What this program does...

Schizophrenia Inpatient Unit treatment teams provide specialized assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services for adults experiencing acute symptoms of psychosis related to schizophrenia. We serve people with complex psychiatric, medical, psychological and social needs. People are often experiencing significant disruption in routine life tasks, significant functional impairment and need psychotropic medication.

The Schizophrenia Inpatient Units are comprised of:

• Three 24-bed Schizophrenia Inpatient Units (Waterfall, Orchard, Harbour North)

How his program helps...

On our inpatient units we offer a comprehensive range of specialized mental health care. Whether you are experiencing a psychotic episode for the first time, or living with recurrent symptoms, you can expect support to assess your needs, stabilize symptoms and regain a level of control to begin a plan to take back your life.

We help you to obtain the appropriate community mental health follow-up for you to continue the work towards reducing and managing symptoms and the impact of illness on your daily life, to achieve goals and live well with a support network

Using principles of person-centred care, multidisciplinary teams work in partnership with clients, caregivers and other health care providers.

Active consultation, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation are guided by evidence-based practices and clinical decision-making to tailor interventions to each individual’s needs and life circumstances.

Your Care Team

Every inpatient has a psychiatrist, social worker and nursing team designated to their care.

Depending on your goals you may work with an occupational therapist and occupational therapy assistant, therapeutic recreationist, vocational counselor, psychologist and several other auxiliary staff (e.g., dietitian, chaplain, rehabilitation therapist, diabetes educator, dentist, tobacco addiction specialist, community treatment order coordinator).

You are encouraged to use the Mental Health and Wellness Resource Centre and meet with Peer Support providers who have life experience with mental illnesses.

If you wish, family or friends can be active partners in your care. Support and education is available to families through the Family Education Program.

You are an important part of your care team and it is important you take an active role in your recovery.

Contact

Heather Saunders, Nurse Manager, Harbour North 2 and Waterfall 2
Tel: 905-525-9140 Ext. 35403
Fax: 950-381-5635

Schizophrenia & Community Integration Service
St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton
West 5th Campus
100 West 5th Street
Hamilton, ON
L8N 3K7

Referral Process

We accept referrals through a Central Access Coordinator from:

• Psychiatric services and acute inpatient units in Hamilton and the surrounding LHIN4 region we serve (Halton, Brant, Haldimand-Norfold)
• Psychiatric Emergency Service at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Preparing for Your Admission

Interpreter Services

• Please let us know if English is not the language you and your family members understand. We can arrange the services of a professional cultural interpreter free of charge.

Planning Your Care

• You and (if you wish) your family or friends can be active partners in your care.
• You can expect to participate in an assessment to help determine your needs and goals to direct a plan of care.  We are concerned with the whole person and how illness has impacted your daily life.
• Tell us what has worked and not worked for you to manage your health. Also, let us know what has helped keep you healthy, well and strong.
• Please bring all your medications and anything else you are taking.

We ask that you do not bring any valuables with you as the hospital cannot be responsible for lost or stolen personal items. 

Maps & Directions

The SCIS Inpatient Units are located on St. Joseph's Healthcare West 5th Campus:

Three Schizophrenia Units at Waterfall, Orchard, Harbour North, 2nd Floor

Please click here to view a map to our West 5th Campus.

Admission Procedures

You can expect to have your blood pressure and temperature taken, to be asked questions about your history, given an orientation to the unit and asked how staff can make you feel comfortable.

You are encouraged to send all valuables home and any potentially unsafe items.

You are assigned a small locker for storing tobacco related items off the unit. We are a smoke free hospital and these items are prohibited from being brought onto the units.

You will work with a nurse to develop a Comfort Plan that lists things that help you take control when feeling stressed.

By the time you leave...

You will be assisted to obtain psychiatric follow-up and housing before discharge. Steps are taken to engage medical follow-up with a family doctor.

You will leave with a prescription and a psychiatric follow-up contact.

We will also invite you to complete a Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire to give us valuable feedback about our services.