Reason for Admission: Crush injury; Major multiple trauma; Workers’ compensation
Hospital: PAM Health Specialty Hospital of Denver; PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Westminster
Steve Mills is a 58-year-old man who was working for a waste management service when he was pinned between the truck and a trash bin for about one hour on December 20, 2021. Mr. Mills lost consciousness and sustained multiple fractures and internal injuries. He experienced acute hypoxic respiratory failure and was intubated and placed on a ventilator. Eventually he needed a tracheostomy tube placement. Both of his lungs were punctured and he became anemic because of the acute blood loss.
Mr. Mills arrived at PAM Health Specialty Hospital of Denver on January 13th, 2022. After two days, he no longer needed the ventilator. Shortly after that, he was walking through the hospital hallways and lobby using a walker. His tracheostomy tube was removed 4 days after admission on January 19. He remained on oxygen at 3-4 liters per nasal cannula until his transfer to PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Westminster.
Mr. Mills began his inpatient rehab journey on January 26. Initially, he needed assistance with all self-care and could not walk more than 50 feet or climb stairs. By the time he left for home on February 3, he was able to do all of his own self-cares and walk without assistance except when outside or bending over to pick up something.
By the time he was discharged, he was able to breathe without supplemental oxygen. After another rib surgery, he is back home and said, “(I am) feeling better, walking down to the end of my street and going to outpatient physical therapy.” Mr. Mills credits a large part of his recovery to the PAM Health teams: “The whole staff at PAM – I made a lot of good friends and wouldn’t be as far as I would without them. All the good food and the good people!”
Reflecting on his journey, Mr. Mills said, “I arrived there (PAM Health Denver) in pretty tough shape, but my stay was surprisingly short. My progress allowed me to be transferred to a physical therapy-focused facility in Westminster (PAM Health Westminster). After a short stay (there), I was ready to go home. I have the fine folks at both facilities to thank for my speedy recovery.”
