Outcomes

• Highlights

Adult Programs

• Coma Stimulation
• Slow to Recover
• Complex Care
• Dual Diagnosis
• Outreach and Clinic Rehabilitation Services
• Clinic Services
• Community Based Programs
• Independent Living Services
• Residential Rehabilitation
• Adult Groups

Children, Youth, and
Family Programs

• Paediatric Programs
• School Re-entry
• College/University Supports
• Kids On the Go Camp
• Family Services

Program Locations

• Etobicoke
• Mississauga
• Hamilton
• Toronto
• Outreach

Meet Our Staff

About Us

NRIO was formed in 1993 and has been continually evolving since that time. The program format first consisted of rehabilitative treatment in a single clinic site in Mississauga then in early 1994, NRIO acquired Neuro-Muscular Gain, a community based clinic in Waterloo. During that year, services extended to a community based model, with programming occurring in the home, school and workplace settings. Outreach and community based programs have continued to see growth and residential locations offering 24 hour rehabilitative care have been established in Mississauga, Hamilton and Etobicoke. NRIO launched a school based program in 1996 for applied rehabilitation in a community setting. The School Re- Entry programs provide services in public school, college, university and specialized training sites.

The rehabilitation programs of NRIO are developed to assist persons with brain injuries and other neurologic impairments in achieving success in increasing their level of independence.

NRIO provides programs for individuals in clinic, residential, supported living and community settings. The programs are designed to serve persons with severe to moderate disabilities related to traumatic brain injury, neurologic disease or in some specific cases, other injury or disease to the central nervous system that could benefit from services. NRIO offers services to adults and children in separate and distinct programs.

During the year of 1999, NRIO was a pilot project for CCHSA for accreditation. Prior to that time, NRIO was CARF accredited. In January of 2002, NRIO was awarded with a three-year accreditation from the Canadian Council of Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA). The organization applied and received renewal of accreditation in January of 2005.

Accreditation

CONGRATULATIONS TO NRIO FOR ACHIEVING THEIR THIRD CONSECUTIVE THREE YEAR ACCREDITATION STATUS FROM THE CANADIAN COUNCIL OF HEALTH SERVICES ACCREDITATION (CCHSA).

Since becoming a pilot study in 1999 for Acquired Brain Injury standards, NRIO has been successfully accredited for the third time, for the maximum of three years at a time, through the Canadian Council of Health Services Accreditation (CCHSA).

CCHSA is a non-profit, non-government organization that assists health service organizations across Canada examine and improve the quality of care and services they provide. Their standards were developed because health service organizations expressed an interest that, to remain relevant, accreditation must continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of today’s health care environment. Organizations that are focused on quality look for opportunities to improve their services and organizations that seek accreditation understand there is always room for growth and the opportunity to “raise the bar.”

Even more exciting than the accreditation is that the survey team found no major recommendations and identified a “Good Practice” (a noteworthy practice that is tied to a specific standard and is notable for what they could contribute to the field). This practice is the “ABILITY” school program, designed by Catherine Dodds (NRIO Program Coordinator for School Re-Entry Services) and Dave Pearson (NRIO School Re-Entry Specialist). The program looks at establishing peer advocacy, education and support in the classroom for a student with ABI.

In January of 2005, NRIO went through the survey process to renew the organization’s accreditation status. After more than a year of planning and completing all the necessary preparations, including writing a Self-Assessment report, two surveyors from CCHSA visited for a three-day period. During that time they met with management, staff, clients and community partners, visited each of the NRIO sites and combed over paperwork and information.

Why is NRIO Accredited?

• It demonstrates that NRIO has been evaluated against and achieved certain high national standards of excellence as defined by health care providers.
• Individuals we serve can take comfort in knowing the standards and quality of care offered is as good as those offered elsewhere in Canada.
• Accreditation requires us to complete a “self-assessment”, providing valuable responses to all areas of an organization as part of the accreditation process.
• Management are able to develop a "road map" outlining current challenges and setting future goals, providing a basis for ongoing improvements in the quality and efficiency of care and service.

The management of NRIO would like to thank all the staff, clients and community members that made this accreditation a smooth and successful process. Everyone gave his or her full support and participation to ensure we received a positive rating from CCHSA!

For more information on CCHSA and the accreditation process, including the value of being accredited, please read visit www.cchsa.ca.