New program rebuilds lives of cancer survivors at St. John's Rehab

Toronto, ON - Today, St. John’s Rehab Hospital announced a new rehabilitation program that will rebuild the lives of people who survive major organ cancers while reducing wait times for cancer treatment in Ontario.

“We’re pleased to offer an innovative rehabilitation program to meet the needs of cancer survivors and Ontario’s cancer care system,” says Malcolm Moffat, President & CEO, St. John’s Rehab Hospital. “Rehabilitation is an important step in the recovery process, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of this innovative area in health care.”

This significant step for cancer care was officially launched at a news conference this morning by Mr. Moffat along with Leo Steven, President & CEO of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Dr. Linda Rabeneck, Sunnybrook’s Cancer Program Chief and Regional Vice President of Cancer Care Ontario.

One of few programs of its kind in Ontario, the active, short-stay oncology rehabilitation program helps people recover from surgeries for abdomen, gastrointestinal and other cancers. Patients were first admitted during a pilot phase in late 2005. Referrals are now accepted from hospitals and physicians throughout the province.

The program meets a growing need in Ontario’s health care system. With ongoing advances in technology and treatment at Sunnybrook and other major teaching facilities, more and more people can look forward to moving on with their lives following cancer. Active, specialized rehabilitation care specifically tailored to cancer survivors is the key to rebuilding strength, independence and hope to make the transition to a healthy, productive life.

St. John’s Rehab’s comprehensive multidisciplinary team focuses on the whole person – body, mind and spirit – to ensure maximum recovery and a smooth transition home and into the community. Individually customized treatment includes physiotherapy, occupational therapy, physiatry, social work, nursing care, speech-language pathology, nutrition, psychology, pharmacy and pastoral care.

The oncology program’s major acute care referring partner is Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. St. John’s Rehab and Sunnybrook have formed a partnership to ensure a smooth, expedited transition from acute care to cancer rehabilitation.

Through the partnership, Sunnybrook can focus on its expertise to save lives, while St. John’s Rehab provides expert rehabilitation to rebuild those lives. Patients will receive the care they need sooner, with wait times ultimately reduced for cancer care at Sunnybrook and throughout Ontario’s health system.

“This new cancer rehabilitation program truly ensures that patients are in the right place at the right time and greatly enhances their ability to function,” says Dr. Rabeneck. “Our partnership with St. John’s Rehab greatly streamlines the movement of our patients at Sunnybrook out of the acute setting into this very appropriate setting where they’ll receive excellent rehabilitation services. For Sunnybrook, it has also assisted us with working on our waiting lists for cancer surgery, so we commend the Government of Ontario for their initiative and foresight.”

“As more people develop and survive cancer, it’s critical that we have the right services in place to restore their health, faster,” says Dr. Terrence Sullivan, President & CEO of Cancer Care Ontario. “Cancer Care Ontario fully supports St. John Rehab’s innovative program because it will enable more survivors to get on with their lives after cancer.”

Today’s announcement builds on St. John’s Rehab Hospital’s experience in rehabilitation for cancer survivors. The hospital already provides care following orthopaedic reconstruction and neurosurgery where cancer is a secondary diagnosis.