Chaplains:
Our staff chaplains are trained and certified to offer spiritual care to those of any faith tradition or none. If you would like a chaplain or someone from your faith tradition to talk with while you are in hospital, please contact our Pastoral/Spiritual Care ext. 3170.
Clinical Registered Dietitians:
Our registered clinical dietitians play an essential role in our interdisciplinary healthcare team by providing comprehensive nutrition care and education aimed towards the prevention of malnutrition, improving nutritional status and therapeutic management of many diseases and conditions.
Doctors:
Depending on the reason for your hospital visit or stay, you may have one or more doctors while you are here. Your doctor will oversee all aspects of your medical treatment including ordering tests, procedures and medications, and working with other members of your healthcare team to help in your recovery.
If you have no family doctor, or your family doctor does not have "active" hospital privileges at HDGH, you will be assigned a staff doctor or Hospitalist [hyperlink]. Because HDGH is a teaching hospital, you may also encounter medical students [hyperlink] who are under the direct supervision of our experienced doctors.
Infection Prevention and Control Team:
We take infection prevention and control very seriously at HDGH and our team helps prevent and control infections in the hospital including infection after an operation, or from one of the new difficult-to-treat bacteria. All hospital staff receives infection prevention and control training to protect our patients from disease. For the safety of everyone, high-risk patients are tested to make sure they do not carry these bacteria.
Laboratory Technicians:
Laboratory technicians take blood and other specimens and perform electrocardiograms to check heart functioning. Blood and other specimens are tested in our laboratory and the test results are used by your doctor to establish a diagnosis, assess treatment and to monitor drug therapy. Tissue removed during surgery is also examined in the laboratory and results are reported to your surgeon. Pathologists are laboratory physicians who are frequently consulted by doctors or surgeons in the diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Medical Imaging, Cardio-Respiratory and Neurological Services Team:
Medical imaging, cardio-respiratory and neurological services is an interdisciplinary team comprised of highly skilled clinical and support staff, who work in the areas of X-Ray, Mammography, Nuclear Medicine, Computerized Tomography (CT), Ultrasound, Magnetic Imaging Resonance (MRI), Interventional Radiography, EEG, Stress Testing, Holter Monitoring and our Pacemaker Clinic. This complex team of doctors, technologists and nurses perform critical examinations and procedures that provide early detection and diagnosis of many illnesses and injuries. Many of our patients experience the therapeutic benefits of procedures that are performed through minimally invasive procedures.
Nursing Staff:
Our exemplary nursing staff will provide most of your care while you are in hospital. The nurse who attends to your healthcare needs is most familiar with your condition and, as a key member of your healthcare team; they coordinate your daily activities to ensure your optimal recovery. Your assigned nurse is a tremendous resource to you and your family, and we encourage you to ask them questions about your care.
In addition to your nurse, other nursing staff on the unit can provide information or help if you have a concern or a problem. The Unit Manager coordinates patient care on the unit, and the Unit Director manages overall patient care and staffing and handles all major concerns related to patient care.
Occupational Therapists:
Our occupational therapists are here to assess and develop a treatment plan should you lose your ability to care for yourself or function independently through illness, an injury, emotional disorder, developmental disorder or the aging process. If you wish to see an occupational therapist, please ask your nurse or doctor.
Pharmacists:
Our pharmacists are an integral component of your interdisciplinary healthcare team. They assess, review, and provide individual drug therapy to ensure optimal treatment. Our pharmacists provide many specialized services including dosing and management plans for drugs and certain antibiotics that require careful monitoring. Pharmacy technicians distribute medications to each nursing unit through a highly sophisticated system that promotes patient safety.
Physiotherapists and Kinesiologists:
Physiotherapists assess your physical strength, mobility, sensation, balance and ability to function. They develop a treatment plan to help you achieve your maximum level of physical mobility and independence. Treatment may include an exercise program that is modified as your mobility improves. We encourage family members and relatives to ask the physiotherapist what they can do to help.
Respiratory Therapists:
The primary responsibility of our Respiratory Therapists is to assist patients with breathing difficulties, especially the critically ill. Oxygen Therapy, Intubation, Ventilation, Arterial Line Insertions, and Bronchoscopy are just some of the services they provide.
Social Workers and Discharge Planners:
Social Workers assist patients and families during a hospital stay by supporting the patient's overall emotional and social well-being. As members of your interdisciplinary healthcare team, they provide services through counseling, advocacy, initiating community referrals, and initiating placement. Patients with anxiety related to illness or a traumatic experience, caregiver stress, parenting issues, resource information and difficulty coping might ask to see a Social Worker.
Speech Language Pathologists: Speech language pathologists assess and treat swallowing, language, sound production, fluency and voice disorders. Inpatient services are available for adults who have problems with swallowing, with understanding or using language (usually as a result of a stroke), with speech or with voice. The speech-language pathologist will complete an assessment and develop a collaborative treatment plan for intervention with the patient, the family and the interdisciplinary team.
Volunteers: The Hospital depends on hundreds of volunteers with more than 600 men, women, students and youth contributing over 75,000 hours annually. Our volunteers can be found throughout the hospital delivering compassionate care to our patients and their families, and many are actively involved as Volunteer Association members working to help fulfill Hôtel-Dieu Grace Hospital’s vision, mission and values.