Rehabilitation Services

Physiotherapists are health care professionals who are trained to understand how the body moves and help people improve their physical condition. They focus on evaluating your physical function and movement, then work with you to gain strength, mobility and improved body function.

Your physiotherapist will be part of your health care team working to help you regain your mobility and improve your health. She or he knows many different strategies to help you improve your physical condition, increase control over your life and prevent further physical injury or pain.

Physiotherapy services offered at HHCC include: 

• Inpatient acute care –medical and post-surgical, respiratory, paediatric
• Inpatient rehabilitation – medical and orthopaedic

HHCC and its community partners have implemented a new Musculoskeletal (MSK) Central Intake, Assessment and Management program for patients with moderate to severe hip and knee osteoarthrosis. This is part of a province-wide approach to streamline referral and create Rapid Access Clinics (RAC) for hip and knee joint replacement across Ontario.

The goal of this program is to:
 

• Achieve shorter wait times for patients by providing timely, comprehensive assessments with advanced practice providers who have additional advanced education and clinical expertise 
• Improve communications between patients, primary care providers and surgeons
• Enhance support for patients who are not surgical candidates to help them manage their condition

Under this referral process, primary care physicians will send their referrals for hip and knee osteoarthritis through the Central Intake Program for RAC assessment.

Our goal is to call patients with an appointment date and time within two weeks of receiving a doctor’s referral. The appointment will take place in the newly renovated Ambulatory Care Centre at Headwaters with an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist.

Access the Central West Hip/Knee Osteoarthrosis RAC referral form

Social Workers are highly trained health professionals who work with you to help your well-being and ability to function well in society. They work as part of the health care team, and play an important role in coordinating many of the other health services you may need while in the hospital and to prepare you for going home.

When you are in the hospital, you may get a visit from a Social Worker who will assess your general well-being. If you have any concerns about factors in your life that might affect your health care and your recovery in the hospital, you should talk to a Social Worker.

Occupational therapy helps people do the everyday things that are important to them like getting dressed, eating with a fork or spoon, going to work or the store, gardening, doing sports or other leisure activities. Occupational therapists (also known as OTs) are specially trained health care professionals who work at HHCC to help our patients overcome or learn to manage problems that interfere with their ability to function in daily life because of an illness or injury. 

Our team of OTs work with the other members of your health care team to assess and develop a treatment plan that is right for you. Specifically, they can help with:
 

• Physical function
• Sensory retraining
• Activities of daily living
• Perceptual and cognitive functions
• Adjustments needed to return to work
• Emotional adjustment
• Splinting and equipment prescription (such as for wheelchairs)

Speech-Language Pathology is a health care field with trained professionals who can assess, diagnose and treat a variety of communication and swallowing difficulties and disorders. At HHCC, we offer inpatient and outpatient services for adults and children.

Adult Speech-Language Pathology Services
Speech-language pathologists provide assessment and treatment of communication and swallowing disorders for our adult inpatients. The people we see may have one or more issues such as: stroke, neurogenic communication disorders (aphasia, dyspraxia, dysarthria, etc.), voice and swallowing disorders. Our speech-language pathologists work on numerous multi-disciplinary professional teams throughout the hospital.

Clients with swallowing difficulties (dysphagia) are assessed and managed on both an inpatient and outpatient basis. Therapists work in with dietary and nursing staff and provide consultation to family members and community professionals.

Access Outpatient Paediatrics Speech-Language Pathology Services in Ontario 
In Ontario, preschool speech and language services are divided into regions. If you live in Wellington or Dufferin County you can access services through the Wee Talk Preschool Speech and Language Services operated by the Wellington Guelph Dufferin Public Health Unit. Parents can directly refer their child for service – a doctor’s referral is not necessary.

Access preschool speech and language service programs in Ontario  or in Dufferin County you can call 1.844.454.3711.

Recreation therapy is a health care field that is geared to helping people achieve optimal health and enjoy quality of life through leisure and recreation activities. It helps people with physical, social, behavioural or emotional limitations gain skills to help them enjoy life.

Our activation aide works with patients in a variety of settings. This may include gardening, play a game or another activity geared to help patients in their recovery.