Our Health Care Team & Services

While at PSFDH, your care is provided by many capable professionals. Every member of your health care team receives ongoing educational support to remain current in all leading best practices. They are all working together to help you meet your care goals.

PSFDH is proud to be affiliated with a number of accredited post-secondary institutions. Your care team may include students from a variety of health care disciplines.

Physicians

Your physician will coordinate your tests, medical care, and treatment. He/She will work closely with the rest of the team to make sure your needs are met and that your transition between services, facilities and home is smooth. Should you presently not have a permanent family physician, PSFDH supports a “hospitalist” model of care that will ensure your health care needs are met while in hospital.

Nurses

Registered Nurses and Registered Practical Nurses are an integral part of your health care team. Nurses, as your 24/7 care providers while in hospital, work with you to navigate and plan your health care goals.

Pharmacists/Pharmacy Team

PSFDH encourages patients to bring their medications to the hospital and provide them to our nursing staff to ensure we have an accurate medication history. This includes all prescriptions and over the counter medications, you are currently taking. It is also very important to let us know if you have any allergies, or have had any adverse effects to any medications you have taken in the past. We also encourage all patients to have a medication review with your community pharmacist once a year to ask any questions you may have about your medications and also ensure you are taking your medication correctly.

Cardiopulmonary Department/Respiratory Therapy

Services offered include a range of diagnostic testing such as ECG, cardiac stress testing, portable cardiac monitoring, and lung capacity testing, as well as the support of inpatient care in the treatment of acute and chronic cardiac and pulmonary disorders. Outpatient testing is supported Monday to Friday during regular business hours. In-patients receive priority access as required.

Home & Community Care

The Home Care Coordinator may see you during your hospital stay or contact you by phone to assess your needs in preparation for returning home. Arrangements may be made at that time for such services as nursing, therapy, or home support. The Home Care Coordinator can also provide information about other community agencies and support services. For information on community resources in your area, see www.southeasthealthline.ca or contact Home Care at 613-283-8012.

Diagnostic Imaging Services

Services offered on an in-patient and out-patient basis include x-ray, ultrasound, echocardiography, bone mineral density (BMD), mammography and computed tomography (CT). Inpatients receive priority access as required. Emergency x-ray coverage is provided 24 hours a day. Elective testing is offered Monday to Friday during regular business hours. Procedure information is available for inpatients scheduled for testing – simply ask your nurse or access outpatient testing preparation information that is located on this website.

PSFDH now offers patients and their families access to their medical imaging records online. Once patients enrol for access they can view their entire medical imaging history, share imaging instantly with any physician or even burn their own CD/USB from home. There is a $5 fee at the time of enrollment which includes permanent access to all previous imaging and radiologist reports as well as any new exams patients undergo over the following two weeks. For more information please visit registration.

Dialysis

PSFDH partners with Kingston General Hospital to provide dialysis services to area residents at the Smiths Falls Site. This service allows patients with renal disease to get their treatments three times a week closer to home.

Dietitians

Dietitians may see you to help with selecting a specialized diet and counselling you about the types of food to eat. If you have diabetes, or you are at risk to develop diabetes, talk to a member of your health care team to be referred to a diabetes education program. A doctor’s referral is necessary.

Emergency Services

Both PSFDH sites have 24/7 Emergency Departments with access to highly trained and educated Physicians, Nurses, and Support Staff. We coordinate your care with our regional partners such as EMS (ambulance), Lanark, Leeds and Grenville Mental Health and Addiction Services, Lanark County Mental Health, Brockville General Hospital as our Schedule 1 facility and both Kingston Health Sciences Centre and The Ottawa Hospital as our academic referral centres. Care is provided from newborns to senior patients in a respectful manner reflecting our hospital's values and our Patient and Family Centred Care philosophy.

Intensive Care Units

These high technology patient care areas on both sites provide coordinated care to our most critical patients. Working in a regional manner to support the care you need we have strong relationships with Kingston Health Sciences Centre and The Ottawa Hospital cardiac and neurology programs. The Physicians, Nurses, Pharmacists, Pharmacy Technicians, Respiratory Therapists, Dietary and Housekeeping staff all work together to make sure you receive exceptional care with a Patient and Family Centred focus. We have a quiet room for your comfort and the staff all work toward supporting the entire family, not just the patient.

Laboratory Services

The PSFDH Laboratory uses the latest technology and highly trained and certified staff to provide testing in chemistry, hematology, transfusion medicine, and microbiology for both sites. Staffed by both Medical Laboratory Technologists and Assistants, these are the staff you will see if your physician has ordered blood tests for you. Outpatients requiring laboratory services must present to Life Labs.

Obstetrics Services

Located at the Smiths Falls Site, there are four birthing rooms that are used for all stages of labour and delivery. Each birthing room is designed to reflect a home environment and provides a jetted tub, private bathroom, and kitchenette. Family and friends are welcome to visit as each patient room is spacious and comfortable.

PSFDH supports 24-hour rooming-in for our new parents. This allows the much-needed exposure to their new baby prior to being discharged from the hospital.

The PSFDH is committed to achieving BFI certification. The Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) Strategy for Ontario is one area of investment by the Ministry of Health to enhance breastfeeding in Ontario. The BFI Strategy will provide hospitals and community health organizations with training, tools, guidance, and educational resources to help achieve the World Health Organization’s BFI designation and adopt best practices that meet BFI requirements.

Occupational Therapists (OTs)

Occupational Therapists help people learn and manage everyday activities that are important to them, including caring for themselves and performing activities of daily living. They also assess and treat thinking skills and visual perception. The therapist may also make splints and prescribe equipment and assistive devices. Occupational Therapists are supported by Occupational Therapy Assistants who will help deliver your care.

Palliative Care

Palliative Care Services offers support for inpatients that require pain and symptom management, consultation with healthcare workers and patients, volunteer support in hospital, as well as physical, social, psychological, spiritual and bereavement support during end of life care.

Patient Flow Coordinators

In support of the Home First philosophy, planning for your discharge begins the day you are admitted to PSFDH. Your plans may involve arranging services at home, in a temporary convalescent placement or other supportive environments. The Patient Flow Coordinators are available to assist you in assessing your future care needs and how these needs may be met. They can be contacted at 613-283-2330 ext. 1196 (Smiths Falls Site) and 613-267-1500 (GWM Site.)

Physiotherapy (PTs)

If your doctor feels it is indicated, therapists may be requested to assess and treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal, neurological, and cardiopulmonary problems. They may prescribe exercises to help you with your functional mobility, strength, balance, pain, or breathing. You may also be given an exercise program to work on in your room between therapy sessions. While in hospital, please ensure that you have proper fitting, rubber-soled footwear. Our Occupational Therapy Assistants and Physiotherapy Assistants may assist you with your therapy program.

Rehabilitation

PSFDH offers specialized rehabilitation therapy services. The program offers support to patients and their families for diagnoses such as stroke and orthopedic conditions. The team includes nursing, physiotherapy, clinical nutrition, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and day hospital. Consultant rehabilitation specialist services enhance these programs.

Senior Friendly Care

PSFDH is committed to align with best practices related to the care of frail and vulnerable adults in hospitals. This includes early and regular promotion of mobilization through the “Move to Improve” program; Falls Prevention strategies; and screening for malnutrition as well as delirium.

Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs)

Speech Language Pathologists may be asked to assess and treat communication and/or swallowing concerns in order to restore and/or maintain functional ability. In collaboration with the Dietitian, the Speech Language Pathologist will make recommendations regarding the most appropriate diet to meet your swallowing abilities.