Mary Free Bed outpatient locations open for rehabilitation care
We’re making it safe and easy to get the care you need at several convenient locations. Would you rather receive virtual services from home? We can do that, too! In-Person Visits You can feel confident coming to see us. We’re following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and State of Michigan guidelines for disinfecting, distancing […]
Al remains ‘hard working and dedicated to his recovery’ from West Nile virus
For information about West Nile virus activity in Michigan and how to protect yourself, visit the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services website. It’s been more than three years since a mosquito bite changed the course of Al Walczak’s life. A small insect infected with the West Nile virus caused Al to develop serious […]
National association honors Mary Free Bed CEO with Leadership Award
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The American Medical Rehabilitation Providers Association (AMRPA) has recognized Kent Riddle, president and CEO of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, with the AMRPA National Leadership Excellence Award. The announcement was made Oct. 8 at AMPRA’s virtual Fall Educational Conference and Expo, where the medical rehabilitation industry celebrates excellence in the field. […]
Sales from Grand Rapids photographer’s new book to benefit Mary Free Bed Kids
Brian Kelly’s new passion project exemplifying his love for the city of Grand Rapids will help two local organizations near and dear to his heart. The popular Grand Rapids photographer is publishing a book of aerial photographs offering a unique perspective of the city. “AERIAL: Grand Rapids from Above” is a 100-page coffee table book […]
Mary Free Bed ranked Top Rehabilitation Center in Michigan by Newsweek
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Newsweek officials today announced their first ranking of rehabilitation organizations, and Mary Free Bed tops the list in Michigan for 2020. The ratings are based on quality of care, service and follow-up care in addition to accommodations and amenities. Newsweek partnered with global market research firm Statista Inc. to rank […]
Mary Free Bed names Chief Operating Officer
Mary Free Bed’s new Chief Operating Officer has more than 30 years of health care experience. Ingrid Cheslek joined Mary Free Bed in 2015 as the Chief Nursing Officer and in 2016 was also named Chief Clinical Operations Officer. The first woman to serve as COO at Mary Free Bed, Cheslek oversees all aspects of […]
Gary battles debilitating effects of West Nile virus with intensive rehabilitation
It took 65 days in three different hospitals before Gary Shepherd was able to return to the two things he loves most: his family and his farm. Gary’s from Onaway, a small town in northern Michigan where he owns Bonz Beach Farms. He grows fresh produce, makes maple syrup and honey, and cares for egg-laying chickens. During an off-season trip to Arizona In November 2019 with his father, everything changed. “I was running along, 10 […]
Guild awards scholarships for 2020-21 school year
The Mary Free Bed Guild has awarded 18 students a total of $80,000 in scholarships for their academic achievements. The Guild established the Minority Scholarship Program in 2006 to help students pursuing degrees in neuropsychology, nursing, orthotics, prosthetics and rehabilitation therapy programs. The Disability Scholarship Program began in 2013 for students with physical disabilities related to a brain injury, spinal cord […]
Campers enjoy Junior Wheelchair Sports Field Day
Twenty-five campers are having a ball this week at Junior Wheelchair Sports Field Day, a smaller version of Mary Free Bed Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports’ annual weeklong camp for kids with disabilities. That event, held the past 35 years, was canceled for safety reasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It was very important to us […]
New doctors begin rehabilitation-focused residency at Mary Free Bed
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Four physicians committed to excellence in rehabilitation and helping people rebuild their lives have begun post-graduate training in Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency. They were selected from an applicant pool of more than 300 candidates. The Class of 2023 begins the rigorous three-year program just a […]
Mary Free Bed graduates first class of PM&R residents
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Four physicians who came to Mary Free Bed from across the country will graduate Saturday in the inaugural class of the hospital’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency. The rigorous post-graduate program provides clinical, educational and research opportunities in all areas of PM&R, including amputation, brain injury, cancer, pediatrics, stroke and […]
The beat goes on for The Ghost Inside drummer seriously injured in 2015 crash
When Andrew Tkaczyk wrote a guest blog in 2016 about his recovery after a devastating traffic crash, the drummer for The Ghost Inside was very clear. “I have no doubt I’ll get back to doing what I love,” he wrote. “That’s still a while away, but I’m very confident it will happen. Very confident.” It’s […]
Rockford class shares final art project with Mary Free Bed
Students in Barb Kent’s Advanced 2D Art class at Rockford High School turned their final project of the school year into one they wanted to share with Mary Free Bed staff and patients. “Postcards from a Time We Will Never Forget” features more than 30 mixed media postcards with uplifting themes and messages of support for essential workers. “We hope these show support […]
Mask fabrication added to list of creative skills on Custom Seating and Assistive Tech team
Mary Free Bed’s Custom Seating and Assistive Technology team is a creative bunch that finds solutions to life’s everyday challenges. From customized seating fabrication to tools that help patients complete tasks, there are few needs these therapists and tech experts can’t meet. So when the need arose to protect Mary Free Bed patients, visitors and staff members during the COVID-19 pandemic, they rose to the challenge. “Once we heard of the […]
Cindy marks her recovery a year after crash with video thanking doctors
Cindy Broekhuizen recently celebrated a milestone and wanted to mark the occasion with her doctors and team at Mary Free Bed. But with the COVID-19 pandemic cutting off visitation to the hospital, Cindy created a video to show her appreciation instead. She and her husband, Barry, agreed to let us share it with everyone. Cindy […]
