Acute Rehabilitation Referral

Referral steps

1. Assessment

   To be referred to our clinic, patients must meet the following criteria: 

   • Child or youth from birth to 19 years old
   • Significant loss of function due to brain injury, spinal cord injury, neuromotor disorder or similar conditions
   • Requires rehabilitation/habilitation, with clinical and functional improvement expected
   • Medically stable and demonstrates readiness for rehabilitation
   • Able to tolerate at least three hours of therapy per day, five days a week
     We will not accept referrals for patients if:
   • Rehabilitation services are available in the patient's local health region
   • There is a lack of rehabilitation goals for higher level of function ability
   • The patient needs intensive medical interventions
   • The patient previously received therapy for the same issues with no improvement
2. Complete a form

   Complete one of the forms below. Ensure you are selecting the correct form. 

   Fill out the form thoroughly, ensuring all patient information is up to date. Include all required documents, such as consultations, reports and chart notes. Check the referral form for specific requirements.

   • SPROUT (Specialized Pediatric Rehabilitation OUTpatient) referral form (PDF)
   • Acute Rehabilitation Unit referral form (PDF)
3. Send the referral

   Email the referral form to the clinic at: AcuteRehabReferrals@cw.bc.ca.

4. Post referral

   Referring doctors can notify the patient once they have sent the referral. We will reach out directly to patients and families to schedule an appointment if we accept the referral.  

   If we do not accept the referral, we will send a letter to the referring provider explaining the reasons. Please inform the patient and their family/caregiver and help them seek alternative services for their condition. 

   We triage referrals as they come in. Wait times can vary. If there are significant changes in the patient's condition or if new circumstances arise, the referring provider should contact us to update the referral or submit a new one if necessary.