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  Leveraging learning as a catalyst for changeOver the past 10 years, Toronto Rehab has established itself as an educational leader in the field of rehabilitation science, generating exemplary learning opportunities for patients and their families, the public, students and practicing professionals. Our extensive expertise in adult rehabilitation, complex continuing care and long-term care continues to make us a highly sought after source of knowledge, positioning us well to influence the changes that will enable people who have experienced disabling conditions to move ahead and enjoy life once more. Nurturing informed patient care Among the most exciting developments in our educational program last year was the adoption of a new vision for patient and family education. We want every patient who comes to Toronto Rehab to achieve their best possible quality of life. Through the sharing of information and knowledge, we can help them to develop belief in their own capabilities and inspire confidence that the care and rehabilitation they are receiving will enable them to return to living life as independently as possible. We will support patients throughout the continuum of care by:
Advancing interprofessional education Toronto Rehab’s rapid rise as an acknowledged leader in interprofessional education (IPE) generated an invitation this past year to guide the development of IPE placement programs at six Toronto area teaching hospitals. This innovative model brings together students from different professions promoting shared learning in the delivery of patient care at the bedside. As the first teaching hospital in Ontario with a formal IPE placement program, we have attracted 25 IPE placements covering 15 different professions across six of our clinical programs. Our IPE leadership has been further validated by our success in securing research grants from Health Canada, the MOHLTC and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. return to top Expanding public knowledge As a leader in rehabilitation science, we have a responsibility to heighten public awareness and understanding of people living with disabilities, and to promote the role that rehabilitation plays in supporting people to live quality lives. With the launch last year of our Living With/Living Well public education program, we have created a new channel for communicating with members of the community we serve. Through seven events that included complementary resource materials, we covered newsworthy topics such as Alzheimer's, heart health, sleep apnea, stroke and the affects of aging on driving skills. Among our knowledgeable presenters were clinicians, researchers, caregivers and patients. Each session was webcast live and is available on Toronto Rehab’s website (www.torontorehab.com) where people can view it at their own convenience. Building upon the positive response to these sessions, we plan to extend our reach in the coming year by increasing access to the events, presentations and educational resources through new and interactive technologies. return to top Continuing professional development To ensure successful patient outcomes and satisfy patient expectations, health care professionals are continuously seeking opportunities to enhance their skills and knowledge. Toronto Rehab plays an important role in that by helping professionals to stay abreast of new rehabilitation approaches and the latest research developments, learn best practices and advance their careers. Last year, our 17 professional development events reached close to 2,000 people and included symposia on multiple sclerosis and cardiac rehabilitation, the 2007 RehabNet Conference for rehabilitation executives and medical leaders, and the 2007 National Rehabilitation Nursing Conference, which we hosted in partnership with the Canadian Association of Rehabilitation Nurses. We also collaborated with the Ontario March of Dimes as co-host of the first Festival of International Conferences on Caregiving, Disability, Aging and Technology (FICCDAT). This breakthrough Toronto event brought together five national and international conferences drawing more than 1,200 delegates representing 30 countries. Generating 760 papers and workshops and close to 900 poster presentations, response was so overwhelming that a second FICCDAT conference is planned for 2011. Building upon our experience with FICCDAT, we’re set to host a Best Practice in Videofluoroscopic Assessment course in five cities across the country next year. Details about where and when these events will happen can be found on our website under ‘Education’. Our ability to create mobile educational programs of this nature speaks to the national scope of our work and marks an exciting new development in knowledge-sharing. return to top Evaluating our performance As evidence of our growing reputation as a place of learning, 614 students chose placements in our clinical programs this past year. This represents significant growth over last year and handily exceeded our target of 575. Moreover, 99 per cent of our students told us in placement evaluations that they would recommend Toronto Rehab's placements to other students, an increase of two per cent over the previous year. Those attending our continuing professional development offerings through Conference Services gave us a satisfaction rating of 93 per cent, significantly surpassing our target of 85 per cent, and validating the effectiveness of our events. We are indebted to our many academic, community and private sector partners and sponsors who share our commitment to knowledge-sharing and whose active collaboration and support of these educational endeavours has made them possible. We look forward to an even more ambitious education program next year as we make every effort to share our expertise with others through our Living Well/Living With series and major conferences in cardiac, spinal cord, Alzheimer’s, and Balance, Mobility and Fitness – to mention a few. return to top |
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