Mary Free Bed at Munson Healthcare and Munson Health Care have partnered to provide pediatric rehabilitation services across northern Michigan, enhancing the rehabilitation journey for local children.
This collaboration ensures that families in Gaylord, Charlevoix and Boyne have access to crucial therapy services, including speech, language, cognition, feeding and social engagement. By offering these services locally, the partnership supports children in their transition from hospital care to community-based therapy.
The pediatric rehabilitation services provided through this partnership are designed to help children thrive by focusing on various aspects of development. Faith Brinkman, a speech language pathologist at Munson Health Care, explained, “We work on speech, as most people know, but we also work on language. We work on cognition. We work on feeding. We work on being social and engaging.” This comprehensive approach addresses the diverse needs of young patients, ensuring that therapy is tailored to each child’s individual requirements.
Cathy Wright, also a speech language pathologist, highlighted how rewarding it is to witness children’s milestones. “It’s extremely rewarding when they’re getting that food for the first time, or they’re saying that first word and mom is crying and you’re trying not to cry because you want to be professional,” Wright shared, expressing the emotional aspect of the therapists’ work.
The partnership goes beyond traditional rehabilitation; it also empowers families to take an active role in their child’s therapy. Brinkman noted, “We always involve the families and we work on what’s important to them,” emphasizing the importance of including family members in the rehabilitation process. This approach fosters a supportive environment that helps children succeed.Communication is fundamental to the therapy process. Brinkman mentioned, “Sometimes we use a computer or what we call a communication device and sometimes little ones start out that way and then they eventually become verbal down the road.” Early communication skills are vital for children and are a focus area within the therapy sessions.
The rehabilitation program includes helping children transition from bottle feeding to solid foods. As Wright stated, “Potentially we may work with a child who’s transitioning from bottle feeding to starting to take solids,” showcasing the tailored aspects of the therapy that meet specific developmental milestones.
The therapists also address foundational skills for communication and social interaction. As Brinkman pointed out, “Sometimes we have to teach children just to play with toys. And before we can start working on some of those speech and language skills that are critical for communicating.” This highlights the importance of play in the overall developmental process.
The partnership between Mary Free Bed at Munson Healthcare and Munson Health Care continues to strive toward improving rehabilitation outcomes for children across northern Michigan. For more information about the services offered, families can visit the website here.