Occupational Therapy

• Medicine Units
• Surgery Units
• Emergency and Observation
• Women’s Health Units
• Transplants
• Inpatient Burns & Plastics
• Clinical Assessment Unit
• Intermediate Intensive Care Unit
• Medical Intensive Care Unit
• Surgical Intensive Care Unit

Patients often come with a team of people important to them who have been and will continue to support them in their life journey. We consider these people part of our care team as well and may include them in assessment, interventions and planning.

There are times when OT staff may reach out to family members or other caregivers to assist us to meet the care needs of our patients. We will always have patient permission to make this contact for all competent patients.

We may make contact to help us with collateral information or to understand information regarding assistance being received in the home environment and/or equipment or adaptations in place. Sometimes we need assistance obtaining very specific information, such as pictures or measurements from the home environment that will help us in the planning we are doing with the patient. We may also request assistance with bringing in the patient’s clothing, toiletries or existing equipment to assist in our assessment and interventions.

At times, we may request a meeting with family or other caregivers to come on-site and learn something new related to caring for the patient, assist with the training for using equipment that may be required, or be part of the assessment and discussions.

700 William Avenue

Monday – Friday: 7:45 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturday/statutory holidays: 7:30 a.m. – 15:45 p.m. only for discharge planning services for clients in Adult Acute Care

Patients often come with a team of people important to them who have been and will continue to support them in their life journey. We consider these people part of our care team as well and may include them in assessment, interventions and planning.

There are times when OT staff may reach out to family members or essential care partners, other caregivers, etc. to assist us to meet the care needs of our patients. We will always have patient permission to make this contact for all competent patients.

We may make contact to help us with collateral information or to understand information regarding assistance being received in the home environment and/or equipment or adaptations in place, etc. Sometimes we are wanting assistance obtaining very specific information such as pictures or measurements from the home environment that will help us in the planning we are doing with the patient. We may also request assistance with bringing in the patient’s clothing, toiletries or existing equipment to assist in our assessment and interventions.

At times we may be requesting a meeting with family or other caregivers to come on site and learn something new related to caring for the patient, assist with the training for using equipment that may be required, be part of the assessment and discussions, etc.

• Spinal Cord Injury
• Amputations
• Neuromusculoskeletal

Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.

800 Sherbrook Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Manual Wheelchair Skills Guide

Comprehensive assessment and treatment of the upper extremities, including:

• Education regarding injury, surgery (if applicable), and rehabilitation process
• Surgical wound care assessment
• Edema (swelling) assessment and management
• Scar assessment and management
• Sensory assessment and management
• Range of motion assessment with a guided exercise program
• Strength assessment with a guided exercise program
• Custom splinting
• Functional adaptations –assistive devices/equipment
• Nerve recovery
• Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES)
• Client advocacy
• Referral to other professionals/services as determined

Referrals are accepted for youth 16+ and adults living within the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and the Interlake-Eastern Health Authority region (subject to change), requiring occupational therapy assessment and intervention for surgical or traumatic injuries to the digits, hand, wrist and elbow.

Referrals must be initiated from a medical doctor or a physiotherapist who is providing treatment for that injury.

Our referral sources are primarily from Plastic and Orthopedic surgeons but referrals are accepted from family practitioners and may be considered from other allied health professionals. All referrals can be faxed to 204-787-1101.

Referral information should include:

• Diagnosis
• Injury/surgery date
• Presenting issues
  • Examples: limited active range of motion (AROM), limited passive range of motion (PROM), splinting needs
• Accommodations required: language interpreter, wheelchair dependent/limited mobility, decreased cognition (issues with memory, comprehension) requiring a companion to appointments.

All submitted referrals are screened within one to two business days of receipt of referral and are scheduled based on priority/urgency. Typically, urgent referrals are seen within 1-5 days post-operative. Non-urgent referrals may be seen within 2-4 weeks of receipt of the referral. These timelines may vary depending on referrals volumes and additional details specific to each referral.

Referrals need to be sent as soon as possible. Delays in initiating a referral could negatively impact an individual’s recovery. Post-op referrals should be faxed to our department the same day as surgery, especially if splinting is requested 3-5 days after surgery. Pre-operative referrals are accepted as well.

Our service routinely books clients 3-5 days post op or post traumatic injury and this is based on surgeon’s preference.

