Rural Pediatric Allied Health Central Access and Triage

This central access service provides a single point of entry for children and youth 0 - 18 years requiring occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech-language pathologist, and social worker (navigation) services to rural communities in the Calgary Zone.

The program offers occupational therapist, physiotherapist, speech-language pathologist, and social worker (navigation) services to children and youth 0 - 18 years and their families. Services are provided for children and youth with a variety of needs, for example:

• hearing (e.g. responding to sounds, noise, voices, words)
• moving (e.g. sitting, crawling, walking, coordination)
• using hands (e.g. playing with toys, using utensils)
• taking care of self (e.g. dressing, toileting, doing chores, sleeping)
• equipment needs (e.g. wheelchair, walking aides, adaptive aides)
• physical symptoms (e.g. muscle / joint tightness, head shape, sensitivity to noise or touch)
• managing emotions (e.g. behavior, becoming overwhelmed)
• communication (e.g. understanding directions, babbling, using words and sentences)
• clear speech (e.g. being understood by others, stuttering, voice quality)
• feeding and swallowing (e.g. coughing, gagging, choking, choking, psychosocial
• factors impacting mealtime routines and feeding relationships, limited / restricted diet)

More advanced feeding supports are available (Okotoks location only) for babies and children with developmental, neurological, and medical conditions requiring a coordinated approach (e.g. medical instability or risk of deterioration, safety risk, aversion to oral feeding, disturbances in oral intake leading to nutrition / hydration risk).

We work closely with our pediatric rehabilitation partners to ensure referrals go to the right place and services are offered within the most appropriate program.