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In Brief
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ABI and Homelessness
The Toronto ABI Network has an exciting new opportunity to partner with the City of Toronto’s Homelessness Partnership Initiatives to develop a targeted response to the recent findings of a study on homelessness and ABI. The study — authored by Dr. Stephen Hwang, research scientist at St. Michael's Hospital, and Dr. Angela Colantonio, senior scientist at Toronto Rehab — was recently published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Their findings demonstrated that 53 per cent of Toronto's homeless reported a history of traumatic brain injury and 70 per cent of them did so before ending up on the streets.
Along with COTA Health, the Network office will be working with representatives from the Homelessness Partnership Initiatives to increase awareness and provide education about ABI for those working in shelters and drop-in centres. We are in the early planning stages of this initiative and are hoping to host our first forum in the spring of 2009.
If you are interested in supporting this initiative, please contact Judy Moir at 416-597-3057. For more information about the research study that led to this opportunity, please read the news release from the Ontario Alliance for Action on Brain Injury.
Family Medicine Workshop
On November 29, 2008 the Network, in collaboration with OBIA, Toronto Rehab and University Health Network, hosted a very successful workshop at the 2008 Family Medicine Forum, a national annual conference for family physicians. More than 20 family doctors attended the 3.5 hour workshop to learn how to identify, assess and treat patients with an ABI.
Dr. Vanita Gopal of Toronto Rehab opened the workshop with an overview of brain injury, focusing on the assessment and medical management of patients with mild ABI. Dr. Nora Cullen, also of Toronto Rehab, took participants through a conversation about moderate to severe brain injury and the long term management that might be required by a family physician. Dr. Chanth Seyone of University Health Network concentrated on the neuropsychiatric implications of brain injury and also presented the medico-legal issues that sometimes arise.
The primary goal of the workshop, enhancing awareness of ABI among family physicians, was most definitely achieved. The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Of those who attended, 88% rated the workshop highly at 4/5 or 5/5; and all those who responded felt this workshop should be offered again. The Network would like to thank Drs. Cullen, Gopal and Seyone for giving their time and expertise and ensuring such a successful event.
Expanding Eligibility for Wheel-Trans
Earlier this year, the Toronto ABI Network was contacted by representatives from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), Wheel-Trans Division, to explore the question of expanding Wheel-Trans' current eligibility criteria. A preliminary meeting was held between Network staff, representatives from ABI community-based programs and spokespersons from Wheel-Trans. Some of the discussion focused on consideration of the potential client profile as there was acknowledgement that not all clients with ABI could be supported by Wheel-Trans. In addition, there were questions about the process of assessment that would need to be employed to determine eligibility.
In response, the Network struck a small working group to develop a submission for consideration by Wheel-Trans. As a first step, a stakeholder forum was held on December 3, 2008 to:
- Define the target population.
- Review expanded eligibility criteria that are being used in other jurisdictions (e.g., York Region's Transit Mobility Plus).
- Make recommendations for Wheel-Trans to support their assessment/determination of eligibility (e.g., which healthcare providers are most appropriate to complete the application, what tools would support their assessment for eligibility, etc.).
- Identify data sources to assist in determining potential demand.
- Obtain feedback on ways we can strengthen our case and establish recommendations to take to the TTC.
Recommendations from the forum will be collated and provided to the working group for consideration of next steps. Please contact Judy Moir by email or call 416-597-3057 if you have any comments or questions about this initiative.
Register Now for Best Practices Day 2009
The GTA Rehab Network will be holding the next Best Practices Day on March 9, 2009 at the Toronto Marriott Hotel at the Eaton Centre. Best Practices Day brings together leaders in the rehabilitation field in a forum that is recognized as an important showcase of new ideas and best practices. Many of the planned presentations will be of interest to ABI service providers and planners.
Registration has opened and you may now register online for this event. See the GTA Rehab Network website for more information about Best Practices Day 2009.
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