Your Care Team

Team member

How they help

Advanced Practice Leader

• Can talk to you about your rehabilitation needs, including physical, social and self-care abilities

• Provides education to you about your care and condition

• Shares information with you about research

Chaplain

• Offers spiritual care by listening, supporting and comforting

• Can connect you with representatives (clergy) of different faiths

Clinical Educator

• Can talk to you about your rehabilitation needs, including physical, social and self-care abilities

• Provides education to you about your care and condition

Dentist

• A doctor who specializes in caring for your teeth and gums

• Provides you with information and answers your questions

Dietitian

• Helps with your food and meal planning

• Can help with special nutrition plans or supplements if you need them

• Helps you plan your nutritional needs after you leave the hospital

Doctor / Attending Physician

• Oversees your medical care and works closely with your care team

• Prescribes necessary tests and medications

Doctors may be assisted by residents and fellows. These are doctors-in-training who have received their medical degrees and are now specializing in rehab or another field of medicine.

Ethicist / Clinical Ethics Facilitator

• Helps you, your family and the care team make decisions and resolve conflict

Geriatrician

• A doctor who specializes in treating seniors

Nurse Practitioner

• Works with your doctor to monitor and manage your medical condition

• Helps you establish your rehabilitation goals and treatment plan

• Provides you with information and answers your questions

• Prescribes certain tests and medications

Nurses

A variety of nurses will be involved in your care at Toronto Rehab.

• A primary nurse will be assigned to your care.
• A Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) will be responsible for the overall coordination of your nursing care.

All nurses:

• Provide your daily care

• Give you your medications and intravenous (IV) fluids

• Monitor your health and well-being and your progress toward your rehabilitation goals

• Provide you with information and answer your questions about medications, infection control and other topics

• Ensure you practice the skills you are learning in therapy while they are helping you with your personal care activities

Occupational Therapist (OT)

• Helps you become more independent in a variety of ways:
  • prescribing equipment
  • adjusting your environment
  • helping you with daily living skills

• Helps to ensure that you have the necessary supports in place when you leave the hospital

OTs may be assisted by Occupational Therapy Assistants and/or Rehabilitation Therapists.

Pharmacist

• Checks your medication needs

• Monitors your progress to make sure that you have the right medications

• Provides you with information and answers your questions about medications

Physiatrist

Physiatrists are doctors who specialize in rehabilitation.

Your physiatrist:

• Evaluates and diagnoses your condition (tells you what is happening)

• Helps you establish your rehabilitation goals and treatment plans

• Oversees your care plan and works closely with your care team

• Contributes to your educational needs

Physiotherapist (PT)

• Helps to improve your strength, balance, coordination and endurance

• Provides you with education and therapy to improve your functional mobility (ability to move around), physical activity and ease of movement

• May prescribe equipment or aids to improve your mobility and help with your transition back into the community

PTs may be assisted by Physiotherapy Assistants and/or Rehabilitation Therapists.

Program Manager/Program Service Manager

• Oversees the hospital unit and staff

• Can answer your questions and help solve problems

Psychologist

• Provides mental and emotional support

• Works with you to help you cope with your condition, illness, injury or disability

Psychiatrist

• A doctor who helps treat your mental and emotional needs

Psychiatrists may specialize, for example, in geriatric psychiatry or neuropsychiatry.

Rehabilitation Therapist

• Helps you practice the skills you are learning between your therapy sessions

Resident

• Helps with your care

Residents are doctors who are training to become specialists, such as physiatrists, geriatricians or family doctors.

Respiratory Therapist

• Evaluates and treats breathing disorders

Service Coordinator

• Handles intake and admission processes (when you get here), including collecting your health information

• Communicates with the hospital or other source that referred you to Toronto Rehab and with families

• May help you with discharge

• Ensures smooth transition throughout your care

Social Worker

• Provides emotional support and adjustment counseling related to illness or disability

• Identifies and organizes community resources for you

• Helps with your social needs, such as financial or housing needs

• Helps the team plan for discharge by making sure supports are in place for you after you leave

• Provides support and guidance to your family and/or caregiver

Social Workers may be assisted by Community Resource Workers.

Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP)

• Helps you improve skills related to communication such as speaking, understanding, reading and writing

• Provides you with education and information to help you manage changes to thinking skills (memory, attention, executive skills) that may impact communication

SLPs may be assisted by Rehab Therapists or Communication Disorders Assistants.

Student

• Helps with your care

Please note: Students are supervised by our experienced staff. Students will be identified and their roles will be explained . Please speak to your care team if you would prefer that students not be involved in your care.

Therapeutic Recreationist

• Uses leisure activities to help promote your independence

• Assesses your recreational preferences, skills and abilities to find activities that are right for you

Volunteers

• Help with activities that will make you feel more comfortable while you are at Toronto Rehab

Volunteers help during therapy, assist with activities, visit patients on the units, and work around the hospital in different ways.

Wellness Partners

At the E.W. Bickle Centre, Wellness Partners:

• Work with other members of your care team to plan and deliver programs and activities to meet your recreational needs

• Provide on-site recreation opportunities as well as community outings