Every relationship established by the Mary Free Bed Advisory Group begins with a comprehensive assessment of your needs and a collaborative discussion of priorities, goals and next steps. Together we create solutions, action steps and implementation plans that benefit you and your patients.

We use proven processes and protocols as templates for success:

Operations
These range from standardized admission and referral practices to care navigation and other procedures that promote quality, outcomes and operational efficiencies. The protocols are based on years of experience and process improvement. Operational performance is strategically planned, measured, analyzed and trended so robust action plans can be implemented to optimize outcomes.

Clinical Services
Our clinical protocols include but are not limited to condition-specific care pathways, rehabilitation nursing and therapeutic interventions.

Survey Readiness
Mary Free Bed has a long-standing history of successful surveys by the Joint Commission and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) including multiple specialty accreditations. Our goal is continuous survey readiness using a systematic process to ensure survey standards are not only met but integrated into everyday care delivery models.

Comprehensive Analysis Process

We utilize an in-depth, three-step methodology for our comprehensive analysis.

• Step 1: In-Depth Assessment
  We work with your team to gather pertinent information from your rehabilitation program. Data is analyzed to identify performance improvement opportunities.
• Step 2: Action Planning
  Our experts study the findings as they relate to your goals, capacity, competition and predicted rehabilitation trends. We’ll present our recommendations to your team and collaboratively create action plans.
• Step 3: Solution-Driven Implementation
  We provide support and guidance as your team implements the action plans. Expect on-site visits to reinforce the process and overcome obstacles that may impede success.

We provide a variety of consultation services across care settings, each tailored to successfully address your specific program goals and foster positive outcomes and patient satisfaction.

Strategic partnerships and professional service agreements include:

• Rehabilitation operations
• Clinical services
• Joint venture/joint operating agreements

You’ll find more information in our Advisory Services brochure here.

Our goal is to help clients be successful and further the field of rehabilitation, from acute care hospitals and acute inpatient rehabilitation to outpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care hospitals and home-care programs:

Inpatient

• Comprehensive Analysis
  • Program
  • Quality performance
  • Productivity
  • Bed need/Service demand
• Documentation
  • Medical necessity analysis
  • Physician education
  • Interdisciplinary education
• Coding
  • Documentation analysis
  • Coder training
• Prospective Payment System coordination
  • PPS coordinator training
  • Temporary PPS coordinator staffing
  • PPS education
• Audits and appeals
  • Navigation of the appeals process
  • Preparation of appeal documents
• Quality improvement
  • Quality reporting and program measures education and training
  • Quality and outcome tracking
• Understanding rehabilitation philosophy 
  • Leadership
  • Rehabilitation nursing
• New construction and program development
  • Space planning and design
  • Equipment purchasing
  • Specialty program development
• Accreditation and survey preparation

Outpatient

• Quality and outcome measurement
  • Performance analysis
  • Quality and outcome tracking
  • Productivity analysis
• Performance improvement
• Documentation, coding and billing
• New programs and program development
  • Space planning and design
  • Equipment purchasing
• Accreditation and survey preparation
• Audits and appeals

Ask us about our other advisory services, too:

• Physician recruitment
• Skilled nursing facility services
• Long-term care hospitals
• Care transitions
• Virtual services

Our service delivery options:

• In person – During our relationship, we find it’s beneficial to meet in person. We schedule a series of on-site visits to understand your needs and sustain results of implemented action plans. In addition to working at your organization, we’d love to host you at Mary Free Bed, so you can see examples of what we’ve implemented.
• On-site Lunch and Learns – You provide the lunch, we provide the education for your team. We offer modules for general rehabilitation topics, or we customize program content to meet your unique needs. Pre- and post-testing are available for many of the courses.
• Remote live webinars – Tailored webinars are scheduled at a time and place convenient for your team.

Learn more about partnership opportunities! Call 616.840.8258, or email advisorygroup@maryfreebed.com.

Subscribe to success based on your needs. Choose between two inpatient rehabilitation packages for as short as one month or as long as two years.

