Friday September 15, 2017
Hamilton, Ontario – An innovative partnership between Hamilton Health Sciences and CONNECT Communities will see the creation of a new Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and Stroke Community Transitional Program in our region.
The program includes the development of a 28-bed program for individuals with an acquired brain injury due to injury or stroke in new purpose-built space.
“CONNECT Hamilton will bring a very much needed resource to our community for ABI patients,” says Dr. Flor Muniz-Rodriques, brain injury rehabilitation specialist, Hamilton Health Sciences and Associate Professor, Department of Medicine at McMaster University. “These are individuals that are ready for discharge from the hospital-based inpatient rehabilitation program, but may still have attainable functional goals that can be best addressed in a home-like setting.”
CONNECT, with locations in Langley and Lake Country, BC, has more than 23 years of experience caring for individuals with an ABI. The Hamilton development, which will be called CONNECT Hamilton, marks the third location for the company – its first outside of BC.
“The 28-bed program will further strengthen the existing network of care for patients with ABI available in our region,” says Teresa Smith, Vice President Adult Regional Care and Executive Site Lead, Hamilton General Hospital, HHS. “In addition to acute care, rehabilitative services and other community programs, CONNECT will provide a safe place for individuals to receive support and treatment to maximize their independence as they transition from hospital back to the community.”
CONNECT Hamilton is scheduled to open in the fall of 2018 and will be able to accommodate 42 residents on site. An outreach program will also be based at the site. CONNECT Hamilton will be staffed by a clinical coaching team of health professionals from a variety of disciplines, including, but not limited to nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech language pathology and others.
“Our organization is excited by this opportunity to bring our Life Redesign ModelTM to Ontario,” says Patti Flaherty, President and COO of CONNECT. “Our model is centred on a doing-with coaching culture where we partner with our residents to set and meet goals, build equitable relationships through meaningful participation in the community to help them redesign their lives. Our team of rehab professionals work in a home environment where services are created around what each person wants more of in life.”
The plan was approved by the Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network in fall 2016.
For more information:
Patti Flaherty, President and COO, CONNECT
604-765-6204
pattif@connectcommunities.ca or visit www.connectcommunities.ca
Lillian Badzioch
Communications and Public Affairs
Hamilton Health Sciences
905-521-2100 ext. 76090
badzioch@hhsc.ca