
Civic Campus 1053 Carling Avenue Ottawa ON K1Y 4E9	General Campus 501 Smyth Road Ottawa ON K1H 8L6	Riverside Campus 1967 Riverside Drive Ottawa ON K1H 7W9
Tel: 613-722-7000 \| www.ottawahospital.on.ca \| TTY: 613-761-4024

The Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Service

What Is The Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (MSR) Service?

The Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation (MSR) Service provides interdisciplinary, collaborative care to those with complex needs related to musculoskeletal conditions. Patients include those who have had an amputation, have been in an accident or a fire, or who have had a prolonged stay in hospital or intensive care because of a condition or surgery resulting in severely weakened muscles or reconditioning. The MSR Service offers two programs: the complex orthopedic program and the amputee program.

What Are The Goals Of The Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Service?

To provide specialized rehabilitation services, including assessment, preventative measures, treatment and discharge planning.
To optimize the clients' functional activity levels.
To promote education, research and advocacy to clients with complex needs related to musculoskeletal conditions and amputations.

Who Are The Members Of The MSR Service?

The Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Service uses an interdisciplinary approach that includes the following disciplines:

Clinical Nutrition
Medicine
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Pharmacy
Physiotherapy
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Psychology (clinical and neuropsychology)
Social Work
Therapeutic Recreation
Vocational Rehabilitation

Please note: Clients have access to consultation services from other disciplines as required.

Who Is Eligible For The MSR Service?

Clients must be 19 years of age and older.
Please note: TRC will work with the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) to determine the most appropriate facility, either CHEO or TRC, for clients 16 to 18 years of age.
Clients who have upper and/or lower extremity amputations are eligible for the amputee program.
Clients who have sustained serious injuries or major trauma are eligible for the complex orthopedic program.

How Do Clients Enter The MSR Service?

Clients must obtain a referral from their physician.
Eligible clients may be scheduled for a consultation with a physiatrist or other health care provider in order to assess their medical condition.
Clients are put on a clinical or inpatient wait list and are accepted to the MSR Service according to their medical readiness and the availability of the required services.

What Services Does The MSR Service Provide?

Inpatient Services:

Inpatient beds are for clients requiring intensive rehabilitation intervention who have one or more of the following:
- insufficient support or the physical inability to function at home,
  -a complex medical condition,
- a complex medical condition,
- a need for 24-hour nursing or supervisory care,
- transportation/distance issues.
Clients are expected to experience some degree of functional recovery before returning home or to an appropriate long-term facility.
Weekend leaves are encouraged as soon as the treatment team feels that clients are safe and sufficiently able to function outside of the hospital setting. Weekend leaves help clients to prepare for their discharge and provide clients with an opportunity to practice the skills that they have learned.
Team members consult with family and health care workers to provide information aimed to optimize client functioning in the home and community environments. Consultation may include liaison with, or referral to, community groups and services, such as:
- Community Care Access Centre (CCAC),
- Centre local des services communautaires (CLSC),
- Funding agencies,
- Private facilities and nursing homes.

Outpatient Services: The outpatient services may be provided to clients who require assessments, follow-ups and treatments.

What Is Expected Of The Clients?

Clients are encouraged to participate in the interdisciplinary assessments, the goal setting and the planning of their care. They are expected to attend all therapies and conduct themselves in a safe, respectful and responsible manner.

How Can Family Members Become Involved?

Families are encouraged to provide ongoing input and feedback.
A Family Day may be scheduled once the client has established a routine. The client's family is invited to meet the physiatrist and follow the client through a typical therapy day. The family will observe the client in therapy and gain an understanding of his/her functional level, therapy techniques and goals. This provides the families with an opportunity to ask clinicians questions, obtain education and plan for the client's discharge.
A Family Conference may occur instead of, or in addition to a Family Day. The client's family meets the team members to discuss relevant issues. These may include the client's medical situation, functional level, progress to date, prognosis, equipment needs, discharge plans and follow-up after discharge.