Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital

Your Care Team

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Your care team is made up of different health care professionals who work together to support you in your goals for your care. Learn about the different health care professions and the roles they play on the team.

Your patient care manager oversees all parts of the care you and your caregivers will receive. At any time, if you have concerns or compliments, your patient care manager will be pleased to speak with you.

Of all of your team members, you will spend the most time with your nurses. Nursing care is provided around the clock. In addition to meeting your personal care needs and giving you your medications, nurses will assess and support your physical and emotional well-being.

The doctors who oversee your medical care are palliative care specialists. You will meet your doctor the day you are admitted and they will see you as often as needed throughout your stay. Your doctor is available to palliative care team members 24 hours a day. It is important to note that our doctors rotate, usually every four to six weeks. You may receive care from more than one doctor during your stay.

It is common for a person with a serious illness to have a low appetite. The dietitian can help make changes to your meal plan, or help with managing symptoms like nausea or poor appetite. They can also help when eating is for comfort and enjoyment and you will have the opportunity to make your own food selections with our menus.

The role of your occupational therapist is to explore how different kinds of equipment might improve your quality of life or help manage certain symptoms. Examples of equipment include the mattress you sleep on, wheelchairs, walkers or canes. The aim of occupational therapy is to promote comfort, safety, and support you in participating in the activities that are important to you.

Your pharmacist will provide you and your caregivers with support regarding medications to manage your symptoms. On admission, your pharmacist will review all of your medications to ensure we have the correct information. Your pharmacist will suggest adjustments if needed, provide education about your medications and address any questions you or your caregivers might have.

You will meet your physiotherapist shortly after you are admitted. Your physiotherapist will assess if you are able to get out of bed comfortably, your ability to do so safely, and the amount of help you may benefit from. You can discuss with your physiotherapist any goals you might have such as walking, gaining strength, and being comfortable. Your physiotherapist can also design a program for you if you are not able to get out of bed. If you would like an ongoing exercise program, a physiotherapist assistant may be involved to help you maintain your program.

The role of your recreation therapist is to help you improve and maintain your quality of life with the types of activities that are meaningful to you. These may include musical entertainment, gardening, virtual reality, creating memory books or cooking. Your recreation therapist will guide you and your caregivers in choosing programs and activities that are most appropriate and meaningful.

Your social worker can assist with emotional, psychological and practical issues that affect you and your caregivers. Social workers provide counselling, help navigate financial or legal matters, and help manage distress that you or your caregivers might be experiencing. Social workers also help you to transition to other care environments when and if appropriate.

Your speech-language pathologist (SLP) helps to make sure you are swallowing and eating safely. You will likely meet with the SLP if you are on a special diet to ensure safe swallowing, or if you develop difficulties with swallowing. Some people also have difficulty speaking because of their illness or have different kinds of communication needs. Your SLP can also work with you on strategies to help with communication.

A spiritual care practitioner offers individualized spiritual support based on your core beliefs and values. For you and your caregivers, this support can include emotional, psychological or initial grief and bereavement support. You or your caregivers might also request spiritual support as you consider important decisions, manage life changing news, or if you experience moral or emotional distress.

In addition, a spiritual care provider can help you or your caregivers in making links to religious leaders and communities.

As part of Sinai Health, Bridgepoint is affiliated with a number of schools including the University of Toronto and George Brown College. Your palliative care team is dedicated to training the next generation of health care providers. If a student or trainee is involved in your care with your consent, one of your team members is supervising.

In our program, we have a specialized volunteer program called “Caregiver and Patient Support” (CAPS) that supports both you and your caregivers. Although volunteers do not provide clinical care, their aim is to enhance your comfort and improve your quality of life and well-being through companionship, providing books, or helping with simple requests.