Calvin College, WMU and GVSU collaborate to open 'innovative' rehab clinic

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Calvin College recently opened a new rehabilitation clinic offering a variety of therapies and educational opportunities for students.

Calvin College Rehabilitation Services, located at 1310 East Beltline Ave. is a collaboration between Calvin College, Western Michigan University and Grand Valley State University, said clinic director Steven Vanderkamp.

The clinic opened on Sept. 8.

Audiology, social work, speech pathology, physical and occupational therapy services are all offered under one roof, with the three colleges running certain programs.

Calvin College will provide social work, speech therapy and audiology services. GVSU will offer physical therapy. Occupational therapy will be done by WMU.

Vanderkamp said the concept for the new clinic was born a few years ago when the speech pathology and audiology program at Calvin College began seeing that it was a challenge for senior-level graduate students to find work experience. Work on the facility began this April, he said.

The clinic will operate so graduate students will provide care to patients under the supervision of the colleges' clinical teaching staff.

"What makes it innovative and creative is that we have three different schools working toward two things: Meeting the needs of the community and meeting the needs of our students to have an excellent externship," Vanderkamp said.

Calvin College already has students placed in externships in its services, WMU students will begin working there in the upcoming spring semester and GVSU students are projected to be working there sometime in 2016, Vanderkamp said.

Until students fill the positions, services will be provided by the teaching staff.

"Our clinical instructing staff are very skilled and knowledgeable," Vanderkamp said. "Our patients will receive top-notch care, our students will receive top notch guidance."

While Calvin College funded the facility itself, GVSU, WMU and donors contributed funding and equipment.

The 4,500-square-foot clinic features two large soundproof audiology booths, a physical therapy gym that includes a rock climbing wall and therapeutic swing among other equipment, staff who are trained to work with patients who have Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis and more.

An open house will be held at Calvin College Rehabilitation Services on Tuesday, Sept. 29 from 4 to 7 p.m.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2015/09/calvin_college_wmu_and_gvsu_co.html