A Winning Team

Purdue basketball legend Gene Keady attributes the success of his wife Pat’s recovery to the care of the all-star team at the St.Vincent family of hospitals.

In his 25 years at the helm of the Purdue basketball program, Mr. Keady never faced a serious health issue. Then, his wife, Pat, suffered a heart attack at home in Lafayette.

When Dr. Rydell, whose son plays basketball for Purdue, recommended she be transferred to St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana for open heart surgery, Mr. Keady didn’t know what to expect.

“We had spent our lives involved in basketball and traveling; this was all new,” said Mr. Keady. “I am thankful for the staff’s regular efforts to keep me relaxed and informed throughout Pat’s time in the hospital.”

A Tougher Bracket
While preparing for open heart surgery, Mrs. Keady learned she also had cancer. Because her coronary artery disease was of a critical nature, her physicians determined she should have the open heart surgery before returning to a St.Vincent facility for cancer treatment.

“I first saw Pat in consultation at St.Vincent Heart Center of Indiana—weak, malnourished, and unable to get off the ventilator after surgery,” said Ronald Reisman, M.D., critical care physician and chief medical officer at St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital. “Over the course of several months, we got her strong, off the breathing machine to rehabilitation, and then home. It was a tremendous transformation.”

Team Spirit
At St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital— a 74-bed facility for medically complex patients—Mrs. Keady received the focused support she needed. Providing high-tech and high-touch care from the moment she arrived until the time she was ready to transfer for rehabilitation, the staff was a team she and Mr. Keady could count on.
“When I think of St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital, I think of kindness, respect, love, and caring,” said Mrs. Keady. “I can’t say enough about the physicians and nurses—they saved my life and the lives of several other people while I was there.”

Team Defense
Physicians at St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital work in a variety of specialties to help improve a patient’s condition and achieve the next level of care. Managing pain, the anxiety of the patient, and day and night cycles helps to ensure patients are getting adequate rest.

“At St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital, we are trying to redefine care for critically ill patients,” said Dr. Reisman. “After patients are stable, we provide a full-time case manager and case workers to facilitate long-term recovery—a better choice for patients and their families.”

The Next Step
Sometimes taking patients that other facilities deem too ill to treat, St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital and its staff do not let patients give up. The availability of the chaplain can be a tremendous comfort to patients and family members, but other staff members make an impression as well.

“I often had people who I didn’t know stop by to say hello, bringing a card or a flower or just spending some time,” said Mrs. Keady. “The physicians and staff would not let me get depressed, remaining upbeat about my progress and keeping me focused on what was ahead. The only time I was depressed was when I was ready for rehabilitation and had to leave all the people with whom I had grown so close.”

It’s a Family Affair
The St.Vincent family of ministries provides a continuum of care that guided Mrs. Keady’s healing process through multiple facilities. From entry points at local hospitals to specialized care in Indianapolis to long-term acute care at St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital, and then rehabilitation before heading home, the process was smooth for the Keadys, allowing them to focus on healing.

“The team at St.Vincent Seton Specialty Hospital were my kind of team,” said Mr. Keady. “They listened to our needs and concerns. They were always at our side during Pat’s hospitalization and are available for questions now that we are home.”