For referrals requiring splinting to recover movement in stiff joints: this can typically begin as soon as your doctor allows stretching and loading through that joint. These splints are most effective when used as early as possible in your recovery and/or when used in conjunction with other treatments such as Physiotherapy.

• Intake and booking your first appointment
  • Once your referral is received and screened, office staff will call you to schedule an initial appointment. Information provided will include purpose of your referral, our location within the hospital, and the length of your appointment. Typically, an initial appointment is 60-90 minutes in duration.

• On the day of your appointment:
  • Please enter the OT Department and proceed to the office to check in for your appointment and to present your Manitoba Health card.
  • Your OT will provide a comprehensive assessment and will recommend treatment of your upper extremity tailored to the diagnosis on the referral. The duration of OT intervention required and expectations will be shared. Your preferences and willingness to pursue the recommended interventions will be discussed. Your outcomes will depend on many factors, including your follow through with a home program
  • You may be in a bulky dressing or a temporary cast that your doctor has asked us to remove. We will provide wound care, apply a new dressing, and provide you with an appropriate splint and range of motion exercises.

• Follow-up appointments:
  • Your OT will determine a plan with you for follow-up appointments and interventions based on your initial assessment findings.
  • Follow-up appointments can be in person or virtual (Microsoft Teams or phone) depending on your needs and what is most appropriate for your care.
  • Appointments are often 30-60 minutes in duration and can be as frequent as 1-2 appointments per week or every 2 weeks depending on your care needs.

Treatment may be ongoing for 10-12 weeks or longer depending on the complexity of the injury or condition. Follow-up appointments could involve dressing changes, reassessment of range of motion/strength, changes to home exercise programs, and/or splint adjustments. We routinely communicate your progress to other team members such as your surgeon/physiotherapy.

Regular attendance at scheduled appointments and follow through with treatment recommended and home activities is expected and will assist your recovery. Attendance policies are in place and discharge from the service may occur for non-attendance or inconsistent attendance that is negatively impacting your outcomes.

Monday – Friday: 8:00 am -4:00pm

Location: Rehab/Respiratory Hospital, RR180, OT Department Pink Goose Level 1

Mail: RR180-820 Sherbrook Street
Winnipeg, MB Canada R3A 1R9

Phone: (204) 787-2786

Fax: (204)787-1101

Referral form

Letter to external facilities or caregivers

Referral requirements for this service include the following:

• Individuals who are 18 years or older
• Referred individuals have a condition that impacts their abilities to use technology, operate a power wheelchair or control home environment
• Must have a primary therapist who agrees to remain actively involved throughout the consultative process

Therapist must complete the ATPS referral form indicating the services required and fax the completed referral to 204-787-5099.

All new OT referrals to the AT program are screened within one week of receiving them. OT services will contact the client or referral source to schedule an initial assessment, usually within 4-6 weeks of referral being received.

Initial assessments typically take 1-2 hours and are regularly completed virtually using Microsoft Teams to provide the AT OT an opportunity to confirm the client’s goals and barriers. Clients will often also require an in-person follow-up and trial appointment which take place at our AT clinic located at 59 Pearl Street, Level 0 of the HSC Material Handlings Building.

Clients have the opportunity throughout the assessment process to trial equipment during appointments and potentially receive loan AT equipment for up to 3 weeks to trial more extensively in other environments. Clients are encouraged to have family and community support systems involved and attend appointments during the AT assessment process to assist with learning new technology solutions.

AT equipment recommendations are provided to client and primary therapist to pursue purchasing. AT OT can assist as needed with navigating funding agencies, providing justification and liaise with AT mechanical and electronic services if custom solutions or modifications to commercial equipment are required.

Mailing address:

Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg

MH036 – 59 Pearl Street

Winnipeg, MB  R3E 3L7

Assistive Technology OT Clinical Service Leader:

• Phone: 204-787-2370
• Fax: 204-787-5099

1. Must have a multiple sclerosis or allied conditions diagnosis
2. Referrals must be made by physicians but may be accepted from other allied health professionals on a case-by-case basis
3. Client is 16+ years old

• Initial assessment for client and therapist to meet and discuss current issues relating to their diagnosis and participation in daily activities
• Education regarding health condition(s)
• Client-centered collaboration to help maximize meaningful occupations
• Custom orthoses/splinting for pain control and/or joint positioning
• Seating and positioning
• Pressure management
• Review and recommendation of assistive devices and equipment
• Cognition and executive function assessment and intervention
• Fatigue management/sensory processing assessment and intervention
• Client advocacy
• Referral to other community supports as determined

Once a referral is received, it is screened by the occupational therapist to ensure the client is eligible for the services. The referral is placed on the waitlist. Once the client can be scheduled, the client is contacted by the office staff of the OT Department, typically by telephone, to book an initial appointment which may be on the phone, by video, or in person at our site. Please fax all referrals to 204-787-1101.

