Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital
Encyclopedia
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital was started and is led by the Mary Free Bed Guild of Grand Rapids, MI. This hospital
is currently an 80-bed, non-profit organization that provides rehabilitation
for people of all ages. Mary Free Bed serves Michigan
and the Midwest by offering inpatient and outpatient programs, physical therapy
clinics, and specialty medical treatment services.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital provides a range of rehab options from routine outpatient physical therapy services to comprehensive inpatient programs for individuals who have suffered from a devastating diagnosis
or life-changing accident. Mary Free Bed offers award-winning comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation for children and adults using an interdisciplinary approach. Also available are numerous specialty programs designed to increase the quality of life and independence of people with disabilities.
, a Grand Rapids attorney
, found a purse while walking on the sidewalk in 1891. He took the purse with him, hoping to find an owner. Upon opening the purse he only found six pennies, no way to identify the owner. At the same time, Taggart's sister-in-law
, Mrs. Van Cleve Ganson and Mary McQuewan placed a newspaper ad for free beds at the city's Union Benevolent Association Hospital. These free beds would help the city's sick poor. The group needed financial support in order to secure the use of another free bed. The six pennies were the first donation towards the "Mary Free Bed." The group requested money from the Grand Rapids community, asking for donations from people named Mary, as well as from people who knew someone with the name. Quickly, they raised enough money to use the free bed, which became known as the Mary Free Bed.
As the fund and need grew, the group of women became incorporated
as the Mary Free Bed Guild
of Grand Rapids. Later, the group became the hospital known today as Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.
By 1918 the group separated from the hospital and began caring for crippled children. The guild opened a 12-bed convalescent home for children at 1411 East Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The home received designation in 1935 as the Orthopedic Center of Western Michigan
by the state Crippled Children's Commission. In order to provide custom orthotics
, brace (orthopaedic) and supports the guild opened their own brace shop.
“For many years the women of Mary Free Bed Guild had cherished a dream— a dream of their own completely equipped hospital and to that end, a building fund was established years ago, rigidly earmarked for building purposes only. This money came to the home through gifts by interested individuals, bequests from the Sligh Estate, State funds and—the entire program was made possible through the generosity of people interested in the development of children.”
In 1946 the Guild continued to increase their treatment and rehabilitation programs for children by establishing the Juvenile Amputee Training Center, in-patient and out-patient clinic for cerebral palsy
and the Juvenile Paraplegic Training Center. Later a rheumatic fever
ward was added and by 1953, the name was changed to Mary Free Bed Guild Children's Hospital and Orthopedic Center. Eventually the hospital added music and speech therapy.
To serve an increasing number of patients not requiring 24-hour care, the hospital began offering outpatient services in 1960. Then the hospital began an adult rehabilitation program and they expanded care for spinal injury and stroke
patients. Because of the addition of adult patients the hospital was renamed Mary Free Bed Hospital and Rehabilitation Complex in 1966. Also, to reflect this addition, 12 men joined the 12 existing women on the guild’s board of trustees.
Now, 120 guild and junior guild women continue the 100+ year tradition of serving disabled people by operating the 80-bed Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. They are one of the few hospitals in the country still owned by a women's guild. Today, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is a free-standing, non-profit organization devoted to comprehensive rehabilitation for adults and children. Mary Free Bed offers many inpatient and outpatient programs, physical therapy clinics, and specialty medical treatment services for adults and children throughout Michigan, the Midwest states, and beyond.
Inside Mary Free Bed
For adult and pediatric patients alike, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital provides comprehensive rehabilitation services. All programs include inpatient, outpatient, and clinic services. In addition to doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who are specifically trained in rehabilitation treatment and care, patients benefit from a therapy gym with state-of-the-art equipment and ample treatment space. And, to make rehabilitation quicker, smoother, and more effective, Mary Free Bed offers a variety of specialized therapy areas, including: Independence Square , Activities of Daily Living (ADL) apartment, a practice car, therapeutic pool, and an outdoor Therapath.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is Joint Commission and CARF accredited in inpatient rehabilitation and has earned special CARF accreditation for brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, and pediatric programs.
Inpatient Programs
Mary Free Bed's inpatient programs specialize in adult brain injury, spinal cord injury or disease, pediatric and adolescent programs, stroke, and orthopaedics. They also see other diagnoses including amputations, multiple fractures, neurological and neuromuscular disorders, multiple sclerosis, general deconditioning, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and West Nile virus, among others.
Outpatient Programs and Specialty Services
Mary Free Bed's Outpatient Therapy Center offers comprehensive outpatient therapy, with direct physiatry involvement, and is available to pediatric and adult patients. Each patient meets with multi-discilpinary teams to create an individualized treatment plan that is aimed at getting patients back to living a full life.
Clinic Services
The clinic is multidisciplinary and comprehensive, so in addition to the doctors and nursing staff, other specialty areas are available, if needed.
Continuum of Care
Every patient benefits from Mary Free Bed's continuum of care. A team of rehab doctors, therapists, and other specialists is assigned to each patient to make sure their needs are met. This team stays with the patient throughout his or her treatment and follow-up care.
