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Inpatient Services

Inpatient occupational therapy services are provided at the General and Civic Campuses in the areas of physical medicine and mental health.

Currently, there are approximately 60 full- and part-time occupational therapists to assist with patient activation and discharge planning in keeping with each individual's strengths and weaknesses.

Physical Medicine

For patients admitted with a physical illness, occupational therapists provide a comprehensive physical, cognitive and functional assessment. Occupational therapists may work on the general or family medicine units. Other service areas include:

Evaluations and interventions are also provided on the Transitional Care units at the General and the Civic Campuses.

Specialty geriatric assessments and consultations are available through the Geriatric Assessment Unit at the Civic Campus. For those requiring further rehabilitation before their discharge home, occupational therapy treatment is available at the Short-Term Rehabilitation Unit. The Rehabilitation Centre can also assist in realizing the patient's full potential.

Occupational therapists work within a multidisciplinary setting. Occupational therapy assistants and rehabilitation assistants also form an important part of our team. Occupational therapists use purposeful activity in their assessment and may prescribe adapted devices or recommend techniques to promote function or minimize discomfort. Education is provided on an individual basis, for example by providing information to promote safety at home.

Mental Health

In psychiatry, the focus of occupational therapy for inpatients is on individual and group activities to optimize community integration.

Therapeutic activity and group work is used to promote contact with reality and develop organization skills, cognitive skills, self-awareness, expression, coping strategies, assertiveness, social and life management skills.