In the medicine program, teams of people work together to provide your care.
Members of the health care team will teach you and your family about:
- what has happened;
- what treatment and care is needed;
- what to expect during your stay on the unit; and
- what to expect when you leave the hospital or are transferred to an appropriate place to continue convalescence.
Here are some of the team members you may
meet:
| Team member | How they help |
|---|
Doctors: - Hospitalist
- Internist
- Respirologist
- Nephrologist/urologist
- Cardiologist
- Neurologist
- Surgeon
| A physician who specializes in caring for patients admitted to hospital. At Grand River Hospital, they care for patients who do not have a family doctor, or whose family doctor has chosen not to have admitting privileges here. Hospitalists work together with a team of specialists, nurses, therapists, and other health care staff to provide high quality medical care. A hospitalist is assigned to your care, however you may deal with more than one hospitalist during your stay. On nights and on weekends, there is always a hospitalist on call in case of an emergency. |
| Internist | Internal medicine specialist |
| Respirologist | Lung specialist |
| Nephrologist/Urologist | Kidney specialist |
| Cardiologist | Heart specialist |
| Neurologist | Nervous system specialist |
| Surgeon | Specialist physician involved in reviewing treatment requiring surgery |
Your family physician will not be responsible for your in-hospital stay, but will be updated on your medical concerns and receive a copy of the discharge note.
Please ensure we have your correct up to date family physician’s name at the time of admission to our program.
Other health care team members:
| Team member | How they help |
|---|
Registered nurses and
registered practical nurses | - Plans and provides your daily patient care
- Answers questions and concerns
- Assists with planning patient discharge
|
Registered clinical dietitians and diet technician | - Assesses the patient’s nutritional status and
ensures that nutritional needs are met.
- Nutritional teaching
|
Clinical nurse specialist | - The clinical nurse specialist is an advanced practice nurse (registered nurse with a master’s degree).
- Provides consultation and collaboration, leadership, and research to the hospital in the area of geriatrics/or care of the elderly
- Provides support to the patient (and family)
- Assists with acute care or transitions of care
- Helps patients and families with supports within the organization as well as in the community
|
Elder life specialist (ELS) | - Administers and coordinates the hospital elder
life program (HELP).
- Responsible for day to day operations of the
program, screening and enrolling patients in the program, providing individual
care plans for the patients, orienting families to the program and volunteer
management.
- HELP provides targeted interventions that
address geriatric issues known to contribute to cognitive and functional
decline during hospitalization.
- ELS’s are experienced or have a specialization
working with the elderly population.
|
Occupational therapist
| - Assesses ability to manage normal daily
activities (dressing, grooming, and cooking) and provides treatment to increase
activity tolerance
- Assesses and treats changes in thinking and
how information is interpreted
- Helps to identify what supports will be needed on
discharge
|
Physiotherapist | - Assesses physical functioning and disabilities
- Treats to increase strength, improve balance, encourages normal movement
patterns and improves breathing control
- Assists with discharge planning
|
Therapy assistant | - Assists the occupational therapist,
physiotherapist with plan of care
|
Pharmacist
| - Acts as a source of medicine information to the patient, doctor, and to
other members of the health care team
- Works with the healthcare providers to optimize your
medication regimen
|
Social worker
| - Helps the patient and their family learn ways of coping with changes
- Provides information about financial and community support services
- Assists with discharge planning
|
Respiratory therapist | - Assesses, consults and treats patients for a variety of heart and lung
disorders
- Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week
|
Speech-language pathologist | - Assesses and makes recommendations for managing swallowing problems
- Helps the patient with spoken and written
communication
|
Spiritual care/pastoral care
| - Offers support in times of trauma or stress to any patient, family
member, or staff within the hospital
- Provides supportive counselling and help in dealing
with issues of grief and loss
|
Care coordinator for the Community Care Access Center (CCAC) | - Will assist with assessing and planning your
discharge needs
|
