New facility will expand access to specialized rehabilitation care for patients across West Virginia
Vandalia Health and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation celebrated the groundbreaking of a new rehabilitation hospital in Charleston, West Virginia. The new facility marks the next chapter of a partnership designed to bring specialized rehabilitation closer to home.
Known as Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation at Vandalia Health Charleston Area Medical Center, the new facility will be part of the CAMC General Hospital Campus. It will connect to the CAMC Outpatient Surgery Center via skywalk, streamlining access between multiple service lines.
Community leaders, former patients, caregivers and representatives from Mary Free Bed and Vandalia Health gathered to recognize the milestone, celebrating a shared commitment to restoring hope and freedom through rehabilitation.
The groundbreaking comes nearly two years after Vandalia Health and Mary Free Bed announced a joint operating agreement to enhance the rehabilitation services at CAMC General Hospital. Since launching the partnership in January 2025, the organizations have worked together to align clinical expertise and operational best practices to provide patient-centered care across the region.
The partnership combines Vandalia Health’s deep roots in West Virginia with Mary Free Bed’s nationally recognized expertise in rehabilitation.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our patients, community and Vandalia Health,” said Jeff Sandene, president and CEO of Vandalia Health. “This new rehabilitation hospital will continue to enhance the clinical expertise and patient experience begun by our partnership with Mary Free Bed while adding much-needed capacity, ensuring more patients can receive specialized rehabilitation services close to home.”
The new hospital will feature three stories and more than 93,000 square feet dedicated to comprehensive rehabilitation services. Plans include:
- 50-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit spread across two floors
- Outpatient therapy and rehabilitation services
- Rehabilitation physician specialty clinics
- Orthotics & Prosthetics + Bionics services
- Advanced rehabilitation technology
- Outdoor therapy garden
- Additional patient, family and clinical support spaces
The facility represents a significant investment in the future of rehabilitation care in West Virginia and will serve more patients from throughout the state and surrounding region.
Rehabilitation is a critical step in recovery for people rebuilding their lives after stroke, amputation, spinal cord injury and other medically complex events. Expanding access to specialized rehabilitation care expands access to care itself, strengthening existing support systems for patients and families throughout the region.
“Rehabilitation can be life-changing by helping people regain mobility, confidence and independence after some of life’s greatest challenges,” said Bruce Brasser, chief operating officer at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation. “Through our partnership with Vandalia Health, we’re expanding access to that care for more patients and families across West Virginia. This new hospital is about creating more opportunities for recovery, hope and freedom for the communities we serve.”
Patients all over West Virginia have already benefited from the partnership between Mary Free Bed and Vandalia Health. Marshall Murray is a 62-year-old teacher and stroke survivor from Beckley, WV. He shared his rehabilitation journey during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Murray experienced his second stroke in August 2025 and was admitted to Mary Free Bed at Vandalia Health for inpatient rehabilitation after previously staying at a different facility for his first stroke. “Their knowledge helped me. I’m a self-starter, and they pushed me to keep striving to get better,” said Murray. “This new building will be a hub for rehabilitation, and more people will be able to take advantage of their expertise.” Today, Murray is back in the classroom working with his students, a living example of the power of rehabilitation.
Construction is being led by BBL Carlton alongside design teams Diekema Hamann and Pickering. The project is expected to be completed in early 2029, with patient care anticipated to begin shortly thereafter. Once complete, the hospital will serve as a destination for comprehensive rehabilitation services while helping patients and families remain connected to their communities during recovery.
About Vandalia Health
Vandalia Health, headquartered in Charleston, is a multi-state health system with locations across West Virginia as well as in Maryland, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Made up of CAMC Health System, Davis Health System and Mon Health System, 18 hospitals provide a variety of services, including the only kidney transplant center in southern West Virginia. The health system also functions as a Level I Trauma Center, a Level I pediatric intensive care unit and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit.
Outpatient services include 220 locations, employing more than 14,500 team members and more than 2,000 doctors and advanced practice providers.
Additionally, the Institute for Academic Medicine provides education, outreach and research support to student physicians and other medical professionals hosting more than 1,000 students daily in programs leading to degrees or certifications in health professions.
For more information, including a map of locations, visit vandaliahealth.org.
About Mary Free Bed
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation is a not-for-profit, internationally accredited and nationally recognized leader in rehabilitation. Guided by its mission of restoring hope and freedom through rehabilitation, what started with a single bed in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1891 has grown into a rehabilitation system with more than 2,500 team members across 70 locations in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Virginia and West Virginia. Last year, Mary Free Bed served more than 120,000 children and adults through more than 120 specialized medical, pediatric and sports rehabilitation programs and is expanding access to care through the development of a new children’s rehabilitation hospital. U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek named Mary Free Bed among the nation’s Best Rehabilitation Hospitals for 2026-27. Learn more at maryfreebed.com.
