From Italy to Tennessee: Karen's Journey Back Home to TriStar Hendersonville
Karen Privitera set out on a dream trip to Italy with one of her closest friends, expecting days of adventure. Instead, her journey took an unexpected turn when she became seriously ill. What began as a fever and chills quickly escalated into something more severe, forcing her to step away from her tour and seek medical care far from home.
Karen was admitted to a hospital in a remote part of Italy, where her condition continued to worsen. She received a sepsis diagnosis and became weaker with each passing day. Isolated and growing sicker, she wanted to return home to the care team she trusted at TriStar Hendersonville Medical Center.
After nearly two weeks in an Italian hospital, Karen was finally stable enough to travel home. She is the director of facilities for Parallon, part of HCA Healthcare, and as an HCA Healthcare colleague, she has access to the MedVac benefit. MedVac arranged her emergency return to the United States and provided a nurse who stayed by her side throughout the international journey. Once back in Nashville, Karen was admitted directly to TriStar Hendersonville, where she could continue her recovery closer to home.
Karen’s history with TriStar Hendersonville spans more than 20 years, including a knee replacement, shoulder surgery and outpatient therapy. She had always appreciated the high-quality care she received, but this experience deepened her appreciation for the people who care for patients every day.
At TriStar Hendersonville, Karen was cared for by an infectious disease physician and an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Debelak, who worked together to guide her treatment and recovery. As part of that care, she underwent a procedure on her knee to treat the infection.
Karen found more than treatment for her illness. She found comfort, compassion and a care team that understood the emotional toll of becoming serious ill while overseas. From the moment she arrived, colleagues supported her emotionally and physically, reflecting TriStar Health’s focus on patient-centered care.
“Those eight days in Hendersonville Medical Center didn’t just heal my body, it helped restore my spirit, my faith, my grace,” Karen said. “They reminded me what it truly felt like to be cared about and loved as a person and as a patient, and just what safety feels like and should feel like.”
Being treated close to her home in White House also allowed Karen’s family to visit regularly, something she describes as vital to her recovery.
Today, Karen is participating in physical therapy at the TriStar Hendersonville outpatient rehabilitation center to help regain her strength and mobility. Karen continues to heal with a renewed appreciation for the people and purpose behind her care. Her experience is a powerful reminder of the positive impact that compassionate, individualized patient health solutions can have, especially when patients need it most.
At TriStar Hendersonville, Karen didn’t just return to a hospital. She returned to a place where care feels like family.