Page 70 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2017

GOLDEN YEARS real recovery
HealthSouth Rehabilitation
Ms. Pope recently returned to thank the staff, from left with Dr. Johns, Therapy Tech Andrew Hare, and Dr. Voulters.
Getting patients back into the community
story courtesy of HealthSouth Rehabilitation photos by Katherine Sowers
HealthSouth Rehabilitation
4500 13th St., Gulfport | 228.822.6955 www.healthsouthgulfport.com
Ms. Madonna Pope is a true patient success story and a testament to the importance of treatment in which HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Gulfport offers patients. Ms. Pope, who is 91 years old, came to HealthSouth in July after suffering a stroke. Her son, Randy Pope said “she didn’t feel bad but her speech was slurred. We rushed her to the hospital where she stayed for two weeks before coming to HealthSouth for 10 days.” Ms. Pope received physical therapy, occupational therapy, and intense speech therapy. Regaining her speech, which was very important to her, was a challenge she overcame during her stay.
As a skilled pianist, Ms. Pope was able to play beautifully again a few months after her stroke. She had previously played in her church and hopes to do so again. Patients like Ms. Pope illustrate why HealthSouth is a needed partner in the recovery process. She was able to go home with her son and return to her normal daily living. This type of specialized treatment offered by HealthSouth to Ms. Pope is the reason she and her family believe she successfully recovered and is leading a full life.
HealthSouth is a national company helping patients recover from debilitating illnesses or injury
and allowing them back to the community and their homes. The first HealthSouth in the state opened April 1st within Memorial Hospital. HealthSouth offers state of the art technology and a team of therapist who focus on patient deficits and work on specific needs. Each patient
is unique and therapy is customized to their goals. HealthSouth is a hospital level of care and is able to address complex medical conditions. Physicians provide daily patient rounding and a multi-disciplinary team meets to discuss each patient’s progress. Dr. Lee Voulters, who is the medical director, has a passion for rehabilitation. “We are very proud of what we have here. We are able to get patients back into the community,” said Dr. Voulters.
In addition to the therapy gym, patients have access to a simulated apartment and complete kitchen. The therapy team is able to work with patients so they can reconnect to everyday living skills including cooking, feeding, bathing and grooming and there is an also an assessment to measure a patient’s ability to drive. HealthSouth offers a safe discharge to ensure other patients will have positive outcomes like Ms. Pope.
70 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • November 2017
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