In the medicine program, teams of people work together to provide care. Members of the health care team work with patients and families to discuss:
- What has happened;
- What treatment and care is needed;
- What to expect while on the unit; and
- What to expect after patients are discharged or transferred to an appropriate long-term care facility.
Some team members you may meet are as follows:
Physicians:
- Hospitalist: a hospitalist is a physician who specializes in caring for patients admitted to hospital with medical problems. Hospitalists work with a team of specialists, nurses, therapists, and other health care staff to provide high quality medical care
- Internist: an internal medicine specialist
- Respirologist: a lung specialist
- Nephrologists/urologist: specialists in kidney function
- Cardiologist: a heart specialist
- Neurologist: a nervous system specialist
Nurses: nurses plan and provide daily patient care, answer questions and address concerns and assist with planning patient discharges. We are pleased to have registered nurses and registered practical nurses in our staff
Clinical dietitians: registered clinical dietitians and diet technicians assess a patient's nutritional status, educate, and ensure that nutritional needs are being met.
Occupational therapists: occupational therapists assess a patient's ability to manage daily activities (dressing, grooming, cooking) and provide treatment to increase activity tolerance. They also help to identify what supports a patient will need after discharge.
Physiotherapists: physiotherapists assess a patient's physical functioning and disabilities to create a care plan that will increase strength, improve balance, and encourage normal movement patterns. They also assist with discharge planning.
Therapy assistants: therapy assistants help occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and speech language pathologists.
Pharmacists: pharmacists provide drug information to patients, doctors, and other members of the health care team.
Social workers: social workers help patients and family members learn ways to cope with changes. Providing information about financial and community support services, they also assist with discharge planning.
Respiratory therapists: available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, respiratory therapists assess and treat a variety of heart and lung disorders.
Speech language pathologists: speech language pathologists assess and make recommendations for managing swallowing problems, and helps patients with spoken and written communication.
Spiritual care and pastoral care: spiritual care offers support, counselling and help in times of trauma, stress or loss for patients, family members, or hospital staff.
Case managers for the community care access centre: case managers from CCAC help assess and plan patients' discharge needs
Please speak to any member of the health care team if your family has a special request.