In the Spinal Cord Rehab Inpatient Service, a team of health care professionals will care for you to help you recover and prepare for your discharge.
Admission notification is through your referring hospital. If you have any questions about your upcoming admission, please contact the inpatient service coordinator at 416 597 3422 ext. 6105.
We will also send an admission letter to you by mail, along with other relevant details to help you prepare for your inpatient stay.
Your first day may be a little overwhelming. Your health care team will meet you and determine the best way to start your rehab. Usually, the day you arrive includes:
- Arriving by ambulance and transferring into your hospital bed with the help of the ambulance attendants
- Meeting the nurse, who will ask you questions about your general health and take your vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, pulse, breathing rate)
- Meeting the pharmacist, who will review your medications and any allergies
- Meeting the occupational therapist and physiotherapist, who will ask you about your home environment and your physical function. You will be provided a loaner wheelchair if you need one. They will also measure you for a wheelchair that fits properly.
- Meeting the doctor, who will assess your condition and review your medical history
- Meeting with other members of your health care team as needed
Your Treatment
Throughout your inpatient stay, you will be as independent as possible and actively participate in your treatment. We will develop a personalized treatment plan with you and your family to meet your needs and goals.
To get the most out of your rehabilitation program, it will be necessary for you to actively participate on a daily basis. Rehabilitation is different from an acute care hospital, where you may have just been for surgery or treatment. Our focus in rehabilitation is helping you learn about your spinal cord injury and become as independent as possible. We will encourage you to take full advantage of the resources our service has to offer. Whenever possible, we encourage you to spend time at home before discharge.
Monitoring Your Health
Your health care team will see you every day. We will talk with you about how you are doing and answer any questions you may have throughout your stay. Please feel free to approach any team member with any questions or concerns.
You may have blood tests,
x-rays,
ultrasounds,
CT scans or other tests performed during your stay. If we recommend that you receive any of these tests, we will discuss them with you in advance, and we will meet with you afterward to discuss the results.
Visitors
We encourage you to have family members, friends and other supportive visitors during your stay. You are welcome to meet with visitors in your room, in the common lounge areas and in the visiting areas outdoors.
Patients are limited to two visitors at a time. Only one visitor per patient is allowed in treatment areas.
Learn more about
visiting patients at UHN.
Amenities
Throughout our hospital, you and your family and other visitors can find a range of amenities to make your stay more enjoyable and comfortable. You can find the following amenities at Lyndhurst Centre:
- Bank machine
- Cafe and vending machines
- Visitor's lounge on each unit
- Washer and dryer, for patient use
- Wi-Fi access
- Spinal Cord Connections - our patient and family resource centre
Eating and Drinking
You will have a chance to tell us about your food preferences and allergies when you are admitted to the hospital. This information will be entered into our computer system, and your meals will take into account your preferences and allergies, as well as the diet plan specified by your doctor. All patients are encouraged to have lunch and dinner in the dining room.
Medications
If you are taking any medications before you enter the hospital or if our health care professionals order new medications during your stay, we will provide your medications at the required times.
For each medication, you should know:
- The name of the medication
- Why you need it
- How much to take
- When to take it
- Any side effects it may cause
If you want to know more about your medications, you can ask your pharmacist, doctor or nurse at any time.
Handwashing
It is important to wash your hands well and often while you are in the hospital. Washing your hands will reduce the chances that you will become sick or get an infection.
While in the hospital, always remember to use a hand sanitizer and wash your hands:
- Before eating
- After using the toilet or bedpan
- After touching any of your body fluids, such as vomit or blood
- After sneezing or coughing or blowing your nose
- After touching your would, dressings, tubes and drains
It's okay to ask your doctor, nurse and other health care providers to wash or sanitize their hands using a gel hand sanitizer before examining you.
You can learn more about
infection control at UHN.
The length of your stay will be based on your health care team's assessment of your level of function, the extent of your illness or injury, your progress. Soon after you arrive at the unit, we will discuss with you and your family how long you will be staying. Discharge planning starts at the beginning of your stay and it is confirmed within 10 days of your admission.
We will work with you and your family to start planning early for your discharge to help you make a safe and successful transition to the next stage of your rehabilitation, either at home or in your community.
At the end of your inpatient stay, we will give you any discharge instructions and a prescription for any medications you require.
If you have any questions about your discharge or your care needs before you leave the hospital, don't be afraid to ask a member of your team. We are here to help you.
