2022

Analysis underway to support provincial rehab workforce planning

The provincial Rehab Workforce Task Group’s exploration of system-wide rehabilitative care labour concerns is well underway. This is the first rehab-focused approach to understand the current state of the workforce and lay the foundation for a robust provincial health human resources rehabilitative care strategy. To support this work, preliminary analysis of results from the first […]

Adapting specialized rehab guidance for the provincial context

Specialized rehabilitative care is required for some patient populations to ensure good patient outcomes and efficient care. Last year, the University of Toronto’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation group, alongside the GTA Rehab Network (GTA RN), identified ten rehabilitation populations that require a specialized approach: acquired brain injury (ABI), amputee, burn, cardiovascular, complex trauma, oncology, pediatric, […]

Facilitated implementation series supports rehab care for older adults

The Rehabilitative Care Alliance and Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario have launched a Facilitating Implementation Conversations series with regions (Sault Ste Marie, Thunder Bay and Ottawa) interested in adopting the Rehabilitative Care for Older Adults Living With/At Risk of Frailty Framework. Early adopter regions are providing input to improve the series, which offers a joint rehabilitation/specialized […]

Success story: implementing post-fall pathways in Thunder Bay

In Canada, falls are a top reason for injury-related death, hospitalization and emergency department (ED) visits for older adults. In the North West, falls among older adults account for 40% of hospitalizations; in Thunder Bay alone, they account for 24% of ED visits. As rehabilitative care is shown to reduce the risk of falls and functional […]

Recently released: updated total joint replacement framework and resources

Last month, the Rehabilitative Care Alliance released an updated rehabilitative care best practice framework and associated resources for patients undergoing total hip and knee replacements. These resources reflect the evolving best practices needed to support Ontario’s pandemic recovery planning and replace those originally developed in 2017 and subsequently updated in 2019. The updated framework, quick […]

Telerehab toolkit updated and available for download

The second edition of the virtual rehabilitation (telerehab) implementation toolkit created by the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute’s Brain Rehabilitation Program and KITE Research Institute has been launched. First developed in 2020 to help rehabilitation organizations and providers develop, improve, and evaluate telerehab, the updated version features improvements based on user feedback and 12 informative patient- and clinician-facing videos. […]

Thank You for your Responses to the Rehab Provider Experience Survey!

The first rehabilitation Provider Experience Survey was launched in September 2022 in recognition of Rehabilitation Day on September 20th. We received over 600 responses! Thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the survey. This data is the first step in collecting and reporting on a provincial view of provider experience that is […]

WEBINAR: Frailty to Resilience: Implementation

On June 8th, the Rehabilitative Care Alliance (RCA) and Provincial Geriatrics Leadership Ontario (PGLO) hosted a 2nd implementation-focused webinar on their recently released best practice framework, Rehabilitative Care for Older Adults Living With/At Risk of Frailty: From Frailty to Resilience.  This one-hour webinar provided participants with: An understanding of the 4 key action items that […]

RCA makes recommendations on rehab in primary care

A new white paper from the RCA provides health system decision-makers with recommendations to support the spread of innovative and cost-effective models of rehabilitative care in primary care.  The paper is the final part of a four-part white paper, Community-Based Rehabilitation: Providing High-Value Rehabilitative Care in the Community, that explores the critical role that community-based […]

Referral resources for post COVID-19 condition

Providers continue to experience the demand for rehabilitation services for people with persistent symptoms following COVID-19. The RCA has developed the following resources to facilitate referrals to COVID-specific outpatient rehab programs: Standardized intake and communication pathway for COVID-19 outpatient rehab programs  – Pathway for referrals and communication with primary care, including a letter template for […]