPPED THE G-TUBE OUT 2 WKS PRIOR AND PLACED A DOBHOFF), HE SMELLED, THE SKIN OF HIS FACE WAS CRACKING AND BROKEN . THE DOBHOOF WAS NOT SECURED. HE PULLED IT OUT ( ABNORMAL BEHAVIOR FOR HIM) , HR WAS TACHY110, BUT NOT HIS NORM UNLESS FEVER OR SOMETHING ELSE. THANK GOD, FALLBROOK SENT HIM OUT TO HAVE IT REPLACED( LESS THAN 8 HOURS AT NEW FACILITY). HEART RATE 150 -160 HE WAS ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL IN SEPSIS. THE LINE THAT HAD BEEN, WITH ALL THE TEMPS 30 DAYS, AND APPROVAL WAS GIVEN TO CHANGE. WAS REMOVED AND HAD PUSS FLOWING OUT! NGT PLACED 350CC COFFEE GROUND OUT( HE IS BLEEDING) HIS SKIN WAS TOTALLY HORRILE MOSTLY THE FACE! THIS WAS KNEW ( LESS THAN A WEEK) ,NO FEVER! SEPTIC AND INCRITICAL CONDITION. IF HE HAD NOT LEFT KINDRED THEY WOULD HAVE KILLED HIM UNINTENTIONAL, BUT BECAUSE OF NEGLET. DO NOT BELIEVE THE ADMISSIONS PERSON, THE PARKING IS NOT WORTH IT!! ALWAYS ASK AROUND BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR DISCISION AND BE INVOVLED IF YOU CAN. STAY ON TOP OF THE INSURANCE DAYS YOURSELF, SO IF YOU NEED TO MOVE THEM YOU CAN. TAKE A TABLET AND DOCUMENT, NAMES NEW MEDS WHEN AND WHAT YOU TELL THEM. BEWARE IF YOU LOVE YOUR FAMILY! KINDRED SHOULD BE PUT ON PROBATION AND ALL AREAS MANDATORY TEACHING. CHRONIC, DOES NOT MEAN DO NOT PRACTICE PREVENTION OR DO NOT FOLLOW PROTOCALS TO HELP KEEP THEM FROM BECOMING SEPTIC AND DYING! IT JUST MEENS THIS IS AN ONGOING POSSIBILITY OF A PROBLEM AND IN HEALTH CARE WE ATTEMPT TO PREVENT. PREVENTION TAKES A VILLAGE OF PEOPLE...