The initial appointment with the occupational therapist can typically be 60-90 minutes in length for assessment and intervention of presenting issues. When you arrive, please check-in for your appointment at our main office. The occupational therapist will review the referral information, discuss available options for intervention and provide those during the appointment after a plan is agreed upon with the client. Follow-ups may be scheduled depending on need. Follow-ups may be conducted virtually or in-person.

The multiple sclerosis occupational therapy service is located at RR-180, 800 Sherbrook Street, Pink Goose Zone, Level 1.

Phone Number: 204-787-2786

Fax Number: 204-787-1101

Multiple Sclerosis and Allied Conditions OT Service Brief Summery

Referrals will be screened and may either be accepted or redirected based on renal occupational therapy service criteria.

As renal occupational therapy services address longer term interventions, some referrals that can be addressed within 1-4 sessions may be redirected to community organizations that may be better equipped to address episodic care needs. Redirected referrals are an effort to work collaboratively with community programs and to enhance access to timely therapy services while reducing duplication of services and wait times overall.

Referrals are accepted from healthcare professionals within and outside of HSC. Referring healthcare providers interested in renal OT services must complete the following:

Renal OT Referral Tool — to be completed and faxed.

Your referral will be screened and if accepted, renal OT will contact you and your family to begin the assessment process.

Renal Occupational Therapy Services can be provided in the following ways:

• During dialysis treatment
• While attending outpatient Renal Health Clinic appointments
• Over the phone
• In the Occupational Therapy Department located in the rehab hospital (RR180)

If your referral is in relation to adaptive or mobility equipment, you and your OT will have a conversation about available funding. You may be expected to pay for some equipment as it may not all be covered through Manitoba Health.

Outlined below are expectations for you and the renal OT:

800 Sherbrook St.

JM519 (Blue Dr. Goodbear Zone, Level 5)

• Phone: 204-787-2786
• All referrals can be faxed to 204-940-2411

1. Must have a medical diagnosis of any of the following:
   • Osteoarthritis
   • Rheumatoid Arthritis
   • Lupus Arthritis
   • Psoriatic Arthritis
   • Scleroderma
   • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
   • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
   • De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
   • Trigger Finger
2. Referrals must be made by physicians but are accepted from other allied health professionals on a case-by-case basis.
3. Client is 16+ years old.
4. Clients followed by Child Health outpatient rheumatology OT may be transitioned to adults at 16 years old should the client still require services.

• Initial assessment for client and therapist to meet and discuss current issues relating to their diagnosis and participation in daily activities.
• Education regarding health condition(s).
• Client-centered collaboration to help maximize meaningful occupations.
• Custom orthoses/splinting for pain control and/or joint positioning.
• Review and recommendation of assistive devices and equipment.
• Energy Effectiveness education.
• Client advocacy.
• Referral to other community supports as determined.

Once a referral is received, it is screened by the OT to ensure the client is eligible for the services. Once the client is accepted, the client is contacted by the office staff of the OT Department, typically by telephone, to book an appointment.

Please fax all referrals to 204-787-1101.

The initial appointment with the OT can typically be 60-90 minutes in length for assessment and intervention of presenting issues. When you arrive, please check-in for your appointment at our main office. If you have any existing splints or braces, please bring them with you to the first appointment.

The OT will review the referral information, discuss available options for intervention, and provide those during the appointment after a plan is agreed upon with the client. Follow-up appointments may be scheduled depending on need (may be conducted virtually or in-person).

800 Sherbrook Street

RR-180, Pink Goose Zone, Level 1

• Phone number: 204-787-2786
• Fax number: 204-787-1101

Referral requirements for this service include the following:

1. Individuals who are 18 years or older
2. Use a wheelchair full-time to function
3. Have a neurological diagnosis
4. Seating or mobility issues are complex and cannot be addressed with primary therapy resources alone

Must have a primary therapist who agrees to remain involved throughout the consultative process.

