Going to the Hospital
Individuals with 22q often need care from multiple medical specialties. Here is some information that will help with your next hospital visit.
Please inform us when a patient is in the hospital
A note to family members and caregivers of our patients:
If the individual with 22q is admitted into a hospital (including the Toronto General Hospital), please inform us as soon as possible. Calling us at (416) 340-5145 on weekdays is best. If you prefer to email us at 22q@uhn.ca, we will try to respond within 24 to 48 hours.
Unfortunately, we won’t know that a patient is admitted into a hospital unless family members or caregivers inform us. Please let us know so that our team can help provide relevant documents and support.
Thank you.
From Patients Who Know: A Hospital Handbook
A group of seniors in Kingston, Ontario, has come together to share common hospital experiences, frustrations, and workarounds. With the help of University Health Network’s OpenLab group, their contribution was compiled into a free handbook called From Patients Who Know: A Hospital Handbook. It has a lot of useful information and was mentioned by the Toronto Star.
Some of the topics covered include:
- What to bring
- Getting to the Emergency Department
- The Language of Hospitals
- People You’ll Meet
Please download it for free and have a look.
Medical Information Cards
Many adults with 22q11.2DS have multiple health concerns and long lists of medications. Some of them also have intellectual disabilities and are therefore unable to adequately explain their health conditions. If these patients need medical help urgently, or if they encounter medical professionals who are not familiar with 22q11.2DS, they (or their family members) have a hard time providing crucial information to those who try to help.
Our Clinic offers personalized medical information cards to individuals with 22q11.2DS who receive our services. These are small enough to be kept in the wallet and can provide a wealth of information to physicians who are not familiar with the person with 22q11.2DS. Please call (416) 340-5145 or email the clinic at 22q@uhn.ca for further information.