Ambulatory Care (Outpatient)

Ambulatory Care at St Joseph's Care Group has a number of clinics that are accessible to members of our community and region. All programs require a referral from a Physician or Nurse Practitioner.

Asthma Clinic

The Asthma Clinic is a Primary Care Asthma Program (PCAP) with goals to reduce mortality, morbidity and health care costs for children and adults with asthma through an integrated plan focused on:

• Health promotion and prevention;
• Management and treatment;
• Research and surveillance

Referrals are accepted from a Nurse Practitioner, Physician or self referral. Clients have to live in Thunder Bay or the Northwest District, and clients need to have an asthma diagnosis or have spirometry or pulmonary function test results included with the referral.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Knowledge and Skills Clinic

The COPD Knowledge/ Skills Clinic helps clients to better manage the challenges of living with COPD. The program helps clients understand their condition, increase self-management skills for COPD, and reduce the intensity and impact of symptoms on people living with COPD. The Respiratory Therapist educates the client on a variety of management techniques for COPD in the program. Referrals are accepted from Nurse Practitioners or Physicians. Clients need a diagnosis of COPD to attend the program.

Cochlear Implant Program

The Cochlear Implant Program provides virtual tele-mapping appointments (in conjunction with Sunnybrook Hospital and SickKids Hospital) for children and adults with cochlear implants, as well as short-term communication support/rehabilitation. The program aims to:

• Improve the quality of life among clients with cochlear implants;
• Improve access to cochlear implant services in Northwestern Ontario and decrease the amount of travel for clients to Southern Ontario to access services.

Clients can be referred by a Physician or Nurse Practitioner. Clients with a cochlear implant need to require tele-mapping (with an audiologist from Sunnybrook or SickKids Hospital), have a specific listening or communication goal, and is no longer receiving SLP services through the infant hearing program (Children's Centre Thunder Bay).

Dermatology Clinic

The Dermatology Clinic provides assessment and management of dermatological conditions by a Dermatologist and a Registered Nurse.

Injection Clinics

Injection Clinics provide medical management and education by a Physician and Registered Nurse for medications required to be given by injection. Clients receive training to self-manage medications when able as well as ongoing support and teaching.

Multiple Sclerosis Clinic

The Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinic provides assessment and medical management for MS by a Neurologist. Education and support around medications and symptom management are provided by Registered Nurses.

Palliative Care Clinic (Outpatient)

The Palliative Care Clinic offers physician and specialized nurse consultation services to clients living with life limiting illness. Clients can be referred by their Family Physician or Nurse Practitioner.

Rheumatology Clinic

The Rheumatology Clinic offers medical management of rheumatic diseases by a Rheumatologist and Registered Nurse.

UV Clinic

The Ultra Violet (UV) Clinic offers UV therapy for clients with dermatological conditions.

Vascular Clinic

The Vascular Clinic provides assessment and management of vascular diseases by a Vascular Surgeon. Clinical support is provided by Registered Nurses.

Wound, Ostomy and Continence Clinic

The Wound, Ostomy and Continence Program at St. Joseph’s Hospital offers specialized care from Registered Nurses Specialized in Wound, Ostomy & Continence and Registered Practical Nurses with Specialization Wound. The Wound, Ostomy & Continence Program has physicians as part of their clinic (general medicine and plastic surgery) who are able to consult on clients with complex needs. The Wound, Ostomy & Continence Program works collaboratively with the Regional Wound Program, which encompasses an interdisciplinary team. Teleconference consultation and follow up is available to clients in the region with wound, ostomy and continence concerns.

Wound Care Services

Offers assessment, treatment and recommendations for clients living with wounds. Wound management may include education and counseling, pressure reduction, compression therapy, skin conditioning, wound care recommendations and follow up.

Ostomy Services

Offers assessment, treatment planning and care recommendations for clients living with an ostomy. Ostomy management may include client specific preoperative stoma site selection (surgeon’s order required), appliance selection, education and counselling, skin conditioning, and wound care/stoma dilation/ irrigation/ specimen collections as necessary

Continence Services

Assessment and treatment of a variety of continence issues for both men and women. Interventions and assessments may include a voiding diary, uroflowmetry, post-void bladder scan, urine screen and vaginal inspection/ pelvic floor assessment. Incontinence management may include bladder training, pelvic muscle exercises, education and counselling, and containment/ skin care/ odour prevention strategies, as necessary.

Regional Wound Care Program

The Regional Wound Care Program is a specialized outpatient service for clients of Northwestern Ontario who have a wound that is a slow to heal. Wound healing can be a complex process. A client’s physical, mental and emotional, environmental, nutritional and financial well-being must be considered. Research supports that these wounds can benefit from a multidisciplinary approach. The team consists of:

• Registered Nurse with specialization in Wound Care
• Registered Practical Nurse with specialization in Wound Care
• Physiotherapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Dietitian
• Social Worker
• Chiropodist
• Physician

Appointments occur at St. Joseph’s Hospital in person or via telemedicine at a time that is mutually agreed upon by all persons involved.

Clients can be referred by their Physician or Nurse Practitioner for the following:

• A wound that has not decreased in size by 40% within 4 weeks of being treated
• A chronic disease as a risk factor i.e. Diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, arthritis, neurological disease
• Weakness and/or limited mobility
• Financial concerns affecting their management of their wound
• Poor nutritional intake and poor appetite
• Obesity or are underweight
• Difficulties performing self-care tasks such as hygiene