A Patient-Centered Recovery

Last winter Candy Jones spent a week on the Inpatient Care Unit following a medical procedure. While recuperating, she became a fan of Brookings Health System’s facility, care and people.

“I wasn’t quite ready to be on my own. I live alone,” said Candy. “So I came to Brookings Health System for their swing bed program, and that allowed me to stay for a few days, learn how to take care of the things I needed help with, and to just get a little stronger.”

Candy felt comfortable in her large hospital room that accommodated her family and included a hide-a-bed for her daughter to stay overnight. She also enjoyed the large windows that let in the sunlight and made her room cheerful.

“It’s very inviting, and I can’t say that’s traditionally true of hospitals,” said Candy. “It’s very well designed, right down to the extra outlets for your electronics. Usually there are outlets, but they are clear over on the other wall or they’re all designed for medical equipment. These are clearly for patients.”

The care team’s patient-centered approach further impressed Candy. 

“There’s no defining lines about what their job is other than whatever they can do for you to accomplish your goals. And for me that was to get stronger. 
If I needed to go for a walk, they took me for a walk because I wasn’t allowed to go by myself. If I needed to get up for some reason, they came and made sure I was okay in that transition,” said Candy. “Anything I needed they were there and not just willing to do it, but happy to do it. I’ve never met such a positive group of people.”

In addition, the team treated Candy’s family like guests. 

“They were very aware of taking care of the family emotionally as well as my medical issues. And I appreciated that because that made it easier for me.”

Brookings Health’s team also arranged services to help Candy return home.

“They set me up with so many aids, things that I wouldn’t have known to do if I had just gone home on my own,” said Candy. “I had all kinds of people I could contact. They arranged for in-home care for the things I needed. They helped me figure out transportation because I had daily visits to the hospital. Things I would have been able to handle easily on my own healthy, but when you don’t feel well, it’s just so overwhelming.”

By handling those details and having the facility, care and people focused on her specific needs, Brookings Health delivered to Candy an excellent recovery experience. 

Hear more about Candy’s experience at www.brookingshealth.org/CandyJ.