Posted on July 11, 2023
Next Level Rehab: Mary Free Bed Expands 6th Floor to Serve More Patients
Mary Free Bed is taking rehabilitation to the next level with its newest expansion in Grand Rapids. The hospital is building out its 6th floor in order to serve more patients. The nine-month expansion project will add a total of 28 private inpatient bedrooms; 20 of the new beds will be licensed, while the other eight will be equipment-ready.
In recent years, Mary Free Bed’s occupancy and daily census rates have seen upward trajectories. More and more patients have Asked for Mary for their inpatient rehabilitation needs.
In 2013, Mary Free Bed began constructing its west addition. Completed in 2015, the project increased the number of hospital beds from 80 to 167. Planning ahead for future growth, that project also included a ‘shelled-out’ 6th floor that would one day serve more patients.
“One of the most common questions I receive is, ‘What are you going to do with the 6th floor of the hospital?’” said Kent Riddle, president and CEO of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation. “Our community chooses Mary Free Bed for the world-class rehabilitation, and with this expansion, more people will be able to Ask for Mary.”
Mary Free Bed began building out a portion of that floor earlier this year. The 20 additional beds will offer general inpatient rehabilitation, but all rooms will be built for higher acuity patients. The rooms will be similar to Mary Free Bed’s Intensive Medical Rehabilitation Unit, with 16 of the rooms equipped with ventilator and dialysis capabilities.
With the growth, Mary Free Bed is also expanding its team. The hospital is hiring 15 acute care nurses, various additional clinical and support service roles.
The 25,000+ square foot build-out was designed by Diekema Hamann Architecture & Engineering and current construction is led by Granger Construction. The addition is scheduled to be completed in September of this year.
