FAQ for Specialized Services

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1. Why would I need this service?
2. Who is this service geared towards?
3. How can I get started with this service?
4. When can I take this service?
5. What will this service offer?
6. What is the average length of stay?
7. How is my discharge determined?
8. Who is the chronic wound treatment program for?
9. What is the lymphedema program?

Answers

1. Why would I need this service?

If you required specialized inpatient services from an interprofessional health care team to manage a chronic medical conditions(s).

2. Who is this service geared towards?

Clients who have a chronic disease(s) that require medically complex care but have predicable outcomes. Conditions might include one or more of the following: COPD, neurological conditions, stroke, lymphedema, chronic wounds. Clients usually require a minimum of 6 weeks of treatment.

3. How can I get started with this service?

You need a doctor’s referral. Most clients are referred to this service from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre , or from another program in St. Joseph’s Care Group. However, your physician can refer you from the community.

4. When can I take this service?

When your physician and the admission facilitator (or discharge facilitator for an internal transfer) have decided that you are appropriate candidate.

5. What will this service offer?

Normally a minimum of 6 weeks of one or more of the following services:

• Physician care to oversee your medical condition.
• Nursing care, including: IV’s, IV antibiotics, TPN, transfusion, tracheotomies, VAC dressings, colostomy care, ventilation, feeding tubes, central lines, medications, wound care.
• Occupation Therapy.
• Physiotherapy- Social Worker.
• Spiritual Care.
• Recreational therapy.
• Speech therapy.
• Dietician consultation.
• Respiratory therapy.
• Discharge planning.
• Family conferences.

6. What is the average length of stay?

7-8 weeks on average.

7. How is my discharge determined?

When the team, including the admitting physician, determines that your condition has stabilized, your response to therapy has plateaued, and your need can be met in the community or a long term care home. This information will be discussed with you and your family ahead of time to allow for discharge planning.

8. Who is the chronic wound treatment program for?

This is a 12 week inpatient program for clients with chronic wounds that are resistant to healing. There are 4 beds for this program. Treatment is provided by our interdisciplinary team, including would specialists (dermatologist and wound/ enterostomal therapy nurse). The client must have a discharge destination prior to admission to the program so that discharge can be made as soon as the appropriate level of wound healing reached.

9. What is the lymphedema program?

This program is for clients with lymphedema that cannot be managed on an outpatient basis. There is one lymphedema bed. An interprofessional team is available, including a specially trained lymphedema therapist who will focus on symptom reduction, garment application, and/or successful graduation to therapy in the community. Your physician will refer you and a lymphedema therapist will assess you in an outpatient clinic at the hospital to determine if you are an appropriate candidate. Admission is short term.