Patients can become part of Mary Free Bed's continuum of care no matter their point of entry. Point of entry may be when a patient comes to Mary Free Bed immediately following an injury or diagnosis or when he or she moves to the West Michigan area with an existing disability or illness and needs experienced rehabilitation care.
Quality Leadership Award
Michigan's Highest Honor for Organizational Performance Excellence
Aster Awards Gold Winner | Excellence in Medical Marketing
Patient Handbook and Annual Report
26th Annual Healthcare Advertising Bronze Winner
Patient Handbook
26th Annual Healthcare Advertising Merit Winner
Annual Report
Voted “Best of Michigan” by Corp! Magazine Readers
Best of Michigan Businesses
2008–2009
Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Recognition of support and services to improve company's health through unified action with Michigan healthcare providers
2008
25th Annual Healthcare Advertising Gold Award
Marketing Materials
25th Annual Healthcare Advertising Silver Award
Television Advertising
eHealthcare Leadership Silver Award
Best Employee Recruitment Web Site for Specialty Hospital
101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For
Outstanding Human Resources Practices
2007
Michigan Quality Council Navigator Recognition
Sustained Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Health Care Weekly Award of Excellence
Commitment to Exceptional Quality, Service, and Excellent Business Practices
2006
23rd Annual Healthcare Advertising Merit Winner
Television Spot/Single Spot (Caring Eyes)
23rd Annual Healthcare Advertising Silver Winner
Special Video Production
2005
101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For
Outstanding Human Resources Practices
22nd Annual Healthcare Advertising Gold Award
Total Advertising Campaign (with TV)
2004
Women’s Resource Center Pillar Award
Empowering Women at Work
2003
United Way Silver Award
Contribution to Community with Most Critical Needs
2002
American Heart Association | American Heart Walk
Top New Company
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503
800.528.8989
Info@MaryFreeBed.com
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
is currently an 80-bed, non-profit organization that provides rehabilitation
Physical medicine and rehabilitation
Physical medicine and rehabilitation , physiatry or rehabilitation medicine, is a branch of medicine that aims to enhance and restore functional ability and quality of life to those with physical impairments or disabilities. A physician having completed training in this field is referred to as a...
for people of all ages. Mary Free Bed serves Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and the Midwest by offering inpatient and outpatient programs, physical therapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
clinics, and specialty medical treatment services.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital provides a range of rehab options from routine outpatient physical therapy services to comprehensive inpatient programs for individuals who have suffered from a devastating diagnosis
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the identification of the nature and cause of anything. Diagnosis is used in many different disciplines with variations in the use of logics, analytics, and experience to determine the cause and effect relationships...
or life-changing accident. Mary Free Bed offers award-winning comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation for children and adults using an interdisciplinary approach. Also available are numerous specialty programs designed to increase the quality of life and independence of people with disabilities.
History
One story says, Moses TaggartMichigan Attorney General
The Attorney General of Michigan is the fourth-ranking official in the U.S. state of Michigan and one of four great offices of state. The officeholder is elected statewide in the November general election alongside the governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, members of the Senate and...
, a Grand Rapids attorney
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, found a purse while walking on the sidewalk in 1891. He took the purse with him, hoping to find an owner. Upon opening the purse he only found six pennies, no way to identify the owner. At the same time, Taggart's sister-in-law
Sister-in-law
A sister-in-law is the sister of one's spouse, the wife of one's sibling, or sometimes the wife of one's spouse's sibling...
, Mrs. Van Cleve Ganson and Mary McQuewan placed a newspaper ad for free beds at the city's Union Benevolent Association Hospital. These free beds would help the city's sick poor. The group needed financial support in order to secure the use of another free bed. The six pennies were the first donation towards the "Mary Free Bed." The group requested money from the Grand Rapids community, asking for donations from people named Mary, as well as from people who knew someone with the name. Quickly, they raised enough money to use the free bed, which became known as the Mary Free Bed.
As the fund and need grew, the group of women became incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
as the Mary Free Bed Guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
of Grand Rapids. Later, the group became the hospital known today as Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital.
By 1918 the group separated from the hospital and began caring for crippled children. The guild opened a 12-bed convalescent home for children at 1411 East Fulton Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The home received designation in 1935 as the Orthopedic Center of Western Michigan
Western Michigan
West Michigan and Western Michigan are terms for an arbitrarily selected region in the U.S. state of Michigan in its Lower Peninsula. There is no official definition for what constitutes "West Michigan." The area of West Michigan may also include parts Southern Michigan.-Definition:In general,...
by the state Crippled Children's Commission. In order to provide custom orthotics
Orthotics
Orthotics is a specialty within the medical field concerned with the design, manufacture and application of orthoses. An orthosis is an orthopedic device that supports or corrects the function of a limb or the torso...
, brace (orthopaedic) and supports the guild opened their own brace shop.
“For many years the women of Mary Free Bed Guild had cherished a dream— a dream of their own completely equipped hospital and to that end, a building fund was established years ago, rigidly earmarked for building purposes only. This money came to the home through gifts by interested individuals, bequests from the Sligh Estate, State funds and—the entire program was made possible through the generosity of people interested in the development of children.”
