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FAQs for Patients and Families
FAQs for Referring Professionals
Patients and Families
| What is a brain injury? |
An acquired brain injury is
an injury to the brain that is caused by a traumatic or
non-traumatic event. It may affect how a person moves,
thinks, feels, and behaves.
A brain injury can be caused by a fall (down the stairs,
off a ladder), a motor vehicle accident, bleeding in the
brain, oxygen being cut-off to the brain, or removal of
a brain tumour. |
| What is a stroke? |
| A stroke may occur when the flow of blood
to the brain is interrupted or when the blood vessels
in the brain rupture. This change causes brain cells to
die. The severity of the stroke depends on how much damage
was done. To learn more visit www.heartandstroke.ca. |
| Do you conduct tours of your facilities
for family members? |
| While there are no regularly
scheduled tours, our Social Workers and Service Coordinators
are usually able to accommodate appropriate requests for
tours. If you are interested in a tour, please ask the
Service Coordinator during the admission process. |
| Why are the doors to the hallways on
the brain injury unit locked? |
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The doors leading to the hallways, from the Brain Injury
Unit, have a numeric keypad that requires a special
code to unlock the doors. Many of the patients that
stay on this floor have trouble keeping track of where
they are, where they are going, or how to get back.
The doors are locked for their safety.
Once the occupational therapist determines that the
patient can find his/her way to and from the 4th floor,
he/she will be given the code. As a rule, the code is
not given out within the first 24 hours of admission.
Patients are asked not to share the code with others.
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| How long can I expect to be here? |
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Inpatients generally spend six to eight weeks in the
Brain Injury Service and four to six weeks in the Stroke
Service.
Home visits are often encouraged since they allow you
to practice the skills you are learning at the hospital.
Your occupational therapist may assess your home to
provide recommendations for safety and independence
(i.e. shower chair and ramps). Please talk to your team
members for more information about day and weekend passes.
Generally, weekend passes are not allowed the first
weekend of your admission to the hospital.
Outpatient treatment lengths vary depending on each
individual's specific goals and needs.
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| How do you help patients continue to
improve once they are discharged? |
| We educate patients and their
families on how to maintain their gains and continue improving
on their own at home. Many of our inpatients also continue
therapy on an outpatient basis at Toronto Rehab, or elsewhere.
Finally, before patients are discharged, our team ensures
that patients have the proper supports at home and in
the community, to maximize their functional independence.
Patients often go home first on a weekend pass, a type
of dry run for the big discharge day. If necessary, staff
will also conduct home visits to make recommendations
and to determine if physical modifications need to be
made. Patients return for medical follow-up four to six
weeks following discharge from an inpatient unit. |
| How can I be involved in my family member's
rehabilitation? |
| We encourage family members
to be involved in a number of ways; you may attend therapy
sessions to learn how to assist your family member with
achieving their treatment goals. Family is also involved
in goal setting and in discharge arrangements, and in
regular family conferences with staff. You also have the
opportunity to speak with the social worker, or any other
team member, about questions or concerns you may have,
or to get more information about available community supports. |
| Do you allow family members to make
medical and other decisions on behalf of the patient? |
Patients who are capable of making their own health care
decisions have the legal right to make informed health
care treatment decisions. Patients or their substitute
decision-maker can legally consent to, or refuse, treatment
once they have been informed of their choices and can
appreciate the consequences of each choice. |
| How do patients get to outpatient therapy
appointments? |
| Many of our patients have a
spouse or other family member or friend drive them to
outpatient appointments. Other patients travel by Wheel-Trans
or taxi. If you qualify for Wheel-Trans service, our staff
can assist you in completing the necessary documentation.
University Centre
is also well served by TTC streetcars and the subway. |
| Is there parking on-site? |
| University
Centre has a drop-off /pick-up area for outpatient
use, but no on-site parking is available. Paid parking
is available in private lots on Murray Street behind the
hospital.
Rumsey Centre
offers on-site parking for patients and visitors. Parking
is $5 a day or patients may purchase a parking pass
for $50, which is good for an entire year.
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| What kind of research is the Neuro program
involved with? |
| Neuro Rehab has a very active
research program and has established the first Toronto
Rehab research chair, the Saunderson Family Chair for
Acquired Brain Injury Research. Visit our Research section
to learn more about what goes on at Toronto Rehab. |
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Referring Professionals
| What is the average length of stay? |
| Length of stay varies but for
most brain injury patients it is between six to eight
weeks and from four to six weeks for stroke patients.
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| Where is your service located? |
| Neuro Rehab services are provided
at two Toronto Rehab facilities: University
Centre and Rumsey
Centre. University Centre offers both inpatient and
outpatient services to patients who have had a brain injury
or stroke. Rumsey Centre provides outpatient services
to patients who are recovering from a brain injury, stroke,
or who experience chronic pain or have MS. |
| How often do patients receive therapy? |
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Inpatients receive daily therapy from Monday to Friday.
Patients are also taught how to continue therapy independently
in the evenings and on weekends. Patients usually see
up to three or four therapists a day, including an occupational
therapist, physiotherapist, speech language pathologist,
a social worker, psychologists and assistants. The amount
of therapy a patient receives also depends on what goals
and needs the patient has, as well as the ability to
tolerate therapy. Outside of assigned therapy times,
patients work closely with nursing staff to practice
daily living activities.
Outpatients are scheduled for therapy based on their
goals/treatment plan and availability.
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| What types of professionals will patients
see? |
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Inpatients will generally see nursing and medical staff,
a dietitian, occupational therapist, audiologist, pharmacist,
physiotherapist, social worker, and speech language
pathologist. Depending on need, patients may also see
a psychometrist, rehabilitation therapist, and psychologist.
For outpatients the health professional team is customized
to meet each patient's individual needs.
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| Is there a waiting list for services? |
| Waiting lists for our inpatient
and outpatient services change from week to week. One
of our primary goals is that services are accessible when
they are needed. Patients are generally admitted within
a reasonable period of time. Please contact the appropriate
Service Coordinator for more information. |
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