This document provides information about accessing services at The Scarborough Hospital. It outlines 5 steps for getting involved in your own healthcare: understanding your condition, communicating with providers, asking questions, knowing when to go to the emergency room, and available hospital services. It details free interpreter services, special needs accommodations, complaint processes, and contact information for community outreach coordinators.

1. Accessing Hospital Services
Chester Lee Corner
“Women in Action Group”
Seemi Khan
Community Outreach Coordinator
Wednesday, April 11, 2012

2. The Scarborough Hospital -
Two Locations
Birchmount Campus General Campus

3. The Scarborough Hospital’s Vision
To be recognized as Canada’s leader in providing
the best healthcare for a global community.
 This “global community” includes our diverse
newcomer population in Scarborough.

4. Step 1: Become Actively Involved In Your
Health!
• You need to understand as much
as you can about your health,
treatment or tests you may
undergo.
• Write down any questions you may
have and ask the staff or doctor to
explain in ‘plain language’ so you
will understand.
• If it’s helpful bring a relative or
friend with you.

5. Step 2: Talking With Your Healthcare
Provider
• Tell them how you feel physically, mentally and emotionally
• Tell them your medical and family history
• Tell them of recent illnesses, hospital and doctor visits
• Tell them of your previous treatments or surgeries
• Provide a list of current medications
• Allergies to food/medication
• Herbal Supplements/Vitamins

6. Step 3: Questions You Might Ask Your
Healthcare Provider
• What is my health problem?
• What do I need to do?
• Why do I need to do this?
• What will it involve?
• What if I don’t take this
treatment?
• Are there any side effects? If
yes, what are they?
• Are there alternatives? If yes,
what are the they?

7. Step 4: How Can The Hospital Help?
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT – When to come?
• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath
• Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
• Fainting, sudden dizziness, weakness
• Changes in vision
• Confusion or changes in mental status
• Any sudden or severe pain
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea
• Coughing or vomiting blood
• Suicidal feelings
• Difficulty speaking

8. Step 4: How Can The Hospital Help?
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT – What to expect when you come?
• You will first talk with a nurse trained to assess the severity of medical
conditions
• Patients with life-threatening conditions to be seen first.
• Patients must tell their symptoms and medical history/medications
taking.
• Based on information provided, might have to wait. If symptoms
worsen then need to tell triage nurse.
• Once you see a doctor, they will determine if you need tests or if you
need to be admitted.
• When discharged from ER you will be given written instructions on
how to care for your illness along with any prescriptions.
• If discharged and situation worsens, come back to the ER.

9. Step 4: How Can The Hospital Help?
Hospital Fees:
• Ambulance fee with health card - $45
• Ambulance without a health card - $240
• Non-complicated ED visit without a health card - $260
• Rate for uninsured bed - $1800 per night
While you are awaiting your health card you should purchase private
insurance for these 90 days.

10. Step 4: How Can The Hospital Help?
Patient Relations – Complaint Process
• Patient Relations gathers information and investigates the concerns
• Review the health record, talk to staff and physicians
• Work with family/patient and staff to resolve concerns
• Resolving concerns may include;
– Reviewing record with patient/family
– Family meetings
– Letters of clarification
– Phone calls
• To get in-touch ask staff/go online/call
• We try to resolve complaints within 15 working days

11. Step 4: How Can The Hospital Help?
FREE Interpretation Services:
• Two full-time interpreters (9-5 / Mon-Fri.)
 One Tamil interpreter at General Location (McCowan and Lawrence)
 One Chinese speaking Cantonese/Mandarin at Birchmount Location
(Birchmount and Finch)
• Telephone interpretation phones that are available
 24/7 in 200 languages

12. Step 4: How Can The Hospital Help?
Special Needs:
• Tell us if you require the following:
 Assistive walking, hearing devices, require sign language
• Let us know if you have any religious/cultural/dietary requests and
the staff will do their best to meet your needs.
• Ask to speak to a social worker so you can access supports and
community services.

13. Step 5: Hospital Services
• The Scarborough Hospital Information
Tables:
 Diabetes Education
 Maternal Newborn and Childcare
Program
 Cancer Information (Oncology)
 Geriatric Assessment and Intervention
Network Clinic (Seniors Clinic)
 Organ Donation (Trillium Gift of Life)
 Family Practice – Accepting new
patients

14. Contact Us:
• Seemi Khan
Community Outreach Coordinator
skhan@tsh.to
416-431-8200 ext.6041
• Waheeda Rahman, MA
Director, Diversity, Equity and Stakeholder Outreach
The Scarborough Hospital
Department Email: diversity@tsh.to