Hennick Bridgepoint Care Team

Hospitalists

Hospitalists act like your primary care physician while you are in the hospital. They provide your day-to-day medical care and coordinate with any specialists you need to see. Because our hospitalists get to know you the best and oversee the rest of your care, they are also what we call your most-responsible physician (MRP). Our hospitalists work on a rotating schedule which means you may have more than one physician involved in your care.  

Physiatrists

Physiatrists are rehabilitation physicians who physicians who specialize in treating injuries and illnesses that affect your muscles, bones and nerves. If you are in our Acquired Brain Injury, Orthopaedic or Stroke programs, a physiatrist will oversee your rehabilitation.

Your physiatrist will assess your health status and collaborate with our interprofessional team to develop a plan for your rehabilitation that takes into account your current needs and functional goals. Our physiatrists work on a rotating schedule which means you may have more than one physician involved in your care.   

Internal medicine specialists

Internal medicine physicians are experts in the internal organs like the heart, kidney, liver and lungs. They may work with your hospitalist to help you manage chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease or kidney disease which can affect many of your internal organs. They are also trained to care for the distinct needs of our geriatric patients.    

Psychiatrists

Psychiatrists are physicians who specialize in mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, substance-use disorder or dementia. If deemed appropriate for you, a psychiatrist will conduct an evaluation and work with you and your hospitalist to provide the appropriate treatment.   

Palliative care physicians

Palliative care physicians help patients enhance their quality of life during the advanced stages of serious diseases. If you or a loved one is staying in our palliative care unit, your palliative care physician will work you and your family, and the rest of your health-care team, to ease your pain and other symptoms and help you prepare for your end of life.  

Nurses

Nurses are a core member of your care team. They will see you several times a day and manage the majority of your day-to-day care during your stay. Your nurses may give you medication and help with personal care like bathing and getting out of bed. They might also monitor your health by checking your blood pressure and heart rate and asking how you are feeling. They will update your medical chart and be in close contact with your physician.  

Rehabilitation therapists

Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists help our patients regain or maintain physical abilities after an injury or illness. They will work with you and our other team members your to set achievable goals and decide on a treatment plan. The treatment plan will include various exercises and techniques that will help develop your strength, balance, coordination and mobility. They might also recommend a mobility aid like a walker or cane, or work with your care team members to suggest safe ways to help you get around.

Physiotherapist assistants

Our physiotherapists work with assistants who will help lead you through your treatment and exercises. Physiotherapy assistants can also help you use equipment and mobility aids safely and keep track of your progress.

Occupational therapists

Occupational therapists help patients adapt to their illness or injury and relearn how to do everyday activities. An occupational therapist will work with you to set achievable goals which might include getting dressed and preparing your own meals or returning to work or driving. They will set up a treatment plan that will use a variety of tools and strategies to help you accomplish daily tasks safely and comfortably. You might practice walking with a special kind of walker, for example, or do exercises to improve your hand-eye coordination, or learn new ways to tie your shoes and organize your medication.  

Occupational therapist assistants

Our occupational therapists work with assistants who will help guide you through the activities included in your therapy plan. The assistants will teach you exactly how to use the tools and strategies recommended by the occupational therapist and keep track of your progress. 

Speech-language pathologists

Speech-language pathologists help patients who have difficulty speaking, reading, writing or swallowing. They will diagnose the problem and come up with an individualized treatment plan. The plan may include many different kinds of visual or verbal activities. Speech-language pathologists might get you to do tongue strengthening exercises, play matching games, write numbers in the air with your finger or complete a fill-in-the-blanks exercise, for example.  

Communicative disorders assistants

Our speech-language pathologists work closely with communicative disorders assistants who will help guide you through your recommended therapy. They can also test your hearing and help you maintain your hearing aids.

Recreation therapists  

Recreation therapists provide therapy for patients through recreational activities like bingo nights or arts and crafts. They can also help you adapt these activities for your needs. Having fun with others may help build your self-esteem and prevent feelings of isolation. Recreation therapy has also been shown to help with your recovery by improving conversation skills, increasing attention spans and strengthening appetites and sleep habits.

Recreation therapy assistants

Our recreation therapists work with assistants who help patients enjoy recreational activities and run both individual and group programs. 

Respiratory therapists

Respiratory therapists help patients who may have breathing difficulties due to a number of different conditions. They work closely with your health care team to ensure your breathing is comfortable. You might see one if you have a tracheostomy tube, have sleep apnea or use a breathing device like a CPAP machine.  

Dietitians

A dietitian helps patients manage chronic illness and improve their health through nutrition. Our dietitians will make sure the meals you eat during your stay meet the nutritional requirements of any health conditions you might have. You can also meet with our dietitians to learn about the healthiest food choices for you.  

Pharmacists

Hospital pharmacists work with physicians and nurses to make sure each patient is getting the right medication. Our pharmacists review all your medications when you are admitted to make sure we know what you are already taking. This also helps make sure any new prescriptions will not interact with what you already take. They can also sit down with you and go over all your medications so you are aware of any side effects or safety issues. If you have any questions about your medication before discharge, a pharmacist can help answer them. 

Social workers

Hospital social workers help patients and their families arrange for care and services inside and outside the hospital. Our social workers will help you plan for your discharge and coordinate the care and services you need after returning to the community. They can also provide counselling and recommend a variety of resources and support services near your home. 

Spiritual care providers

A spiritual care provider is a health-care provider with specialized training in helping people cope with illness and death. They can provide you and your caregivers religious, spiritual and emotional support based on your own core beliefs and values. Our spiritual care providers also organize religious services and can put you in touch with religious groups in the community. 

Learners

Learners are medical, nursing or other health discipline students, residents and fellows who are doing on-the-job training as part of their programs, as well as health-care professionals who are learning new skills. As a hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and with academic partners across Ontario, Hennick Bridgepoint is proud to help train the next generation of health-care providers. You can expect to see supervised learners involved in your care during your stay. 

Volunteers

Volunteers help care for patients in important non-medical ways. They greet visitors and answer questions and support our staff by running errands and helping with administrative tasks. Most importantly, our volunteers spend time with patients, keeping them active and engaged.