The care team of the MemorialCare Rehabilitation Institute at Long Beach Medical Center invited past and current rehabilitation patients to a Luau-themed reunion, complete with hula dancers, a guitar player, hula attire photobooth and a heartfelt slideshow filled with videos of patients thanking the care team. This is the Rehabilitation Institute’s fourth annual reunion and the first one held since the COVID-19 pandemic, where everyone celebrates patients’ journeys back independence.
“We don’t get to see our patients much after they leave our Rehabilitation Institute and go into outpatient care, so it means a lot to see how far our patients have progressed,” says Jason R. Koh, D.O., medical director, MemorialCare Rehabilitation Institute at Long Beach Medical Center. “Their progress and happiness are why we chose this profession, and it makes our efforts worthwhile.”
Cristal Escoto, a former patient, was diagnosed with Guillan-Barre syndrome, a rare, autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves, which can paralyze the entire body. In her case, the lower half of her body was paralyzed, forcing her to relearn to walk.
“I was depressed when I first started rehab; it was so hard to get back on my feet again,” says Escoto. “The amount of time and effort the rehab team put in to helping me walk again meant a lot to me. They helped me get back on my feet even when I didn’t believe I ever would.”
The MemorialCare Rehabilitation Institute at Long Beach Medical Center offers comprehensive rehabilitation care utilizing the latest in rehabilitation equipment. Whether through physical therapy, occupational therapy or speech therapy, therapists maximize patients’ independence and quality of life. The MemorialCare Rehabilitation Institute at Long Beach Medical Center’s inpatient rehabilitation program is accredited by CARF International for its commitment to quality improvement, focusing on each patient’s unique needs, and monitoring the results of services.
