REHABILITATION CENTRE

The Hospital Rehabilitation Centre (HRC) specializes in the physical rehabilitation of people who have experienced a disabling physical illness or injury. It is part of the Integrated Rehabilitation Program of Health Vacations Inc.

The HRC provides in-patient and out-patient services for the assessment and treatment of people who have impairments such as: amputations, spinal cord injuries, strokes, lung disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and communication disorders.

The HRC is dedicated to providing innovative care that focuses on the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of patients. Our team prides itself on treating patients with dignity and respect in an environment that fosters health and wellness. The HRC is about people helping other people to maximize their independence, re-adapt and re-build their lives.

Rehabilitation Engineering Services

What Is Rehabilitation Engineering?

Rehabilitation Engineering is the application of science and technology to improve the quality of life of persons with disabilities. Rehabilitation Engineering at The Rehabilitation Centre (TRC) provides clinical services to individuals with physical disabilities. Rehabilitation Engineering also offers technology assessment services and participates in research and development. The Rehabilitation Centre is the only facility in St. Petersburg that provides this full range of rehabilitation engineering services.

Clinical Services

What Are The Goals Of Rehabilitation Engineering's Clinical Services?

Rehabilitation Engineering provides professional engineering consultation, design and construction of custom rehabilitation devices. A new custom device can be created or an existing device can be modified to meet the unique needs and abilities of an individual client when no suitable device is available commercially. Often a well-designed change to an existing product can greatly increase a client's level of independence and quality of life.

Who Is Eligible For Rehabilitation Engineering Clinical Services?

Rehabilitation Engineering provides service to any person with a physical disability who has an equipment-related problem. Usually clients are adults who have complex or very unique needs where solutions are not obvious.

Who Are The Members Of Clinical Services?

Rehabilitation Engineering employs the skills of professional engineers, and engineering technologists specialized in electronics and mechanical technology. The clinical engineer works with the client and their health-care professional to come up with the best solutions. Often an equipment-related difficulty will be brought to Rehabilitation Engineering by an occupational therapist, speech and language pathologist, physiotherapist or physiatrist.

Which Services Are Provided?

- Patient services include consultation, assessment, cost estimate preparation, custom design and fabrication of devices, modification of existing devices, testing and evaluation, fitting, repair and servicing.
- An accessible infant crib loan program is available for patients of The Rehabilitation Centre.
- Repair and servicing of patient-owned devices not made in Rehabilitation Engineering is only available if the device cannot be serviced anywhere else locally.
- Consultation services are also available for rehabilitation health professionals with questions about patient devices or therapy equipment.

What Is Expected Of The Clients?

Clients are expected to participate in the initial assessment or consultation which is usually held at The Rehabilitation Centre with the team involved. At the assessment the following will be determined: the goal to achieve, the user's abilities, other equipment that the solution must work with (compatibility and upgradability requirements), aesthetic preferences and cost constraints. When optional solutions are presented, the client's input is required. Most often the client will need to come in for a mounting or fitting of the customization. This may require one or two appointments. The client is responsible to pay any costs not covered by external funding assistance. After the device is dispensed, the client is expected to contact Rehabilitation Engineering if they have any concerns, questions or need additional adjustments. If the device needs repair for any reason, it is expected that the client notify Rehabilitation Engineering.

How Can Someone Access These Services?

Some services may require a medical referral. A person with a disability, a family member, or friend may call or contact us for general information. Health care professionals may call Rehabilitation Engineering to arrange a consultation appointment.

Chronic Pain Management Group Treatment Program

What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain is difficult to define or describe. Generally, it means pain that does not respond to the usual forms of medical management, that is, it does not go away. Having pain that persists can create a number of problems. For example, simple movements seem more difficult and may make a person become less active. Sleep may be interrupted. A person may be less patient and may start running into problems at home, at work or both. A person may feel hopeless, depressed, frustrated or angry. All of these difficulties and others as well can be part of a chronic pain problem.

There are no easy answers for people with chronic pain. Coping with a chronic pain problem requires patience, hard work and a willingness to change how things are done. It also requires change and understanding on the part of the family, as well as the involvement of skilled health professionals.

What are the goals of the Chronic Pain Management Program?

- To provide education on chronic pain and disability management.
- To increase activity level and help people remain active even though they have chronic pain.
- To improve fitness level.
- To improve emotional functioning

Patients achieve these goals by learning and implementing a variety of self-management strategies that they will continue to use on their own following participation in the program. These strategies do not take the pain away or cure the pain, but rather improve the patients’ ability to manage pain levels and progressively improve activity levels at home and in the community.
Who are the members of the Chronic Pain Management Program team?

The Chronic Pain Management Group Treatment Program utilizes an interdisciplinary team approach that is patient-centered. The interdisciplinary team includes members from the following disciplines:

- Physiotherapy

- Psychology

- Pharmacy

- Nursing

- Social Work

- Occupational Therapy

- Recreation

- Medicine

- Clinical Nutrition

- Vocational Rehabilitation

The Neurospinal Service

What Is The Neurospinal Service?

The Neurospinal Service (N.S.S.) provides rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions. The Neurospinal Service's interdisciplinary team is dedicated to bringing patients to their full potential, with the ultimate goal of returning patients to family or community living.

Who Is Eligible For The Neurospinal Service?

- Patients must be 18 years of age or older
- Patients who typically have one of the following diagnoses:

Spinal cord injury:

- Quadriplegia (complete or incomplete)
- Paraplegia (complete or incomplete)
- Central cord syndrome
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Spinal tumours/ meningiomas
- Conus Medullaris syndrome
- Brown Sequard Syndrome
- Spina Bifida

Neurological conditions:

- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

- Guillain Barre Syndrome

- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) / Motor Neuron Disease

What Services Does The Neurospinal Team Provide To Patients?

Inpatient Services:

The inpatient services are patient-goal oriented and assist patients in goal selection upon admission.

- Inpatient beds are available to patients requiring intensive rehabilitation who have one or more of the following:
- Recent injury
- Flare-up of an existing condition
- Significant physical deconditioning
- Decreased mobility
- Unsafe or inaccessible home environment
- Complex psychosocial needs
- Difficulty coping at home
- Inadequate community support
- Equipment needs

Patients are expected to experience some degree of neurological and functional recovery before returning home. With patients who are more severely impaired, the focus becomes education for the patient and their significant others to maximize independence and community reintegration.

The length of inpatient rehabilitation can vary from a few weeks to several months, depending on the medical condition and the particular needs of the patient

Outpatient Services:

- Inpatient Follow-up: Some inpatients may not meet all of their rehabilitation goals by the time of discharge. Following discussion with the appropriate team member, outpatient visits may be scheduled to follow through on mutually agreed upon goals.

- Outpatient Clinics: Specialized multi-disciplinary clinics such as the Seating Clinic and the ALS Clinic are available to suitable outpatients.

Outreach Services:

Nursing consultation services are offered through the Nurse Practitioner. Clients living in the community can contact the Nurse Practitioner directly, either at The Rehabilitation Centre or at its affiliated community health care centre.

- Community Consultation: Team members consult with family and health care workers to provide information aimed to optimize patient functioning in the home and community environments. How Can Family Members Become Involved?

What Are Some Unique Aspects Of The Neurospinal Service?

- Patients with respiratory muscle weaknesses are referred to the respirologist and the respiratory therapist for optimal non-invasive airway management assisting with lung hygiene and ventilation where indicated.

- The Neurospinal Service offers group education sessions to patients. These sessions provide information on areas of interest such as community resources, skin care and peer support. Patients have the opportunity to meet informally after the sessions and browse the Resource Centre.