A unique approach to care: the Yuval and Lori Barzakay Brain Health Clinic

In January, the world-leading Garry Hurvitz Brain Sciences Centre opened its doors to patients at Sunnybrook. With a focus on treating mental and physical health as one, the Hurvitz Centre unites Sunnybrook experts under one roof to increase collaboration and discovery, and improves the patient experience with streamlined care for complex conditions.

One of the ways we’re doing that work is through the Yuval & Lori Barzakay Brain Health Clinic. Experts working in the Barzakay Clinic provide care to patients who need assessment, diagnostic procedures, and treatments for a variety of neurological conditions. A unique approach to care, clinicians share space in the Barzakay Clinic, with rotating clinics running each day of the week. This means that patients who see multiple clinicians have an easier experience as their appointments are in the same space, giving access to integrated treatments and care.

Carol Robinson is the Patient Care Manager in the Barzakay Clinic. We spoke with Carol to learn more about the clinic’s unique approach to care and what this means for patients.

Q: Tell us about the integrated approach to care in the Barzakay Clinic. What does this mean for patients?

A: In the Barzakay Clinic, our integrated approach to care emphasizes collaboration and efficiency. For the first time, clinicians from various neurology sub-specialties share the same clinical space and integrated electronic health record system, which allows our new central intake team to seamlessly coordinate assessments, diagnostics, and treatments. This design ensures that patients with complex neurological conditions receive comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs. Utilizing a “hoteling model” with different clinics running throughout the week, patients who require appointments with multiple specialists can do so in one location, ensuring their experience more patient centred and efficient.

Q: How do clinicians working in the Barzakay Clinic incorporate research and innovation into the approach to treatments?

A: Being part of the Hurvitz Brain Sciences Program means our patients have access to leading research and emerging treatments. Research and innovation are integral to the care we provide in the Barzakay Clinic and is embedded in our daily care practices through collaboration and direct linkages to clinical trials and research studies that help refine and enhance treatment approaches and patient outcomes over time.

Q: What does the patient experience look like in the Barzakay Clinic?

A: Our staff prioritizes creating a welcoming, supportive environment for patients and families. The physical space itself was co-designed with patients taking into consideration many aspects of their unique health needs. This includes, modular doorframes that widen to accommodate assistive devices, accessible electrical plugs built into the furniture in the seating area for charging power wheelchairs, and access to cameras in every exam room computer monitor so family members can join appointments remotely.

The patient experience is best described directly by a patient, who told us: “I am in awe of the new space, I feel like Sunnybrook is really investing in their patients and that is really heartening to me”.

Q: How have you incorporated innovation and technology into the clinic?

A: The Barzakay Clinic represents a new era of brain health care at Sunnybrook, one where innovation and patient-centered care are at the forefront. We achieve this by incorporating cutting-edge technology into our day-to-day operating model. Our camera AI presence monitoring system supports real-time workflow analysis to optimize space utilization rates for our “hoteling model”. Our new patient queuing system, coming this May, will enable automated patient flow from the seating area to our exam rooms to ensure timely and efficient patient care. Additionally, our new automated appointment reminders give patients immediate information to prepare for their upcoming appointment, allows them to confirm their appointments virtually and fill out paperwork ahead of time. We’re excited to continue evolving and driving best practices to meet the needs of our patients and to push the boundaries of what’s possible.