Information for Patients, Families and Friends

Introduction To The Program
The Continuing Care Unit of RVH is committed to providing holistic care. The philosophy of care is to enable patients to maximize their abilities in all activities of daily living. The Interdisciplinary Team provides patient focused care, in a secure environment. Care is based on the needs and expectations identified by patients, their families and friends, and the Interdisciplinary Team.

How Do We Get To Know You And Plan Care
Care is initially provided based on the information transferred from the Acute Care Floor as well as input from the family.

Patient Care Conference
The patient Care Conference is a vital and necessary part of the holistic care process. The Registered Nurse will schedule an initial meeting four weeks after admission, with family members and/or friends and with the Interdisciplinary Team.

The purpose of these meetings is to provide an opportunity for the patient, family and friends to discuss and plan patient care with the team as well as the plan for discharge. The Interdisciplinary Team reviews the progress of each patient on an ongoing basis and modifies the care plan accordingly. A meeting with the family is scheduled a minimum of once a year, or when requested by either the family or Interdisciplinary Team.

Interdisciplinary Care Team Members
Director of Clinical Programs
The Director of Clinical Programs is responsible for the overall clinical and operational management of the program. She is available during regular business hours or by appointment.

Nursing - Patients are cared for by Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, and Health Care Aides. Together they provide 24 hour nursing care which focuses on clinical care and maximizing independence. You can call anytime to find out how your family member is doing.

Physicians - review patients on a regular basis. Feel free to contact your doctor if you have questions concerning their medical condition.

There is an on-call doctor available 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies.

Discharge Planner
All patients who do not meet the criteria to remain on the Continuing Care Unit will be required to complete applications for long term care through the Placement Coordination Service. Patients waiting for placement in the hospital must apply to a minimum of five facilities, not restricted to Renfrew County. The discharge planner will provide families with a list of appropriate facilities for each individual patient.

Recreationist
The Recreation Therapist and Assistant provide individual and group leisure and recreational interests. Programs include one to one, small group and hospital wide and community wide events and programs.

Physiotherapist
Ongoing rehabilitation is provided by the Physiotherapist and Activation aide. The goal of treatment is to promote the maximal independence of a patient. Referred patients are individually assessed and specific treatment plans are developed. Patients may be temporarily loaned equipment however it is encouraged for their own equipment to be brought in or purchased. Appropriate footwear is recommended.

Pharmacist
The pharmacist works closely with the team to determine the most appropriate medication management for the patient.

Dietitian
Patients have a choice of meal items. The dietitian is available to go over food selections with each patient and family for their specific needs and requests. Supplemental nourishments (snacks) are also available depending on the patients individual dietary requirements. Nutrition is a major focus of our patient care. Patients are weighed monthly or more often as needed.

Speech Language Pathologist
The speech language pathologist is available to offer range of assessment and therapy options to maximize patients’ communication skills and swallowing safety. Therapy may be individual or in a group setting.

Volunteers - Specially trained volunteers may be requested to help patients in a variety of ways, such as friendly visiting and assisting patients to recreational programs as well as assisting staff in those programs.

Quality Care
Quality care is extremely important to us. Please advise any staff member at any time if you have an idea about an improvement,. You can leave a voice mail message for the Director of Clinical Programs at Ext 197.

Programs
There are both one on one and group activities to maintain, improve or maximize the patients ability to function and/or provide individual leisure activity. The focus of the Recreational program is quality of life. Programs are offered In Hospital (baking, Church Service), between Long Term Care facilities (Seniors Month, Euchre Tournament) and participation in Community Events (Bluegrass Festival). Family involvement is encouraged.

Meals
Meals are delivered by individual tray to each patient on the Continuing Care Unit. Breakfast is delivered to each Resident in their room. Lunch and Dinner are delivered to the dining room and/or choice of patient (i.e. own room, lounge). Meal times are Breakfast: 08:30 AM; Lunch: 11:30 PM; Dinner: 4:30 PM

Comfort Allowance
As identified by Ministry of Health guidelines, each Resident should have a comfort allowance of $112.00 per month at their disposal. The comfort fund is to be kept locked at the Nurse’s Station and available to the Resident at all times.

Smoking
Patients are not allowed to have smoking materials such as cigarettes, matches or lighters. Families must give all smoking materials to the staff for safe keeping. This is of vital importance for the safety of all patients. Staff will take patients to the smoking room at appropriate times throughout the day. Family members may also take the patient to the smoking room. Smoking materials are to be purchased by family and/or friends.

Tours
We are happy to provide people interested in the Continuing Care Unit with a tour of the Unit. There is a coded entry/exit on the stairways to maintain patient safety and the access code is 0266. For more information about the unit, please call the Director of Clinical Programs, at Ext. 197.

Visitor Washrooms
Washrooms for visitors are located on the Continuing Care Unit beside the Nursing Station and on the first floor of Renfrew Victoria Hospital. Please ask staff for the location of the washroom on the Unit.

Clothing and Laundry
All personal clothing will be labelled through the Hospital Laundry Services. Families will have the option of laundering their relative’s clothing or having the Hospital Laundry Service do it.

Personal Belongings
We encourage Residents to make their rooms as “homey” as possible. Small T.V.’s (14”), radios, pictures, comforters and small dressers (55”x20”x16”) are acceptable.

Telephone
Consider on admission whether you would like to have a telephone service. You can speak to Business Office in regards to the charges for phone service. For more information ask at the Nursing Desk.

Telephone Numbers
Continuing Care Nursing Station - Ext. 266
Director of Clinical Programs - Ext. 197
Discharge Planner - Ext. 179
Recreationist - Ext. 227
Physiotherapist - Ext. 282
Pharmacist - Ext. 247
Dietician - Ext. 230
Speech Therapist - Ext. 186