The crew from Feldman's Bud Kouts Chevrolet
Pictured left to right: Bruce Brasser, Vice President of Inpatient and Network Operations at Mary Free Bed, Joe Ruth, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Sparrow, Kris Tennant, Director of Mary Free Bed at Sparrow, Stella Cash, Vice President of Development and Strategic Partnerships at Sparrow, and Mary Lou Wesley, MSN, RN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Sparrow.
Published: May 27, 2015
Patients at the Mary Free Bed at Sparrow rehabilitation unit will now be able to practice getting in and out of a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) donated by General Motors and time and supplies given by mid-Michigan businesses.
“We are thrilled to be able to donate a Lansing-built Chevrolet Traverse to a community that has been home to General Motors for more than 100 years,” said Lansing Regional Plant Manager Mike Trevorrow. “We are committed to giving back to the communities that are home to our facilities and employees.”
Staff from Feldman’s Bout Kouts Chevrolet donated hundreds of man hours to disassemble the Traverse, cut it down to four pieces at their body shop and reassemble the vehicle inside a therapy gym at Mary Free Bed at Sparrow, housed on the sixth floor of Sparrow Hospital.
“I am amazed and proud of my team,” said Dick Iding, Dealer Principal, Feldman’s Bud Kouts Chevrolet. “They came together and worked hard with pride to do something really good for Sparrow and the people of mid-Michigan.”
GlassMasters of Portland, FinishMaster, Bannasch Welding, NAPA Auto Parts, Mid-States Bolt & Screw, Harbor Freight Tools, Wood’s Okemos Marathon Towing, and Granger Construction also graciously donated time and supplies.
Watch a video of the project from start to finish on YouTube.
An open house was held today, Wednesday, May 27, to thank the individuals and businesses involved.
“The Traverse creates an opportunity for our Patients to successfully practice using a vehicle during therapy,” said Kris Tennant, Director of Mary Free Bed at Sparrow. “This has been a wonderful partnership that transforms care for our Patients and benefits the greater needs of the mid-Michigan region.”
The first phase of renovations for the Mary Free Bed at Sparrow rehabilitation unit are complete and private Patient rooms open for Patients on Monday, June 1.
The remainder of the project is expected to be complete by early 2016.
Mary Free Bed at Sparrow is a joint venture between Sparrow Hospital and Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. The project expands the inpatient rehabilitation unit at Sparrow to 40 private Patient rooms and two therapy gymnasiums on the same floor to provide advanced rehabilitation care for Patients in the mid-Michigan region.
The unit provides intensive neurological, orthopedic, and stroke rehab care.
Sparrow’s former inpatient rehabilitation unit was housed on two floors of the hospital. Mary Free Bed at Sparrow combines all aspects of adult rehabilitation care and therapy in one convenient area.
Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital has served the needs of children and adults since 1891 and today offers the most comprehensive rehabilitation services in Michigan. The Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Network includes relationships with leading acute care hospitals in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, and Muskegon. Visit MaryFreeBed.com for additional information.