Either way, you receive discounted access to the Mary Free Bed Education Academy.
• Free participation in Interprofessional Grand Rounds
• Up to 50 free continuing education credits per year
• Unlimited 30% discount on courses, including on-demand courses and webinars.
• Topics include human trafficking, implicit bias training, pain management and more.
• Comprehensive Rehabilitation Nursing Course Theory & Application with nursing contact hours
• Continuing education credits for a variety of disciplines, including physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, etc.
(Note: Conferences and symposiums aren’t included due to organizational partnerships.)

Don’t see anything that quite fits your situation?
We’re happy to discuss a customized package or additional services!
Call 616.840.8258, or email advisorygroup@maryfreebed.com.

Package #1

On-demand PPS/Rehabilitation Coding Support – Six hours per month

• Complex case discussion and advice
• Address challenging IGC assignments
• Appropriate code selection to support IGC
• GG scoring

Regulatory Question and Answers – Two hours per month

• Accreditation, regulatory changes and industry trends
• Documentation requirements
• Meeting challenging regulations

Package #2

• Strategic Planning Review – Five hours per month
    Expert advice on your organization’s strategic plan. We assist with:

• Market assessments, competitor analysis
• Defining strategies that most positively impact your operations
• Ensuring follow-through for identified strategic initiatives

Patient Access – Three hours per month

• Work with your team to define strategies that improve patient access
• Special issue resolution for peer-to-peer and expedited appeals
• Share best practices that enhance patient access
• Strategies for continued stay approval
• Refine admission criteria, removing and identifying barriers to admission
• Marketing tips

Care Transitions – Three hours per month

• Work with your post-acute team to identify patients who need services sooner
• Ensure patients are moving through the system effectively and efficiently
• Share best practices and accountability metrics

On-demand PPS/Rehabilitation Coding Support – Six hours per month

• Complex case discussion and advice
• Challenging IGC assignments
• Appropriate code selection to support IGC
• GG scoring

Regulatory Question and Answers – Two hours per month

• Special issue resolution for audits, appeals
• Accreditation, regulatory changes and industry trends
• Documentation requirements
• Challenging regulations

Joyal Pavey | VICE PRESIDENT, ADVISORY GROUP

Joyal became part of the Mary Free Bed family in 2019, as vice president of the Mary Free Bed Advisory Group. With more than 18 years of experience in the world of acute inpatient rehabilitation, Joyal has a wealth of knowledge garnered from 15 years of experience in hospital administration.

Joyal has a successful record of programmatic growth, census development and navigating regulatory and compliance issues. She’s led Joint Commission and Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities surveys, including specialty accreditations. She recently became a CARF surveyor. She has diverse experience, including inpatient rehabilitation, home health care, swing beds, skilled nursing, acute care and outpatient rehabilitation. Before Joyal joined Mary Free Bed, she served as market director of inpatient rehabilitation services for the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Sinai-Grace Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit. She also was director of rehabilitation at Atlanta Medical Center, executive director for a freestanding rehabilitation hospital in northern Michigan and a manager of rehabilitation operations at Spectrum Health.

She completed a master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of North Alabama and a bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy and Gerontology from Western Michigan University.

Sherry Mullins | DIRECTOR, ADVISORY GROUP

Sherry has more than 25 years of experience in health care leadership primarily focused on post-acute rehabilitation services. As a regional director for the Advisory Group, she’ll help develop a well-defined care transition program and assist with expansion of Mary Free Bed’s expertise.

Before joining Mary Free Bed in September 2020, Sherry worked as the director of Rehabilitation for Tenet Health’s home office in Dallas, which involved strategic development and operations support for its 17 inpatient rehabilitation programs across the country. Previously, she was the rehabilitation and orthopedic market lead for Baptist Health System, a Tenet subsidiary, in San Antonio.

She has a record of success with strategic growth, program development, hospital operations, program implementations, team leadership and data analytics to drive market share growth as well as process improvement initiatives.

Sherry earned a master’s degree in Health Administration and a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Southwest Texas State University.

William Restum, Ph.D. | SENIOR CONSULTANT

Dr. Restum joined Mary Free Bed in 2020 as a senior consultant. Dr. Restum provides a broad spectrum of consultative services designed to position healthcare systems to sustain high quality performance in a value-based environment.

