Specialized Rehab

Specialized Rehab

Specialized rehabilitation is required for some rehabilitation populations to help ensure optimal patient outcomes and efficient care. Given the recent health system reorganization, the RCA has provided guidance for Ontario Health Teams (OHTs) on ten specialized rehab patient populations and the specialized rehab resources that are required to ensure equal access to quality care across provincial regions. The guidance document can be downloaded as one document with all specialized patient populations included, or as separate population-specific documents.

Next steps for the RCA include supporting continued discussion with Ontario Health (OH) on the relationship between specialized rehab services and OHTs in alignment with Ministry of Health/OH directions. The RCA’s current focus is on:

  • Confirming and disseminating population-specific surveys to determine degree of alignment with criteria for specialized rehab as outlined in RCA Specialized Rehabilitation: Guidance for Ontario Health Teams (see below)
  • Confirming and mapping existing specialized rehab programs for selected populations
  • Developing criteria to define where specialized rehab programs are needed
  • Determining utilization of specialized rehab for select population
Specialized Rehabilitation: Guidance for Ontario Health Teams
RCA Key Principles of a Hub and Spoke Model for Specialized Rehabilitation This foundational document is serving to guide the RCA as the initiative evolves. As such, it will be reviewed periodically and updated as required. This document outlines why a hub and spoke model is needed for specialized rehab and describes the model with respect to its benefits and challenges, the key principles of the model, and hub and spoke roles and responsibilities.
Specialized Rehabilitation: Guidance for Ontario Health Teams (all populations) (March 2023) Provides guidance on:

  • why specialized rehabilitation is required and for which patient populations
  • what services and resources are required to provide specialized rehabilitation
  • when specialized rehabilitation services are needed for ten specialized rehabilitation populations (acquired brain injury, amputee, burn, cardiovascular, complex trauma, oncology, pediatric, pulmonary, spinal cord injury and stroke)
  • the use of virtual rehabilitation
Specialized Rehabilitation: Guidance for Ontario Health Teams (by population) (March 2023) By population: