Organ Transplant Rehabilitation Backgrounder
St. John’s Rehab is the only hospital in Ontario solely dedicated to specialized rehabilitation. Our organ transplant rehabilitation program is the Canadian leader in rehabilitation for recipients of heart, lung, renal, liver and other transplants.
- The program was developed in partnership with University Health Network (UHN) and is the only specialized transplant rehab program in Canada.
- The integrated model of care between St. John’s Rehab and UHN is supported through patient and team consultations using leading-edge videoconferencing technology and joint research and education initiatives.
- The individually customized program consists of assessment, treatment and support focused on the whole person – body, mind and spirit.
- Our multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation professionals develops goals and timelines with each patient and keeps in close contact with them and their families. This helps achieve maximum recovery, independence and quality of life.
- Rehabilitation includes education about diet, exercise, proper use of medication, activities of daily living, as well as social and psycho-social support.
- Once discharged, patients can benefit from a seamless continuum of care by being referred to our outpatient rehabilitation program.
- Our highly skilled multidisciplinary rehab team includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, nurses, speech-language pathologists, physicians, pharmacists, physiatrists, dietitians, social workers, psychologists and spiritual care.
St. John’s Rehab organ transplant patients (April 2009 – March 2010)
- Inpatients admitted: 49
- Outpatient visits: 344
- Typical length of inpatient stay: approximately three weeks to four weeks
- Average age of patients: 53 years old
- Patients aged 55 or older: 57 per cent
- Gender of patients: 57 per cent male, 43 per cent female
Ontario and Canada organ transplant statistics
According to a report released by the Canadian Institute of Health Information in 2008:
- Lung transplants in Canada have increased by 84% since 1997.
- In total, 1,222 lung transplants were performed in Canada between 1997 and 2006.
- In 2006, 75% of organ transplant procedures were for patients receiving double-lung transplants, a number that more than doubled since 1997.
- 466 liver transplants were performed in Canada, a 33% increase compared to 1997.
According to the Trillium Gift of Life Network in 2010:
- There were 506 transplants including kidney, liver, heart, lung, pancreas and small bowel.
- There are 1,551 on the waiting list for a new organ.
- In 2010, there are 250 Ontario donors, compared to 273 donors in 2009.