Over the course of his extensive career, Dr. Restum served as a CEO of a freestanding rehabilitation hospital and as the senior executive for post-acute services. His leadership was integral to the successful implementation of ACO’s and BPCI episodic models.

An executive member of the American Medical Rehab Providers Association (AMRPA), Dr. Restum holds a graduate degree in speech and language pathology and a doctoral degree in communication disorders and sciences, as well as in cognitive psychology.

Sho Suzuki | DIRECTOR, FINANCIAL PLANNING

Sho joined Mary Free Bed in 2015 and oversees various financial functions including annual financial planning, financial statement analysis and developing financial models across Mary Free Bed subsidiaries, partnerships, and clinical service lines. He also contributes to strategic planning, business and data needs, and goal setting for the organization.

Sho collaborates with leadership and network hospitals to develop partnerships, professional services agreements, and consulting agreements across the country, throughout the post-acute continuum.

Learn more about partnership opportunities for your rehabilitation programs, and contact us today.
Call: 616.840.8258
Email: advisorygroup@maryfreebed.com

The Mary Free Bed Advisory Group’s “Be Advised” podcast shines a spotlight on the field of medical rehabilitation and why it’s a critical component of health care. We feature interviews with industry leaders and medical experts on topics such as care transitions, patient access, virtual care, program design and space planning, research and nursing education.

Subscribe to learn about the many ways you can align your team for success by having a “rehabilitationship” with the Mary Free Bed Advisory Group.

Episode 9 – How to Live Your Mission and Vision within a Hospital
Our guest is Meg Derrer, program director of the Mary Free Bed Guild and a passionate community advocate. Derrer talks with the “co-advisors” about Guild services, support and sponsorships of hospital and community events. She shares how the Guild is a keeper of the culture at Mary Free Bed – helping to ensure positive experiences and better futures for patients.

Episode 8 – Physiatrist’s Perspective on Care Transitions
Our special guest is Dr. Ralph Wang, a Mary Free Bed physician, who discusses his role at the hospital, including involvement with its COVID-19 ReCOVery Program, and offers input on the importance of transitions of care.

Episode 7 – Home Health and Skilled Nursing Facilities
Kiersten Cudney, administrator for Mary Free Bed Sub-Acute Rehabilitation, and Trey Kubizna, regional director and administrator for Mary Free Bed at Home, discuss how home health and skilled nursing facilities can partner with inpatient rehabilitation programs. Home care, sub-acute and skilled nursing facilities play a vital role in the post-acute continuum of care. Kiersten and Trey share how care can be well coordinated and lead to better outcomes for patients.

Episode 6 – Nursing Engagement and Education
Jeannette Pollatz,  director of Interprofessional Education at Mary Free Bed, joins the conversation to discuss nursing engagement and education.  Jeannette shares her perspective on how the needs of nursing education have changed over the last several years and how the recent COVID 19 pandemic has impacted the ability of some organizations to retain nurses. She also leads the Mary Free Bed Education Academy.

Episode 5 – Align Environments & Operations
Joyal Pavey talks with Lorissa MacAllister, president and founder of Enviah Health , a health care design firm. She shares how removing barriers can improve staff success and patient satisfaction. Mary Free Bed CEO Kent Riddle joins the podcast to discuss how Enviah assisted Mary Free Bed to address growth.

Episode 4 – Virtual Care and Telemedicine
Jason Peoples joins the Be Advised podcast to discuss virtual care, telemedicine and how to accelerate the meaningful use of these mediums in acute care and rehabilitation. Click here for our Virtual Services brochure.

Episode 3 – Outcomes Research
Dr. Allan J. Kozlowski joins the Be Advised podcast to discuss how outcomes research aligns with care transitions. Click here for our Care Transitions brochure.

Episode 2 – Care Transitions and Patient Access
The second episode of Be Advised features Dr. W. Christian VandenBerg,  who joins us to discuss aligning Care Transitions and Patient Access.  Click here for Patient Access Booklet

Episode 1 – Align for Success
 In our first episode, meet the team behind the Advisory Group, including well-known rehabilitation executive and chief strategy officer Jeff Garber. Learn how a “rehabilitationship” marries our expertise with your team’s talents. Click here to read and download the Advisory Services booklet.