Amputee Rehabilitation

• Medically stable with no significant fluctuations in medical status within 72 hours
• Motivated to participate in rehab, has active rehab goals
• Able to participate in active rehab therapy 5 to 7 days a week
• Patient's cognitive abilities and state of mental health support participation in active rehab
• Able to sit unsupported for a minimum of 30 minutes

Special needs accommodated include the following:

• Intermittent oxygen therapy/home oxygen
• Tracheotomy (must by corked)
• Intermittent tube feeds (PEG tube only)

Back on Track Program »

To help ensure accurate assessment, please provide the following information about the patient, prior to, or upon admission:

Patient Profile

• Allergies
• Anti-coagulation profile (recent blood work; Coumadin/Fragmin doses: up to 4 days)
• Diet information with orders including formula, rate, # hours of feed, water flushes
• Medication Administration Record (MAR)
• Prescribed Activity levels for upper and/or lower (weight bearing; restrictions), (order to be signed by physician)
• Special needs (egs. infusion therapy, oxygen, Ostomy)
• Wound management orders
• Follow up specialist appointments

Work-Up

• Behavioral assessment/management (if applicable)
• Consult reports
• Discharge summary
• ECG/Echocardiogram (if applicable)
• Infection control screen results (MRSA, VRE, and others)
• Lab results (most recent copy)
• Names and contact information for all physicians, surgeons specialists
• Other tests results (including video fluoroscopy)
• Physician acute care admission report
• Surgical procedures and dates of surgery
• X-ray, CT/MRI (if applicable)
• Social Work summary

1. For seamless continuum of care, please ensure patients have had the following arranged before, or upon transfer:
   • Clinical follow-up appointments
   • Diagnostic (acute) appointments
   • Transportation for off-site tests/treatments

2. St. John’s Rehab is a rehabilitation facility and does not have the following services:
   • emergency services
   • mechanical ventilation, total parenteral nutrition, and nasogastric feeding
   • dialysis service
   • isolation or secured units

Download our Outpatient Referral Form on our referral information page.

Please include all relevant medical/therapy reports with your application

• Has active rehab goals and is able to participate and tolerate increasing amount of rehab therapy.
• Has adequate cognitive communication abilities for rehab.
• Has a reliable means of transportation.

St. John's Rehab at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is dedicated to specialized rehabilitation. Our amputee rehabilitation program offers care for patients recovering from upper and lower extremity amputations resulting from disease, trauma, work-related injuries, diabetes and cancer-related surgery.

• Our team of rehabilitation professionals develops realistic goals and timelines with each patient and keeps in close contact with the patient and his or her family. This helps achieve maximum recovery, independence and quality of life.
• Our highly skilled and committed multidisciplinary rehab team includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, speech-language pathologists, pharmacists, physicians, dietitians, social workers, psychologists and spiritual care.
• The individually customized program consists of assessment, treatment and support focused on the whole person - body, mind and spirit.
• Extensive medication, nutrition and diabetes education to promote optimal health, including services and specialized foot care are available to address the diverse needs of adults of all ages.
• Full assessments provided to determine patient's suitability for a prosthetic device. Patients also receive training with wheelchairs, assistive devices and prostheses.
• Before people are discharged from inpatient care, they often return home for a few weekends to safely practice their new skills.
• Once discharged, patients can benefit from a seamless continuum of care by being referred to our outpatient rehabilitation program.
• The specialized Back on Track Program provides rehab care to clients who sustain amputations as a result of injuries in motor vehicle and work-related accidents.
• Patients are referred to St. John's Rehab's inpatient and outpatient programs by family physicians, specialists and hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area.
• Patients can enjoy the hospital's 25 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and pathways - a key element in their spiritual and emotional recovery.