Recognizing Rehabilitation at QCH
This year on Rehabilitation Day, we’re putting a spotlight on the different rehab teams at QCH and what they do for the patients they provide care for. Our rehab team consists of:
3 seniors
42 physiotherapists
22 occupational therapists
10 speech language pathologists
23 rehab assistants
3 ACC clerks
2 PCA's
36 nurses
7 physicians
Outpatient Services
Did you know QCH supports over 15,600 outpatient rehabilitation visits annually? The department offers nine post-operative total knee replacement rehab classes weekly and provides prehab services to more than 1000 patients awaiting total knee and total hip replacements each year. QCH physiotherapists work together with rehab assistants, and other members of the Allied Health team to ensure patients achieve the best care possible!
Inpatient Rehabilitation unit
Inpatient Rehabilitation at Queensway Carleton Hospital (QCH) is a 38-bed unit designed for inpatients recovering from orthopedic surgery, stroke, broken bones, respiratory, neurological disorders, and/or designed for patients who no longer require acute medical or surgical inpatient services but require continued medical monitoring for further functional and/or cognitive assessments before being discharged. The inpatient rehab team consists of specialized professionals who offer coordinated, comprehensive, and interdisciplinary rehab services.
The unit also includes a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program that helps people improve their quality of life and teaches essential skills to help manage the symptoms of chronic conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Our team assesses and treats all domains of an individual’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and psychological health. Team members work together with patients and their families toward mutual goals to enable patients to regain independence and live as independently as possible.
Stroke Care
The physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and rehab assistants on QCH’s A3 stroke unit are highly skilled rehab professionals who work together with other team members including social workers, dieticians, and pharmacists to ensure that stroke care is coordinated and meets best practice guidelines. Every patient admitted with a stroke diagnosis is assessed within 48 hours by the Allied Health team to determine, among other things, their mobility, functional, cognitive, language and swallowing status to address potential areas of concern. On the third day of admission, every patient is assessed using a standard tool to determine the most appropriate pathway for stroke rehab to ensure optimal post-stroke recovery!
Speech Language Pathology
Speech Language Pathologists complete videofluoroscopy swallow studies with outpatients in the Diagnostic Imaging Department at QCH. The patients are given liquid and food and their swallowing is evaluated by x-ray. The patients watch the images of their swallowing function with the speech language pathologist and receive immediate results of their evaluation. The speech language pathologist gives recommendations to help them swallow more efficiently and safely. Recommendations may include exercise, body or head position, or texture changes to food or liquid. Changes to the process of swallowing can often help!
