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The Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Outpatient Clinic is one part of the range of rehabilitation services offered by The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre (TOHRC), specializing in cognitive and physical rehabilitation. This service offers consultation with a physiatrist (physician who specializes in rehabilitation), whose assessment will determine whether there are any programs or therapies that would be of benefit to the patient. You may also be seen by a physician assistant (advanced practice provider who works alongside the physician) who will assist with the consultation and treatment process.

The ABI Outpatient Clinic and Day Hospital provides diagnosis, treatment, support, and education to those with acquired brain injuries, as well as their family and caregivers. The ABI Outpatient Clinic also assists patients in the community by providing treatment recommendations and interventions, support, and information to primary care and allied health-care providers. There are two care streams to address specific patient needs:

• Acute and Chronic Acquired Brain Injury
  • Serving patients with traumatic brain injury, anoxic brain injury, encephalitis, brain injury secondary to tumors as well as other forms of brain injury.
• Concussion with prolonged symptoms
  • Serving patients who have sustained a concussion and have symptoms affecting them for greater than one-month post injury. At this time, we accept referrals of fewer than nine months post injury.

Depending on the care stream there may be services available at the hospital which are publicly funded through. Alternatively, there are many community-based rehabilitation services available to patients through alternative funding sources. Ask your health-care team about further options.

Our Services

The ABI Outpatient Clinic provides patient-focused treatment that involves patients, families, and caregivers as rehabilitation providers.

The Acute and Chronic Acquired Brain Injury stream services include:

• Initial assessment and ongoing support by a registered nurse (RN), a physiatrist, and a physician assistant.
• Discipline-specific assessment and therapies, which may include:
  • Nursing
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Psychology
  • Speech-language therapy
  • Social work
  • Therapeutic recreation

The Concussion stream services include:

• Initial assessment and ongoing support by a physiatrist and a physician assistant.
• Treatment recommendations to primary care providers.
• Follow-up in the outpatient clinic.
• Referral to community providers often covered by third-parties (e.g. health benefits plans or motor vehicle insurance), which may include:
  • Occupational therapy
  • Physiotherapy
  • Psychology
  • Speech-language therapy
  • Social Work
  • Vision therapy

Patient Resources

• Acute and Chronic Brain Injury:
  • Coping with brain injury: A guide for caregivers and family
  • Coping with brain injury: A guide for patients

Making an Appointment

We only accept referrals from physicians and nurse practitioners.

We accept referrals from the counties of:

• Renfrew
• Lanark
• Leeds and Grenville
• Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry
• Prescott and Russell
• Ottawa Carleton
• Western Quebec (inpatient treatment only)

Please note: While community-based services are limited to the counties listed, people from other areas will be considered for outpatient consultation and admission to inpatient services.

Contact Us

For further information, please contact:

Service Nurse Clinician
Acquired Brain Injury Care Stream
The Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre
505 Smyth Rd., Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M2
Phone: (613) 737-7350 ext. 75406
Fax: (613) 733-8336

Last updated on: June 2nd, 2021