Occupational Therapist - Works with patients who have difficulty with daily activities. Occupational Therapists assist people to become more independent. They assess a patient's safety, memory and ability to complete tasks such as dressing, bathing, cooking, transportation, etc. They offer recommendations for special items like wheelchairs, pressure garments, splints and bathroom equipment. Rehabilitation Assistant - Works under the supervision of the Physiotherapist and/or Occupational Therapist to provide individual or group therapy programs. Speech and language Pathologist - No Speech and Language Pathologist is on staff; patients are referred to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Speech Language Pathologist. Outpatient Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy services can be accessed with a physician's referral. Priority is given to inpatients with complex orthopedic and neurologic rehab needs discharged from St Joseph’s General Hospital.
PATIENT cARE – PSYchIATRY/mENTAl hEAlTh AND SUBSTANcE USE SERVIcES St Joseph’s is designated under the provincial Mental Health Act as a psychiatric/mental health facility. To provide such treatment services, the hospital offers five Psychiatry/Mental Health Services: the Inpatient Psychiatry Unit, Crisis Response Services, Withdrawal Management Services Program, Adult Group Therapy Program and Adolescent Outpatient Services. Additionally, the hospital partners with Island Health Authority’s North Island Seniors Health Program providing the Seniors Mental Health service. Visiting hours on the inpatient unit are 24 hours a day according to patient preference. The Inpatient Psychiatry Unit has two programs: 18 acute care beds and four intensive psychiatric care beds. The units have an inter-disciplinary team of psychiatrists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapist and recreational therapist to work together to meet the treatment need of each patient. Discharge planning includes connecting the patient to the community supports needed upon return home.
crisis Services is a community outreach program available seven days/week for persons in mental health crisis whether the person is in the community or has come to the hospital’s emergency department. The Crisis Nurse helps the patient stabilize the crisis and assists in connecting them to community resources they may need on an on-going basis.
Withdrawal management Services offers assessment, intervention and referral for persons requiring help with issues related to withdrawal from their use of drugs and/or alcohol. The service helps people connect with the appropriate medical and social support they need, including access to detoxification beds in the community or on the island. The Adult Group Therapy Program provides outpatient group therapy programs for the treatment of difficulties that may have resulted from trauma, depression or anxiety. Patients may be referred by their family doctor or from Mental Health and Substance Services (MHSU) community services.
The Adolescent Outpatient Services provides intervention for adolescents experiencing serious psychiatric difficulties, such as depression, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or thought disorders. The service commonly sees adolescents where the psychiatric disorder co-occurs with a medical illness or with substance abuse. The service accepts referrals for therapy from family physicians and directly from families. Caregivers or school personnel may also phone to facilitate referrals on behalf of teens and their families. This service plays an important role in suicide risk awareness and prevention in the adolescent population.
21
- 21 -