Specialized Pediatric Rehabilitation OUTpatient (SPROUT) Referral

Referral steps

1. Assessment 

   Patients must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

   • Located in BC or Yukon with active MSP/Yukon health coverage
   • Medically stable enough to participate as an outpatient and able to tolerate at least one 45-minute therapy session at least two days a week
   • Parents or caregivers with transport who can accompany the patient during sessions, or patients capable of independent travel within the community. For patients living outside the Lower Mainland facing financial challenges, we will explore accommodation and transportation support based on available resources and capacity
   • Require a minimum of two types of therapies, which may include occupational therapy, physiotherapy or recreation/aquatic therapy; or require specialized therapy services exclusive to Sunny Hill Health Centre (Tier 6) such as post upper limb tendon transfer surgery rehabilitation, functional electrical stimulation (FES) bike therapy, and pre- and post-amputation rehabilitation
   • No access to alternative rehabilitation services that provide the appropriate intensity and type of care needed (specific therapy goals that cannot be met by less intensive services)
   • Acute Rehabilitation Unit inpatient/day patient eligible for discharge who needs continued intensive rehabilitation as an outpatient
   • Need rehabilitation after orthopedic or neurosurgical procedures
   • Need pre-surgical or pre-oncological treatments to enhance surgical outcomes and recovery
   • Need intensive therapy for patients with chronic diseases or post-acute events, such as deconditioning or long-term immobility

   Exclusion criteria                     

   Patients requiring the following services are not eligible:

   • Ongoing nursing assistance or hospital bed support, or currently admitted in the hospital
   • Therapy outreach in communities
   • Significant psychiatric or psychological services (e.g. somatization, functional neurological disorders)

   Additionally, patients with rehabilitation goals that can be effectively met by the following services are not eligible:

   • Other BC Children's Hospital developmental pediatric services (e.g. neuromotor program recreation/pool therapy, feeding assessments, positioning mobility wheelchair/equipment positioning, autism assessment via the BC Autism Assessment Network)
   • Community-level rehabilitation services
2. Complete a form

   Complete a referral form (PDF) with up-to-date patient information. Attach all relevant documents, including any consults, reports and chart notes if necessary. 

3. Send the referral 

   Email the completed referral to SPROUT@cw.bc.ca or fax to: 604-875-2333

4. Post referral 

   Referring clinicians can inform the patient once they have sent in the referral. If we accept the referral, we will notify the referring clinic and contact the patient’s family or caregiver directly to schedule appointments.   

   If we do not accept a referral, we will send a letter to the referring clinic explaining the reasons. Please inform the patient and their parent or caregiver, and help them look for alternative services that are more appropriate 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.    

5. Appointment with a provider 

   No further action is needed once we have accepted the referral.