Case Study: Green Hills Center for Rehabilitation and Healing Q 2 2026
Concierge Name: L. Norman
Patient’s Name: Shelia Coplen
Patient’s Age: 74 Years Old
Admission Date: 2/24/2026
Admitted From: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Discharge Date: 6/6/2026
Discharged To: Home with support from family
Length of Stay: 19 weeks
Reason for Stay: Skilled Rehabilitation
Details of experience:
Shelia C was admitted to the hospital on February 6, 2026, due to back pain and a sacral wound. Following an assessment, it was determined she had bilateral unstageable heel wounds. To address a lack of circulation, she underwent a left below-knee amputation (L BKA) on February 19. After initial post-surgical care, she was referred to the Green Hills Center for Rehabilitation and Healing for occupational and physical therapy to improve her independence and prepare for a return home.
Shelia was admitted to the Green Hills Center for Rehabilitation and Healing on 2/24/2026. Upon arrival, Shelia was greeted by the charge nurse, CNA, Admissions Director, Social Service Director, members of the rehabilitation team, and the Dietary Manager. Within the first 48 hours, the staff assisted her in acclimating to the community and helped establish her primary goals: building strength and endurance, learning to navigate with her prosthetic, and eventually returning to her church to walk up the steps.
During her stay, Shelia enjoyed the community’s activity programs and dining services. The therapy team focused on upper-body strengthening, adaptive equipment training, and balance while she awaited healing of her L BKA and readiness of her prosthetic. She also took the initiative to roll herself around the community to help build her endurance.
A highlight of her journey was her participation in CARP, CareRite Centers’ Comprehensive Amputee Rehabilitation Program. Through FaceTime calls and an in-person visit with Paralympic Gold Medalists Todd Schaffhauser and Dennis Oehler, Shelia’s motivation increased. She noted that Todd’s advice to “slow down and have patience” and Dennis’s encouragement to “keep pushing” helped keep her focused on her goal of walking up her church steps.
After receiving her prosthetic on May 18, Shelia progressed to dynamic movements, balance training with a rolling walker, and community mobility exercises, including navigating stairs and the outdoor courtyard. Shelia praised her therapy team, specifically highlighting Steve and Fred in PT as “magnificent” and noting that Kelli, Aisha, and Chelsea in OT were “amazing” in helping her build core strength and learn daily living tasks like getting dressed.
Shelia gained significant strength and independence during her 19-week stay. She was discharged on June 6, 2026, to return home with family support and continued home health services. The team at Green Hills Center for Rehabilitation and Healing is thankful that Shelia chose to entrust us with her recovery journey and wishes her the best in her continued progress.