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Information for children and youth
We’ve developed guidelines for the unit to protect patient privacy, and to promote safety and health. Staff may develop addtional guidelines for the unit as needed.
Protecting your privacy
To provide the best care possible, we need to collect and use information about patients and families. CHEO is committed to keeping your information safe and confidential. We follow all laws that guide collecting, using, and disclosing health information. We are also careful to prevent situations where patients’ private information could be overheard or shared without their knowledge or consent. To make sure private information stays private, we:
- ask patients and families to take care when talking in common areas. You may be overheard without realizing it
- don’t allow former patients to visit the unit
- don’t allow any cellphones, WIFI or camera capable devices.
Consent
We we will ask for your consent before we share your information with community services providers (for example: community therapist or school). You may also withdraw this consent at any time.
Promoting health and safety
We promote health and safety in our unit by:
- not allowing drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, weapons, lighters or matches on the unit
- taking away cigarettes if you bring them. CHEO must follow Ontario’s Smoke Free Act. Nicotine replacement therapy is available for patients who need it.
Clothing
We expect patients to wear appropriate clothing and footwear in all common areas (for example: hallways, dining room, lounge). Patients can wear pajamas or sleep wear in their rooms, but must get dressed before leaving their rooms.
We don’t allow:
- tops with spaghetti straps
- short shorts, skirts or tops
- belts
- clothing with string or ties
- clothing with explicit language or images.
Meals and snacks
CHEO’s Food Services will provide all meals and some snacks. Our unit has a dining area and a kitchen. You are welcome to bring snacks and food from home. All food must be labelled with your name, and kept in the kitchen. We may restrict some foods when we have patients on the unit with allergies.
Patients, parents and caregivers can also place an online order for food right to the bedside, using the CBORD® Patient™ app. Visit our Amenities page or ask your care team for more information.
Telephone
We have telephones on the unit that patients can use. Using the telephone is something staff will work out with each patient.
Unit programming
We offer individual and group programming to all youth admitted to our unit. We understand that everyone comes to hospital for different reasons so your group schedule may be different then someone else on the unit.
- You will be offered topics of mindfulness, distress tolerance, creative recreation, healthy living, and physical activity in group setting or individually with staff
- Additional groups related to your reason for admission will be offered to you
- We ask that you do not bring blankets, pillows, music players, books or food to group
- Youth usually take part in all activities but we can make exceptions based on your individual needs
- We do offer individual programming that may not include group depending
Passes and Off Wards
You may be given “off ward privileges” by your psychiatrist. This means you're able to leave the unit for a set period of time, but will still need to stay on hospital property. If you have “off ward privileges” you must have appropriate supervision.
You may also be given “LOA” or therapeutic passes as part of your transition back to the community. Passes will allow you to leave the hospital for a set period of time and can visit home or other places in the community.
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We expect that parents or caregivers must be involved in planning for the pass
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Parents or caregivers must be available to supervise
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Parents or caregivers must take part in reviewing how the pass went upon the return
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We typically encourage passes Friday to Sunday but sometimes passes are helpful for during the week
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The hospital will supply medication for pass unless it is a medication that can be purchased over the counter
When you return to the unit from an off ward or pass privilege, a belonging search will need to be completed.
Visiting
We believe that those who will be supporting you after your time at the hospital are an important part of your care and journey. Parents and caregivers are welcome at any time, but we have set aside time in each day just for visits with parents or caregivers. This is a time when you do not have school or other activities on the unit, so it is a good time for parents and caregivers to visit.
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It is possible for one parent or caregiver to stay overnight as long as we can provide a single room. Speak with a staff member, who can arrange a folding bed for you.
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All belongings brought to the hospital by family or caregivers will be checked by staff and ensure it adheres to our belongings list
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We ask that all parents, caregivers and visitors leave their coat and bags in the lockers
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One friend can visit each day for up to an hour as long as they are planned 24 hours ahead of time with staff (we may have to follow other guidelines from the hospital or community that limits this, but we will let you know).