The Lake of the Woods District Hospital Rehabilitation Department offers the services of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology, and hosts a weekly fracture clinic. The mandate of the LWDH Rehabilitation Department is to provide evidence-based quality care to both in and/or out-patients who meet the admission criteria. To book an appointment or to contact any of our staff or if you have any questions about our services, please call (807)-468-9861 Ext: 2214.  Referrals can be faxed to our confidential fax at (807) 468-7096.

 Services provided include:

  1. Fracture Clinic:

Fracture Clinic is hosted in the Rehabilitation Dept. every Wednesday. Referral from surgeon or Dr./NP is required. Patients are assessed and treated for fractures (broken bones) in a team environment with a physician and Rehabilitation Dept. staff.

  1. Occupational Therapy (OT):

OTs help patients achieve independence by assisting patients to learn safe and easier ways to perform daily activities, and by addressing equipment needs (eg. special utensils, wheelchairs, seating) and assessing and treating cognitive difficulties (eg. memory, perceptual skills, problem solving).

Inpatient Physical Medicine OT service is provided to acute and chronic care Inpatients between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm from Monday to Friday.

Out-patient OT is not available at this time.

Community based OT services are now available as follows:

Community Stroke OT: Criteria - Stroke within 1 year, referred from In-patient, Outpatient, ER or community based providers, motivated for intensive OT within home. Goal: to remain at home and receive enhanced stroke rehabilitation.

Community OT:  Criteria - Any person at risk for admission/readmission to LWDH, referred from in-patient, outpatient, ER or community-based providers, motivated to return/remain in own home. Goal: to return/remain at home.

  1. Physiotherapy (PT):

Inpatient PT is provided to acute and chronic inpatients between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm from Monday to Friday, with limited service of 1 PT on weekends.  PT services provided include assessment and treatment for a variety of conditions, including neurological, cardiac, respiratory, and orthopedic dysfunctions.

Outpatient PT assessment and treatment is provided to all Dr./NP referred patients, with special programs of cardiac rehabilitation, pulmonary rehabilitation, post total knee and total hip replacement classes, Good Living with Arthritis in Denmark (GLAD) classes and WSIB Programs of Care available. Motor Vehicle Accident insurance claim treatment is not available but is provided by the local PT clinic.   Due to unforeseen and significant PT staff shortages, the wait time for physiotherapy service will be progressively extensive for non-urgent cases.  Until staffing can be re-established, it is recommended that non-urgent patients who are WSIB or have funding or third party insurance be advised to seek treatment at one of the 3 local PT clinics.  Out-patient PT services provided include:

General Assessment and treatment: General Criteria - Any person requiring any PT service. Motivated and able to attend and actively participate in an out-patient episode of care. Goal: to achieve realistic rehabilitation goals through facilitated and independent exercise and education.

WSIB: Criteria - All patients with WSIB injury. Goal: Return to full function and work. 

GLA:D - (Good Living with Arthritis in Denmark): Criteria - Mild to moderate OA of hip or knee (not awaiting knee or hip replacement, not applicable to arthritis of other joints). Motivated and able to attend a group class twice a week for 6 weeks. Goal: to increase knowledge, strength and alignment

Pulmonary Rehab: Criteria - COPD or other pulmonary diagnosis; motivated for intensive therapy – 2x/week for 8 weeks. Goal: to reduce work of breathing and manage/reduce SOB.

Cardiac Rehab: Criteria – acute or subacute cardiac episode or condition. Assessed by Internal Medicine and approved for cardiac rehab intervention. Motivated and able to attend a group class twice a week for 12 weeks. Goal: education regarding all aspects of cardiac care and supported exercise to recover physical functioning.

  1. Speech Language Pathology (SLP):

SLP service is provided by a part-time SLP (0.6 FTE) to inpatients and outpatients between the hours of 8 am and 4 pm from Monday to Friday.  Services provided include:

Dysphagia and Video Fluoroscopic Swallowing Study (VFSS):  Criteria- Any patient with difficulty swallowing. Clinical assessment by SLP required prior to VFSS. SLP will refer to VFSS if warranted. Goal: to assist in diagnosis of and improve management of dysphagia.

Communication: Criteria - Any patient with language or communication impairment who is not eligible for other SLP provider (ie Firefly, home care). Goal: to improve language and communication.

Voice (ENT referral/consult is also required):  Criteria - Any patient with voice disorder or impairment who is not eligible for other SLP provider (ie Firefly, home care). Goal: to improve voice quality.

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