NEWS ALERT – Pontiac, Michigan TOPICS: Philanthropy; Emerging Medicine; Healthcare Business; Children & Family health; Medical Main Street News Photos IDs: 1) IKEA and Euro-Peds volunteers assembling furniture and toys at Euro-Peds; 2) lobby of Euro-Peds after IKEA furniture was assembled 3) 8-year-old Dominic from Ohio wearing the Euro-Peds Therapy Suit during therapy 461 W. Huron St, Pontiac,, MI www.dhofm.com, (248) 8577200 Innovative Children’s Clinic Receives Furniture, Grant from IKEA’s Life Improvement Project Pontiac, MI ~ IKEA-Canton employees and volunteers assembled and installed over $5000 of IKEA furniture, toys, decorations and storage units at Euro-Peds® National Center for Intensive Pediatric PT (www.europeds.org), an innovative clinic that teaches children who have neuromuscular disorders such as Cerebral Palsy new life skills for greater independence. IKEA also awarded $5000 towards the Euro-Peds® Treatment Scholarship program which provides grants to uninsured or under-insured children who attend Euro-Peds® for treatment. The specialized intensive pediatric physical therapy clinic was nominated by Canton IKEA employee Renee Carrigan of Westland, MI, who entered Euro-Peds® into IKEA’s Life Improvement Challenge contest. Renee presented the case to IKEA that Euro-Peds® deserved the $10,000 prize due to the unique therapy program that improves the lives of children with disabilities, including her son Gavin. IKEA asked that supporters vote for one of three organizations via text through January 31. Euro-Peds® received the most votes of three finalists and was announced as the Canton IKEA’s winner in March 2012. 1 Euro-Peds® is a nationally-recognized treatment program for children who have cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injuries, and other non-progressive gross motor disorders. It was established in what is now Doctors’ Hospital of Michigan (www.dhofm.com) in Pontiac as the first clinic of its kind in North America. The innovative program uses Eastern-European inspired concepts of intensive physical therapy which include tools like the patented Euro-Peds® Therapy Suit and the Universal Exercise Unit which are not common in more time-constrained traditional therapy settings. An intensive therapy session at Euro-Peds® is up to 20 hours of therapy per week for 2-4 weeks. or 3 hours per week for 3-6 months. The extra time allows the child to learn new functional skills such as walking, crawling, rolling or using crutches instead of a wheelchair or walker. The Euro-Peds® Therapy Suit, which received a patent in 2006, enhances the strengthening and alignment of the child while he or she is engaged in dozens of therapeutic activities. The Life Improvement Challenge in the Canton IKEA is one part of IKEA’s Life Improvement Project which was implemented in 2010 as a way to “help IKEA coworkers carry out the vision of creating a better everyday life...” IKEA provided $10,000 to one team in each of its 38 stores ($380,000 total) to support a local community project. EuroPeds® was announced as the Canton IKEA’s winner in March. ########################################################### For More Information Contact: Anne Mancour, Media Relations, (248) 857-7125, [email protected] DHM is a community hospital based in Pontiac that was established in 2008 as Michigan’s first for-profit, acute-care hospital with physician ownership. Services include Emergency Medicine, a 10-bed ICU, 7Suite Surgical Unit, Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Cardiology, Lab Services, Behavioral Medicine, Substance Abuse Treatment, Acute Medical Surgery & Recovery, Physical Therapy, Endoscopy, and a nationally-recognized Intensive PT program for the treatment of children with disabilities called Euro-Peds. DHM also operates the Pain Relief Center, a Family Medicine Residency Program, and the OIHN Family Medicine Center. Other off-site clinics owned and operated by DHM are the Waterford Ambulatory Care Center & Urgent Care, Oakland ASC Surgical Center, and RT Specialists Durable Medical Equipment 2