Careers at UHN

Departmental Profiles

Rehabilitation Services - Occupational Therapy

Vision
To be internationally recognized as a leader in discipline-specific and inter-disciplinary clinical, academic, research and quality activities.

Mission
Occupational Therapy at the University Health Network is committed to providing and promoting excellence in patient care, education, research and administration.

The fundamental premises upon which the operation of Occupational Therapy is based are the following:

1. Occupational therapy is practiced within the philosophy of facilitating functional independence in the areas of self care, productivity and leisure;
2. The interaction of mental, physical, socio-cultural and spiritual components are addressed in their influence of occupational performance ;
3. A client-centred lifestyle, community integration and improved quality of life are emphasized throughout all phases of therapeutic intervention;
4. The self worth, values, rights, and dignity of the individual are respected in the recovery process;
   The individual's active participation in the recovery process is ensured;
5. The overall aim of specialized holistic programs is to prevent disability and to promote, maintain or restore occupational performance.
6. Programs receiving service from Occupational Therapy

Hand Program - Occupational therapists are actively involved in the Hand Program, the largest in Ontario, and many of them are certified hand therapists. Patients are referred from all over the province for specialized care. All OT's have more than 3 years experience and three have more than 10 years experience in this field. All have teaching experience and have presented at national and international meetings. Several have publications in peer reviewed journals, and have been involved in research. Our Staff collectively speak 6 languages other than English, an asset in meeting the needs of our multicultural clientele.

Neural and Sensory Science Programs - Occupational therapists provide service to the Neurology, Neurosurgery, Spinal Unit and the Stroke Programs. These programs have a high profile in the hospital and nationally. OT is an integral part of the rehabilitation treatment team within these programs.

General Medicine - OT's are experts in the assessment of rehabilitation needs as well as providing rehabilitation to patients with varied and complex impairments on General Internal Medicine. They are valued team members with a major involvement in discharge planning.

Rheumatology - Rheumatology is part of the Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis Program at TWH. The inpatient Rheumatology unit, unique in Canada, offers the OT assessment and treatment for a variety of arthritic conditions. Hand and foot orthotics are also fabricated for outpatients by therapists with specialized training in this area.

Community and Population Health/Health Connections Programs - Occupational therapists contribute to these unique community programs which service the needs of specific patient groups. One of these programs, the Regional Geriatric Program, receives a range of services from the occupational therapists, from participation on the consultation teams at TGH or TWH, to provision of short term rehab on the Acute Geriatric Unit, as well as a community role with the Outreach team. Within the Child and Adolescent Health Unit, The OT provides assessment, treatment and consultation for preschool aged children with neuro-developmental difficulties, mainly children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. An OT also provides service to the Seniors' Wellness Clinic. This clinic is geared towards the healthy older adult. The OT provides education and recommendations for these adults to remain healthy and independent in their community.

Multi-Organ Transplant - The occupational therapist on the Transplant Unit provides inpatient services to patients with new transplants and those surviving many years post transplant. Currently, research is underway to explore development of the role in out patient programs.

Cardio-Respiratory Programs - This high profile team at TGH includes occupational therapy for individual and group treatment. OT participates in specialized programs of patient education such as "Heart Talk" and runs Energy Conservation and Stress Management classes. In conjunction with the Occupational Therapy Department at the University of Toronto, research is underway to evaluate patient education.

Mental Health - The University Health Network has a world renowned Eating Disorders program and occupational therapy is involved in both in-patient and Day Hospital components. These therapists have special skills, including training in group psychotherapy and sexuality counseling. The general psychiatry program offers adult and geriatric services to inpatients, with OT involved in innovative programming and collaboration with outside agencies. The University Health Network has an Assertive Community Treatment team associated with it and occupational therapy is a key service within this team.

Oncology and Blood Disorders - Occupational therapy provides both inpatient and outpatient service to a variety of programs at PMH, including malignant hematology, gynecological oncology, Pencer Brain Tumour Centre and the Breast Clinic. Therapists' special skills include addressing quality of life issues, through education and provision of assistive devices, enabling patients to carry out activities of daily living, as well as training in alternative therapies.

An occupational therapy assistant supports the therapy programs at each site, running groups and providing individual treatment, as well as coordinating inventory and maintenance for the department.

Qualifications
Rehabilitation Services

 

 

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