Bayhealth is proud to share that Margaret Gulledge, the program director for Inpatient Rehabilitation, Sussex Campus, has been named the 2018 Program Director of the Year for Kindred Hospital Rehabilitation Services (KHRS). Gulledge is contracted as the program director through KHRS, which is in partnership with Bayhealth to provide premier acute rehab services at the Sussex Campus. The company partners with more than 100 hospitals across the country.
A team of nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech pathologists, and physicians work together to provide patients inpatient rehabilitation. When she joined the team in fall 2017, Gulledge said the biggest challenge was making sure everyone was on the same page. The unit had a talented team, but needed consistency at the leadership level after going through several directors in a few years. In partnership with Bayhealth Senior Nurse Manager Kimberly Beddow, Gulledge very quickly implemented daily huddles and worked hand-in-hand with the team to change processes. “We celebrate all of our successes and build on them to see what we need to do to move forward,” Gulledge said.
As a therapist with three decades of experience, Gulledge says her background has helped her hone in on what staff needs to do to help patients get home. Every time a patient is admitted, team members ask two questions – what are the barriers to being discharged home and what is the patient’s biggest goal. “We know all about what it means to provide patient-centered care, but we need to know what it’s going to take to help a patient get home. Helping them walk is important, but it is not enough if the patient has three flights of stairs to walk up when they get home,” she said.
While her name may be on the award, Gulledge is quick to say this is a team recognition. “It honestly validates our work and is an affirmation that our team is doing the right thing for our patients,” Gulledge said.
Bayhealth Inpatient Rehabilitation, Sussex Campus treats a wide variety of patients, including stroke, brain injury, amputation of limbs, and more. The team is driven to give patients the tools to regain their independence. Visit Bayhealth.org/Inpatient-Rehabilitation to learn more about the inpatient rehabilitation at Bayhealth Sussex Campus.
