Drake Center: Specialized Medical & Rehabilitative Care

Karen A. Bauer, M.D.

As Medical Director of the Pulmonary Care/Ventilator Weaning Program at Drake, Karen Bauer guides one of the region’s leading programs in this field. Dr. Bauer rejoined Drake in 2007 after a previous tenure as medical director in the 1990s, when she was instrumental in establishing and building this highly successful program.

Drake Center successfully weans more ventilator patients and weans them faster than long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) benchmarks, according to a recent review of industry data. During a recent three-month period, Drake’s ventilator weaning rate averaged 93 percent—40 to 60 percent more patients weaned than in the benchmarks. And weaned patients reached this goal 30 to 50 percent faster than benchmarks.

Before Dr. Bauer’s 2007 return, she was on the medical staff at St. Luke Hospitals in Northern Kentucky. She earlier served in private practice for five years, specializing in internal and pulmonary medicine. The valuable experience she gained as a private practitioner has allowed Dr. Bauer to deliver a higher quality of care to her patients.

Due in part to her considerable experience and reputation, Dr. Bauer was named a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians. She is board-certified in both pulmonary medicine and critical care medicine.

Education

  • University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
  • Internship in Internal Medicine, Jewish Hospital, Cincinnati, OH
  • Residency in Internal Medicine, Jewish Hospital, Cincinnati, OH
  • Fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

Accreditations

  • Physician License in Ohio
  • Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Internal Medicine, 1986
  • Pulmonary Medicine, 1990 and 2000
  • Critical Care Medicine, 2006

Position

  • Medical Director, Pulmonary Care/Ventilator Weaning Program, Drake Center, Inc., Cincinnati, OH

Professional Affiliations

  • American College of Chest Physicians
  • American College of Physicians
  • Ohio Thoracic Society