There are five main categories of referrals:

1. Pressure management – for anyone experiencing issues with pressure injuries and/or a history of wounds that are seating-related; includes comprehensive investigation of pressure management behaviours over a 24-hour period
2. Posture management – for anyone experiencing issues with how they are positioned and/or receive postural support in their wheelchair; includes issues related to loss of position when sitting
3. Functional mobility – for anyone experiencing issues mobilizing their wheelchair (either manual propulsion or power driving); includes wheelchair skills training as well as education and interventions to minimize shoulder injuries
4. Assistive technology – for any issues related to driving a power wheelchair using alternative drive controls; includes driving issues combined with any other pressure or postural issue
5. Education – formal and informal education opportunities are available for any healthcare providers, funding agencies, and/or consumers experiencing complex seating or mobility related issues

Referrals are accepted from individual’s primary therapist only. Therapists who are interested in referring to our service must complete the following:

1. SSS Intake and Referral Form – for all referrals regardless of category
2. SSS Questionnaire – for all referrals regardless of category; the primary therapist initiating the referral can refer to the SSS Questionnaire Clinical Guide for support materials to help complete this questionnaire when sending in a referral
3. SSS Pressure Management Assessment Tool Version 1.0 – for all pressure management referrals
4. SSS Re-referral Consult Form – used only in situations where an individual was previously seen through SSS and has been discharged within the last 12 months

• Phase 1 – Intake and Screening: Upon receipt of a completed referral package, the SSS Intake Coordinator will schedule a virtual Intake/Screening appointment to occur with both the primary therapist and individual being referred where indicated (this appointment will occur within 4-6 weeks of a referral being received). The purpose of this intake appointment is to:
  • Confirm and clarify presenting issues
  • Determine urgency and waitlist priority of the referral
  • Provide interim recommendations for the primary therapist and individual to proceed with while waiting to be seen through SSS
• Phase 2 – Initial Assessment: A comprehensive evaluation will occur tailored to the referring issues (this appointment will occur either in person or virtually depending on each individual scenario and typically lasts 3 hours).
• Phase 3 – Follow-up Assessment and Interventions: Further appointments and interventions will be individually determined and guided by the initial assessment findings. The total number of follow-up appointments required and time frame needed to work through presenting issues will range depending on the situation.  Typical follow-up appointments can last between 1-3 hours each in duration and on average 3-5 visits in total will be required to work through this phase. It is common to have gaps in time between appointments whenever trial equipment needs to be sourced from equipment suppliers as part of the intervention strategy. The time frame to work through these follow-up interventions and equipment evaluations typically can last between 2-6 months (or more) depending on the complexity of the situation. 
• Phase 4 – Equipment Prescription and Acquisition: Once the intervention/evaluation process is completed the SSS therapist will work collaboratively with the primary therapist to support any justification required to prescribe any recommended equipment. Consultation about how to navigate through the various funding systems for seating and wheeled mobility equipment will be provided on an individualized basis.
• Phase 5 – Fitting and Training: The last phase of the intervention process involves fitting individuals with any equipment that has been prescribed. Education and training with any new equipment is also included in this phase. The time frame to work through fitting is also individually determined but commonly requires 1-4 additional visits. These fitting appointments can last anywhere between 1-6 hours each.

An individualized plan will be put in place to determine whether each appointment should occur in-person, virtually, or through more indirect consultation to the primary therapist. A number of factors will be considered whenever deciding how each appointment should be carried out. 

Whenever in-person appointments occur, it is mandatory for both the individual wheelchair user as well as the primary therapist to attend.

Whenever virtual appointments occur, both the individual wheelchair user and primary therapist are expected to attend at the same remote location. It is also common for interventions to be delegated solely to the primary therapist for follow-up. In these scenarios, the SSS therapist can act more as an indirect consult to that therapist as support is needed to carry out the intervention plans.

SSS main location

RR160E-800 Sherbrook Street (Pink Goose Zone, Level 1)

Phone: 204-787-4266 for all inquiries about this service

Fax: 204-787-1101 for all referrals

Seating and Mobility Clinical Specialist

• Phone: 204-787-4266
• Fax: 204-787-1101

Assistive Technology Clinical Service Leader

• Phone: 204-787-2370
• Fax: 204-787-5099

SSS Service Description