Rehabilitation and Therapy Services

Physiotherapy

What is Physiotherapy?

Physiotherapy is a primary care, autonomous, client-focused health profession dedicated to:

Improving and maintaining functional independence and physical performance, 

Preventing and managing pain, physical impairments, disabilities and limits to participation; 

Promoting fitness, health and wellness.

What do Physiotherapists do?

Physiotherapists provide assessment, treatment and education for a wide range of health problems to ensure you make the most of your lifestyle. Physiotherapists can recommend the best way to treat problems with your muscles, bones and joints, circulatory, respiratory or nervous systems. Physiotherapists can also advise you on ways to prevent potential health problems from occurring before they arise.

Every year physiotherapists assist thousands of Canadians of all ages in preventing and managing the effects of congenital diseases, illness, chronic diseases, neurological conditions, post-surgical conditions, accidents and injuries, and the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Physiotherapists are university educated, regulated health professionals that play an important role within your health care team. To ensure Physiotherapists across the country apply to consistently high standards, the Canadian Physiotherapy Association, the Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators and the Physiotherapy Colleges of each province regulate the practice of Physiotherapists in the public interest.

Occupational Therapy

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapists view the human being as a combination of physical, psychological, social, and cultural variables within an environment.

Occupations are referred to as groups of activities and tasks that make up everyday life including looking after oneself (self-care), contributing to the social and economic aspects of the community (productivity), and enjoying life (leisure).

People seek Occupational Therapy intervention typically because they are unable to carry out tasks and activities that are important to them in their day to day lives.

What do Occupational Therapists do?

Occupational Therapists work with people of all ages to prevent disability and to promote, restore or maintain occupational health and wellbeing. Their broad vision is: "To enable people who face emotional, physical or social barriers to develop healthy patterns of occupation and to choose meaningful occupations which develop their personal and social resources for health"

Occupational Therapists are university educated, regulated health professionals that play an important role within the health care team. To ensure Occupational Therapists across the country apply consistently high standards, the Canadian Occupational Therapists Association, the Alliance of Occupational Therapy Regulators and the Occupational Therapy Colleges of each province regulate the practice of Occupational Therapists in the public interest.

Recreation Therapy

People have a variety of ways they experience leisure while at home or in the community. Illness and time in hospital can leave people feeling isolated, depressed and unsure about what to do with their time.

Recreation Therapy is a way to help people find their leisure and provides opportunities to:

• Keep their minds active
• Keep their bodies active
• Be creative
• Encourage choice and decision making
• Feel more like themselves
• Spend time with other people
• Reconnect with past leisure interests
• Discover new leisure interests
• Find leisure programs in the community

A recreation therapist meets with people to talk about their leisure interests and hobbies at home and in the community. We discuss if there is anything stopping them from doing their leisure activities and make a plan together to rebuild leisure skills and abilities.

A recreation therapist works with people one-to-one and in group programs.

Acute Neuro Program

Goal
To provide outpatient services for adults with acute neurological diagnoses in order to maximize their function and community reintegration

Overview
The program provides an inter-professional client-centred remediative approach from a team of Physiatry, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Language Therapy, and Nursing.

Criteria
Adults with an acute neurological diagnosis/impairment; less than 1 year onset

Acute Neuro (Stroke) Rehab Referral Form

Amputee Program

Goal
To provide outpatient prosthetic rehabilitation to enable individuals with limb amputations to return to function in the community.

Overview
The program utilizes an inter-professional client-centred approach consisting of pre- and post-prosthetic education, support and training. Service include: Physiatry, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Assistant and Prosthetist.

Criteria
Adults and children, primarily with lower extremity amputation who are medically stable.

Amputee Program Referral Form

Prosthetics and Orthotics Program

Goal

To provide outpatient prosthetic and orthotic services.

Overview

The program is affiliated with the Hamilton Health Sciences Chedoke Site and provides custom fitting for lower extremity amputations, braces and foot orthosis.

Criteria

Adults and children requiring a prosthetic or orthotic assessment and treatment.

Process

Physician referral is required. Please specify:

1. Prosthetist or
2. Orthotist

Speech Therapy Program

Goal
To provide outpatient therapy services for adults with speech, language, and swallowing disorders.

Overview
The program provides assessment, consultation, and treatment services for communication and swallowing disorders including video fluoroscopy.

Criteria
Adults with communication and/or swallowing impairment.
Voice referrals require a recent ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist) report.

Process
Referral from physician specifically requesting video fluoroscopy study is required.

Speech Language Referral Form