Testimonial

Joanne Elliot Retired School Administrator, Mother, Grandmother and RehabCentre Patient Alma, Michigan “Coming to the RehabCentre was like coming to the Taj Mahal. The rooms are superb and from the moment I got there I felt like they really cared about my recovery.”

Specialized Rehabilitation Helped Joanne Elliot Get Moving Again After Back Surgery 

When Joanne Elliott had back surgery at a large hospital near her Detroit-area home, no one planned on the need for rehabilitation. “They told me I would walk out of the hospital four days after surgery,” Joanne said. Instead, she faced a long recovery period and needed help getting round. 

Fortunately for Joanne, three of her children live in Alma. “Thankfully, my daughter knew who to call to arrange for therapy,” she said. One week after her surgery, she was taken by ambulance to the RehabCentre at MidMichigan Medical Center–Gratiot where she began a short-term, inpatient physical rehabilitation program. 

“Coming to Gratiot was like coming to the Taj Mahal,” she said. “The rooms are superb and the facility is nice; however, the personal care is what I appreciated most.From the moment I got there I felt like they really cared about my recovery.”

Joanne said she was not expecting rehabilitation to be such a pleasant experience. “Rehab was wonderful,” she said. “The care was very thorough. While they were exceptionally kind, they were also strict. We set goals which were achieved within 12 days.”

“My back surgery was far more extensive than the doctors thought it would be, and afterwards I was not moving well at all,” she said. “At rehab, they got me up and moving.” 

Joanne saw improvement every day as the physical therapists used a variety of techniques and exercises to help her regain strength, balance and range of motion. “I kept extending my walking time and worked on improving balance and moving my legs in different ways. The last part of the rehab process was mastering going up and down stairs.”

After a dozen days of physical therapy tailored to her specific needs, Joanne left the Medical Center and returned home to her normal life. “The whole system is very good,” she said. “You will always feel you’re being well cared for.”

The RehabCentre at MidMichigan Medical Center - Gratiot is a hospital-based unit specializing in intensive physical, occupational, recreational and speech therapy. Patients receive a minimum of three hours of therapy each day, along with 24-hour nursing and physician care. For more information on the RehabCentre, contact the Community Relations Coordinator at (989) 466-3382 or visit www.midmichigan.org/rehabcentre.