Time for your Victory Lap!
Rehabilitation patients celebrate health strides by crossing the finish line
After five weeks at the Center for Rehabilitation at Wilmington Hospital, Stephen Kowalchuck is ready for his Victory Lap.
“The Victory Lap is kind of special,” said Kowalchuck. “It means you accomplished a lot in five weeks with the help of all these good people here.”
Kowalchuck was treated at Christiana Care’s inpatient rehabilitation unit following spinal surgery. He is one of more than 300 patients to celebrate this finish line of sorts since caregivers launched the Victory Lap in December.
“We developed the Victory Lap to improve outcomes and demonstrate optimal discharges, but also to use it as a tool to increase confidence in our patients,” said Jaime Phelan, TRS, rehabilitation coordinator. “As they are achieving their goals here in rehab it gives them an ability to practice their independence before going home.”
The Victory Lap’s effect spreads far beyond patient outcomes.
“We’ve seen a few different types of victories,” said Phelan. “One comes in our functional gains scores which have increased by 14%. The unexpected outcome we’ve had is the raw emotion we see with our patients, with their families, the other patients in the gym and our whole team. It’s truly energetic and compelling.”
Kowalchuck said the program made him feel like a winner. “I love the therapists and the nurses out here,” he said. “This hospital employs a lot of excellent professional people who help each other automatically. Nobody has to ask, they just help.”
The Center for Rehabilitation is certified as a comprehensive, stroke, brain injury and limb loss specialty program by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities.
“We strive for the exceptional care that our patients and our families value,” said Jennifer Thomas, MBA, MS, CCC-SLP, vice president of Rehabilitation Services. “We’re constantly looking for opportunities to improve so our patients have better outcomes and their family members are engaged with the care their loved ones receive.”
To learn more, visit Rehabilitation Services or call 302-320-6920.
