Encompass Health

Pharmacists do much more than fill prescriptions. See the behind the scene roles they play in keeping patients safe in our hospitals.

October is National Physical Therapy Month. Melissa Andhor, physical therapist, shares what it is like to work at an Encompass Health rehabilitation hospital and her favorite part of coming to work.

After experiencing a life-changing stroke or other illness, your doctor may recommend rehabilitation as the next step on the journey to recoverybut what does that mean, and where should rehabilitation take place?

Ten out of 12 people at a family barbecue in California contracted COVID-19. Randy Smith ended up in the ICU for two months fighting for his life. In addition to the virus, he had pneumonia, collapsed lungs, a stroke and respiratory failure. After being on a ventilator for a prolonged amount of time, Randy turned to the team at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Murrieta to help him regain the functions needed to walk, talk and eat again.

After beating COVID-19, musician Steve Barlotta had two goals for rehabilitation: to play saxophone again and be strong enough to walk out unassisted. Read Steve's amazing story and how he is one step closer to being able to bring his musical talent to crowds again.

Do you know what a Transient Ishcemic Attack or TIA is? More than 20 percent of those who have a major stroke experience one day before. However, the symptoms only last a few minutes causing many to ignore this early warning sign. Learn more about what a TIAs is and why it should not be ignored.

After developing sepsis, Gayle Fisk lost both of her legs, her left hand and part of her right hand. An endless source of hope and optimism, she discovered a new family at Encompass Health and lives life to the fullest.

MS is a chronic disease that impacts the central nervous system, disrupting the flow of information in the brain. Learn how inpatient rehabilitation can benefit some MS patients by helping build strength and regain independence.

When rehabilitation after knee replacement surgery wasn't going as it should, see how Lisa Sprague's occupational therapist helped her identify a surprising underlying condition. I was scared; I was relieved; there was so much going on in my mind, Sprague said. If I wouldn’t have gone to Encompass, I’d probably still be getting shots in my back for pain and wouldn’t be on the medicine I’m on to stop the progression of it. I thank God that I got in there, and they got answers, and I got the right treatment.

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic most of our hands were raw from obsessive washing, and social distancing meant holing up in your home and facetiming friends. However, as many shelter-in-place orders have been lifted and businesses are reopening, you may be yearning to get out and get back to some of those pre-pandemic routines. So, if these practices haven’t been top of mind lately, here’s a reminder on how to protect yourself and others.

Learn why a recent study concluded that inpatient rehabilitation is the superior setting of care for patients recovering from a stroke. The study included more than 99,000 stroke patients who received treatment at a skilled nursing facility or an inpatient rehabilitation hospital between January 2013 and November 2014.

As Americans become more accustomed to wearing face masks in public, the ability to breathe normally has become a common concern. By taking the time to focus on how we breathe, there are ways we can actually maintain and improve our respiratory health while following mask guidance to help curb the spread of COVID-19.

Even though she appeared to be at low-risk of developing complications from COVID-19, Lynn Schaefer describes herself as one of those people. She wore a mask in public well before it was the norm, and even wiped down groceries before bringing them into her home. However, when her husbandwho was deemed essentialwas sent home with a fever, all those precautionary measures wouldn’t matter. Lynn started inpatient rehabilitation after over a month in the acute care hospital and two weeks on a ventilator. See how rehabilitation helped her go from not being able to stand or walk to getting up and walking around on her own in just eight days.

After complications from a routine surgery left him unresponsive and without a heartbeat for more than 15 minutes, Kenny Santos arrived at rehabilitation unable even to sit on his own. Read Kenny's amazing story of overcoming adversity to accomplish goals many thought he never would.