Mary Free Bed Kids physical therapist donates masks in fight against COVID-19
When Kate Rustem heard area hospitals were accepting donations of homemade masks, she tapped into her crafting skills and a stash of fabric remnants. A physical therapist on the Mary Free Bed Kids outpatient team who’s on temporary leave, Kate created nearly 50 masks while also caring for her young niece and nephew when her […]
Update: West Michigan responds to call for masks and equipment
West Michigan residents and organizations are opening their hearts to Mary Free Bed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are grateful. Thanks to generous gifts to the Mary Free Bed Foundation’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, 30 iPads have been purchased to connect patients with their loved ones, health care providers, spiritual leaders and interpreters for those […]
COVID-19: Protecting our patients, staff and community
Updated: Nov. 13, 2020 Mary Free Bed’s priority is the safety of our patients, staff and community. Our experts are working diligently to protect everyone’s health through enhanced protocols and added resources. These measures follow national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and State of Michigan mandates due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Mary Free […]
Barb learns ‘Progress not Perfection’ on journey to health with Weight Management Program
Barb Baker is a recent graduate of Mary Free Bed’s initial Weight Management program, Foundation, and is continuing her journey with Stride for continued support and education. In this Q&A, Barb shares why she chose to participate in the program and the affect it’s had on her health. Not only has Barb lost more than […]
Mary Free Bed Shares Expertise Nationally With Launch of Advisory Group
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – During the past 129 years, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan has earned a reputation for outstanding clinical outcomes, superior patient satisfaction and reasonable rates. Because there’ve been regular requests for information and advice, hospital officials decided to create the Mary Free Bed Advisory Group. A division of […]
Mary Free Bed Shares Expertise Nationally With Launch of Advisory Group
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – During the past 129 years, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan has earned a reputation for outstanding clinical outcomes, superior patient satisfaction and reasonable rates. Because there’ve been regular requests for information and advice, hospital officials decided to create the Mary Free Bed Advisory Group. A division of […]
Protect yourself against coronavirus and other viruses: Wash your hands, avoid touching your face, stay away from people who are sick
With a surge in cases of COVID-19 and nearly 3,000 deaths worldwide, concerns and questions arise regarding the risks to people around the world. The World Health Organization has declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global health emergency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is monitoring the rapidly evolving outbreak that emerged in Wuhan City, […]
Education is an important part of pain rehabilitation
From our experts: Nicole DeHaan is a physical therapist and therapeutic pain specialist in Mary Free Bed’s Pain Rehabilitation program. As a member of the program’s team of experts, she works with patients to reduce their chronic pain and improve their ability to function. People with chronic pain recognize the pain they’re experiencing is … […]
Faith, hope fuel ‘Miracle Malachi’s’ recovery from traumatic brain injury
One of life’s greatest lessons is how quickly it can change in a split second. That’s why, when the Griffin family gathers this week to celebrate Thanksgiving, they’ll give thanks for second chances. “We look for every moment we can to celebrate,” said Thomas Griffin, his son, Malachi, sitting by his side. They were visiting […]
Fueled by faith and love, Bonnie focuses on recovery from stroke to attend daughter’s wedding
Bonnie Gordon was slalom skiing on Gull Lake near Hickory Corners, enjoying the company of her family, the water’s cool spray and the warmth of an August morning. Then she began to feel winded. “All of a sudden everything was blurry, and I was in the water,” Bonnie said. Family members got her onto the […]
Recreational power soccer team forming for power wheelchair users
Mary Free Bed’s Wheelchair & Adaptive Sports program is gearing up to add power soccer to its roster of teams for people with disabilities. It will join more than 250 teams from around the world competing in one of the fastest-growing sports on four wheels. Power soccer is the first competitive team sport designed for […]
Love is in the air: Rick’s rehabilitation team helps bring daughter’s wedding to Mary Free Bed
When patients and their loved ones come to Mary Free Bed, they become part of the Mary Free Bed family, and “family’s the most important thing.” That’s why Rick Kitchen’s wife, Beth, and daughter, Jaslyn, united with his Mary Free Bed team to make sure he’d be part of a very special family celebration. Rick […]
Embrace heart health with these nutrition tips for a healthy lifestyle
From our experts: Jessi Holden is a registered dietitian/nutritionist at Mary Free Bed. February is American Heart Month, and there’s no better time to discuss heart health. Nutrition is a critical component of a healthy lifestyle and a vital way to fight heart disease. Here are some ways to ramp up your heart health: 1. […]
Mary Free Bed launches Patient and Family Advisory Council
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital recently launched a Patient and Family Advisory Council, a steering committee tasked with creating better experiences for patients, caregivers and team members. The PFAC will meet quarterly, but committees will hold monthly workgroup sessions with specific goals. Members will look at ways to promote patient- and […]
Mary Free Bed launches Patient and Family Advisory Council
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital recently launched a Patient and Family Advisory Council, a steering committee tasked with creating better experiences for patients, caregivers and team members. The PFAC will meet quarterly, but committees will hold monthly workgroup sessions with specific goals. Members will look at ways to promote patient- and […]