In 1946 the Guild continued to increase their treatment and rehabilitation programs for children by establishing the Juvenile Amputee Training Center, in-patient and out-patient clinic for cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
and the Juvenile Paraplegic Training Center. Later a rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
ward was added and by 1953, the name was changed to Mary Free Bed Guild Children's Hospital and Orthopedic Center. Eventually the hospital added music and speech therapy.
To serve an increasing number of patients not requiring 24-hour care, the hospital began offering outpatient services in 1960. Then the hospital began an adult rehabilitation program and they expanded care for spinal injury and stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
patients. Because of the addition of adult patients the hospital was renamed Mary Free Bed Hospital and Rehabilitation Complex in 1966. Also, to reflect this addition, 12 men joined the 12 existing women on the guild’s board of trustees.
Now, 120 guild and junior guild women continue the 100+ year tradition of serving disabled people by operating the 80-bed Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. They are one of the few hospitals in the country still owned by a women's guild. Today, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is a free-standing, non-profit organization devoted to comprehensive rehabilitation for adults and children. Mary Free Bed offers many inpatient and outpatient programs, physical therapy clinics, and specialty medical treatment services for adults and children throughout Michigan, the Midwest states, and beyond.
Services
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital treats all sorts of disabilities brought on by every imaginable cause. This includes helping individuals recovering from strokes, recuperating from joint replacement surgery, learning to overcome challenges such as limb differences, and fighting back from serious injuries.Inside Mary Free Bed
For adult and pediatric patients alike, Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital provides comprehensive rehabilitation services. All programs include inpatient, outpatient, and clinic services. In addition to doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who are specifically trained in rehabilitation treatment and care, patients benefit from a therapy gym with state-of-the-art equipment and ample treatment space. And, to make rehabilitation quicker, smoother, and more effective, Mary Free Bed offers a variety of specialized therapy areas, including: Independence Square , Activities of Daily Living (ADL) apartment, a practice car, therapeutic pool, and an outdoor Therapath.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital is Joint Commission and CARF accredited in inpatient rehabilitation and has earned special CARF accreditation for brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, and pediatric programs.
Inpatient Programs
Mary Free Bed's inpatient programs specialize in adult brain injury, spinal cord injury or disease, pediatric and adolescent programs, stroke, and orthopaedics. They also see other diagnoses including amputations, multiple fractures, neurological and neuromuscular disorders, multiple sclerosis, general deconditioning, Guillain-Barré syndrome, and West Nile virus, among others.
Outpatient Programs and Specialty Services
Mary Free Bed's Outpatient Therapy Center offers comprehensive outpatient therapy, with direct physiatry involvement, and is available to pediatric and adult patients. Each patient meets with multi-discilpinary teams to create an individualized treatment plan that is aimed at getting patients back to living a full life.
Clinic Services
The clinic is multidisciplinary and comprehensive, so in addition to the doctors and nursing staff, other specialty areas are available, if needed.
Continuum of Care
Every patient benefits from Mary Free Bed's continuum of care. A team of rehab doctors, therapists, and other specialists is assigned to each patient to make sure their needs are met. This team stays with the patient throughout his or her treatment and follow-up care.
Patients can become part of Mary Free Bed's continuum of care no matter their point of entry. Point of entry may be when a patient comes to Mary Free Bed immediately following an injury or diagnosis or when he or she moves to the West Michigan area with an existing disability or illness and needs experienced rehabilitation care.
Awards
2009Quality Leadership Award
Michigan's Highest Honor for Organizational Performance Excellence
Aster Awards Gold Winner | Excellence in Medical Marketing
Patient Handbook and Annual Report
26th Annual Healthcare Advertising Bronze Winner
Patient Handbook
26th Annual Healthcare Advertising Merit Winner
Annual Report
Voted “Best of Michigan” by Corp! Magazine Readers
Best of Michigan Businesses
2008–2009
Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Recognition of support and services to improve company's health through unified action with Michigan healthcare providers
2008
25th Annual Healthcare Advertising Gold Award
Marketing Materials
25th Annual Healthcare Advertising Silver Award
Television Advertising
eHealthcare Leadership Silver Award
Best Employee Recruitment Web Site for Specialty Hospital
101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For
Outstanding Human Resources Practices
2007
Michigan Quality Council Navigator Recognition
Sustained Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Health Care Weekly Award of Excellence
Commitment to Exceptional Quality, Service, and Excellent Business Practices
2006
23rd Annual Healthcare Advertising Merit Winner
Television Spot/Single Spot (Caring Eyes)
23rd Annual Healthcare Advertising Silver Winner
Special Video Production
2005
101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For
Outstanding Human Resources Practices
22nd Annual Healthcare Advertising Gold Award
Total Advertising Campaign (with TV)
2004
Women’s Resource Center Pillar Award
Empowering Women at Work
2003
United Way Silver Award
Contribution to Community with Most Critical Needs
2002
American Heart Association | American Heart Walk
Top New Company
Contact Information
235 Wealthy SEGrand Rapids, Michigan 49503
800.528.8989
Info@MaryFreeBed.com