Abstract
A patient status post emergent coronary artery bypass grafting with cardiopulmonary bypass was seen for 14 days for a total of 20 physical therapy treatments. The treatments were provided by a student physical therapist under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.The patient was initially evaluated 1 day after surgery using the numeric pain rating scale, functional strength testing, the Mini Mental State Exam, the Activity Measure of Post-Acute Care “6 clicks”, and gait velocity calculated from the 2-minute walk test. The patient’s strength was grossly intact, however, other impairments including cardiovascular deficits and functional mobility limitations challenged the patient’s pre-operative goal of returning home. Significant cognitive impairments were identified through the Mini Mental State Exam and on observation. A plan of care was established accordingly to meet the patient’s goal of being discharged home following acute stay. The plan included increased treatment frequency for cognitive stimulation and a general progression for mobility and transfer training. At the time of discharge, the patient demonstrated improved cognition, mobility, and cardiovascular endurance. The patient was discharged home into the care of her son and referral for home health physical therapy.