Musculoskeletal Program

The Musculoskeletal (MSK) Program’s dedicated team of health care professionals specialize in treating people for bone or joint injuries or illnesses that result from an accident, degenerative condition, or from having received corrective surgery.

The MSK Program offers the following in-patient and out-patient supports and services:

Hip and Knee School
Musculoskeletal In-Patient Unit
Taking Care of Pain
Rehabilitation Services

Hip and Knee School

Offered in separate classes, this out-patient educational program prepares patients for:

What to expect before and after their surgery
What will happen the day of their surgery
Hospital routines
Preparation for discharge home
Managing at home

Information is provided by a nurse, a pharmacist, a physiotherapist and, when required, an occupational therapist or occupational therapist assistant. Patients are welcome to bring one friend or relative with them.

Classes for Hip or Knee School are held at the Hospital and require a physician’s referral to attend.

Participants will be notified by telephone of their scheduled class date once their referral is received by the Hospital. For more information or to cancel your class date, please call 905-895-4521, extension 2288.

Musculoskeletal In-Patient Unit

The goal of the in-patient MSK team is to help each patient reach their optimal level of independence before being discharged home or to more suitable accommodations in the community. Family involvement is encouraged in terms of identifying and achieving goals that best suit the needs of their loved one.

Although your health care team is always available to assist you with anything you need, you will be encouraged to be as independent as possible in order to promote your recovery.

Taking Care of Pain

Following your surgery, pain can interfere with your ability to move and can result in a longer hospital stay. In order for our team to understand how you feel, you will be asked to rate your pain on a scale from 0 to 10. We will work with you to keep you as comfortable as possible during your hospital stay by providing you with pain medication, which can be given a number of different ways. Managing your pain by taking pain medication regularly is important, as it allows you to more effectively participate in yourrehabilitation therapy.

If you are scheduled to have surgery and wish to learn more about anesthesia and how this medical specialty plays a role in your operation or procedure, please click here.

Rehabilitation Services

When you arrive on the MSK in-patient unit, your health care team will begin to work with you to develop a therapy plan that is tailored to your individual needs. This may include working with any combination of the following rehabilitation services during your hospital stay and/or after you have been discharged home:

Arthritis Program
Chiropody
Fracture Clinic
Hand Therapy
Occupational Therapy
Physiotherapy
Speech/Language Pathology
Whipper Watson Therapeutic Pool

MSK Program Team

The MSK Program team consists of qualified health care professional who specialize in musculoskeletal conditions. They include:

• orthopaedic surgeons (doctors who specialize in treating injuries or performing surgery on bones and joints)
• rheumatologists (doctors who specialize in treating arthritic conditions)
• plastic surgeons (doctors who specialize in performing reconstructive surgery)
• registered and registered practical nurses who are specialty trained to care for you following your surgery and throughout your in-patient rehabilitation.
• physiotherapists, occupational therapists, a dietitian and a pharmacist to help you improve your function.
• hospital discharge planners and Community Care Access Centre representatives. These individuals work with you and your family to develop a plan that will prepare you as soon as possible for discharge home or to more suitable accommodations in the community. Guidance in arranging supports, such as personal care assistance, homemaking services, walking aids, and nursing home placement can also be provided by the discharge team.

Award

In 2001, the MSK Program was presented with the Hospital’s Team Achievement Award. This prestigious award is presented annually to the team that best exemplifies the attributes that the Hospital holds in the highest regard. The very nature of the award implies that the recipient team is recognized by a broad group of individuals as being worthy of the award, supports defined hospital objectives, and embodies the concept of delivering shockingly excellent service.

For information on resources available to you during your hospital visit or stay (for example: parking, what to bring, discharge times and other helpful information) please click on Patients and Visitors .