Mikey is a seven-year-old boy who, at age nine months was involved in an accident resulting in a brain injury. When IKOR® became involved a full assessment was done and RN care manager discovered many issues with his care. IKOR® addressed those issues and identified his needs and made him available all the resources to take care them. As a result Mikey now has a comfortable wheelchair, has easier entry exit from the home, Mikey goes to school and his medical care and therapy is being monitored by IKOR® RN regularly.
Issues and Challenges
• A wheelchair undersized for Mikey
• Mikey needed his hand splints resized to prevent contracture
• Mikey had a trach tube and a feeding tube in the stomach, which meant that he, could not speak or eat.
• There had been no testing to show that these things were impossible for Mikey to accomplish
• Mikey did not have a general pediatrician to address his medical needs
• Mikey was not attending any physical therapy or schooling, and no home schooling had been provided
• There were no wheelchair ramps inside or outside of the home
• Mikey had had no routine childhood immunizations which are not only required for school attendance, but essential for a child with a disability who may be more susceptible to diseases
• The van which was available to transport Mikey was not made to safely transport someone in a wheelchair
IKOR® Approach
• Mikey had a wheelchair that fit his growing body
• Mikey had re-sized hand splints made especially for him
• A new pediatrician was obtained who had experience in working with the challenges of head injury, and Mikey had been examined.
• All of the needed childhood immunizations for Mikey’s age had been completed, readying him for school
• Ramps were built to enable Mikey’s wheelchair to go into his shower and to provide an easier entrance/ exit from the home
• Mikey was interviewed and admitted to a public school geared to the special needs child, and the IKOR® nurse assured Mikey attendance during both winter and summer sessions to maximize his potential.
• A daily physical therapy program was initiated, first through the local Easter Seals, and when admission to school was completed, through Mikey’s new school
• The IKOR® nurse had successfully facilitated a tonsillectomy which the specialists had reported was necessary before the removal of the trach could be addressed
• Mikey’s trach was successfully removed
• A new van was located which was designed to safely transport Mikey in his wheelchair
Case Outcome
IKOR® ’s work with Mikey is ongoing, and so is the progress!
