Respiratory Therapy
At Mary Free Bed, our respiratory therapy services are an integral part of comprehensive rehabilitation for adults and children. Whether you need support with ventilator care, CPAP/BiPAP equipment, or other respiratory challenges, our personalized approach ensures you feel confident, cared for, and on the path to better health and independence.
What is Respiratory Therapy?
Respiratory therapists focus on improving breathing, enhancing mobility and supporting long-term respiratory health.
At Mary Free Bed, our specialized programs provide the tools, training, and care you need to manage your respiratory needs effectively at home and during rehabilitation.
Meet the Team: Rebecca Brower, RRT, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
Your Therapy Team
Our respiratory therapists work closely with you and your care team to provide comprehensive, patient-centered support. They’re here to help you every step of the way by:
· Collaborating daily with our pulmonologists during multidisciplinary rounds to ensure individualized, evidence-based care plans.
· Reviewing and refining protocols regularly to stay aligned with best practices and to promote consistent, high-quality care.
· Taking a creative approach to lung recruitment and ventilator management, tailoring strategies to each patient’s unique needs.
· Utilizing in-house diagnostics and pulmonary assessments to guide timely interventions and optimize patient outcomes.
· Fostering strong teamwork and communication with all members of the care team to ensure every patient’s progress is supported from admission through discharge.
· Customizing therapy plans: Tailoring respiratory therapy to address your specific lung or breathing conditions for optimal results.
· Guiding equipment selection: Assisting with specialized medical equipment, such as ventilators or CPAP/BiPAP devices, to support your breathing needs.
· Empowering families: Offering condition-specific education and hands-on training to help families feel confident and informed about care at home.
Specialized Respiratory Therapy Programs
It's a simple question, but the answer can reveal so much. At Mary Free Bed, we know that sleep is the foundation for health, healing, and quality of life. For people living with sleep apnea, restful nights can feel out of reach. Our sleep program is designed to change that – helping patients breathe easier, rest better, and wake up feeling ready for life.
Our Adult Ventilator Program is designed to provide early intervention and rehabilitation for patients requiring ventilator support.
Program Highlights:
- Focus on Mobility: Encouraging safe movement and activity throughout the hospital to build strength, confidence, and independence. Our team helps patients engage in mobility at every level — from positioning and transfers to therapeutic exercise — to support recovery and improve quality of life.
- Family-centered care: Actively involving loved ones in the rehabilitation process to ensure they feel informed and confident.
- Personalized Therapy: Each patient’s ventilator weaning journey is unique. Our team follows evidence-based protocols while adapting care daily to your individual needs, progress, and goals. Through this personalized approach, we work together to promote ventilator independence, strength, and confidence at every stage of recovery.
- Expert Medical Leadership: Led by Dr. Eric Geiser, Adult Respiratory Director and THSM Pulmonologist, our program provides advanced clinical expertise and compassionate care for patients requiring complex respiratory support.
Admission Criteria: We accept both adult and pediatric patients who meet ventilator program criteria.
Our team partners closely with Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital hospitalists and pediatric pulmonologists to deliver seamless, coordinated care that supports children and their families throughout rehabilitation and beyond. The program is guided by Dr. Ajay Khilanani, Pediatric Respiratory Medical Director and Pediatric ICU physician, whose leadership and expertise continue to help our program grow and advance.
After discharge, families can expect continued support from our care team, ensuring a smooth transition to home or community settings.
For patients with complex airways, our interdisciplinary team develops individualized discharge plans that include caregiver training, equipment preparation, and follow-up coordination. This thoughtful approach helps patients transition safely to home or community settings while promoting independence, confidence, and long-term respiratory health.
Our on-site respiratory lab offers quick and accurate diagnostic testing and interventions. With immediate access to this resource, we can respond swiftly to patient needs, streamline care, and improve outcomes.
Benefits:
- Efficient diagnostics for faster care decisions.
- Integrated services for a seamless patient experience.
- High-quality respiratory support tailored to your recovery goals.
Why Choose Mary Free Bed for Respiratory Therapy?
At Mary Free Bed, we’re dedicated to delivering exceptional care that supports your health, independence, and quality of life.
Whether you’re starting your journey or transitioning home, our expert team is here to guide you every deep breath of the way.
Vent Mobility and Movement
Movement is an essential part of respiratory recovery. At Mary Free Bed, we emphasize daily activity, positioning, and gradual mobility as part of ventilator rehabilitation. Our goal is to help every patient, whether adult or pediatric, get on their feet and regain their highest level of independence and function.
For some, that may mean walking again; for others, it may mean gaining the strength, endurance and confidence to engage more fully in daily life. Supporting meaningful mobility, vent weaning, and progress is the focus of your stay.
Patient and Family Training
We understand that transitioning home with ventilator support can feel overwhelming. That’s why we provide thorough, hands-on training for patients and families before discharge. Our SIM lab allows families to learn in a safe, supportive environment using the same ventilator equipment they’ll have at home. This approach builds confidence, competence, and independence in performing bedside respiratory cares. Once patients and caregivers demonstrate proficiency, they are empowered to manage care safely– with our respiratory therapists closely overseeing and guiding the process every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are questions we often hear from patients who are interested in respiratory therapy. Talk with your treatment team about specific questions or concerns.
What is respiratory therapy?
Respiratory therapy helps people with breathing or lung-related conditions improve their respiratory function and quality of life.
What conditions do respiratory therapists treat?
They treat conditions such as sleep apnea, COPD, asthma, and patients requiring ventilator support.
What is the goal of ventilator weaning?
To safely and gradually reduce dependence on ventilator support, helping patients breathe independently.
Does Mary Free Bed offer pediatric respiratory programs?
Yes. We partner with Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital to provide specialized pediatric respiratory rehabilitation.
What’s happening at Mary Free Bed?
Ready to get started with Mary Free Bed?
Wherever you are in your journey, we’re ready when you are. Our team is here to listen, support and help guide your recovery. Whether you’re just starting out or picking up where you left off, we’re ready to support your goals—big and small.