Looking for information on trauma centres? Overwhelmed where to look?
This webpage provides guidance to those whose loved one has sustained a traumatic injury and is receiving care at The Hospital for Sick Children, commonly known as Sick Kids.
Location
The Hospital for Sick Children is located in downtown Toronto with the main entrance at 170 Elizabeth Street. The closest large intersection is University Avenue, between Gerrard and Elm streets.
There is a secondary entrance located at 555 University Avenue, which is available to use for drop-offs and pick-ups only between 6:00 am and 6:00 pm Monday to Friday (closed on weekends and holidays).
All trauma cases are processed through the Emergency Department (ED) which is located on the Main Floor of the Atrium, closest to the 170 Elizabeth Street entrance and near the Main Information Desk.
You can call the hospital directly at 416-813-8600 if further directions are required.
Parking
The underground parking garage entrance is located on Elm Street, just west of Elizabeth Street.
The parking rates are:
- Weekdays: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. $6 for every 30 minutes to a maximum of $24.
- Weekday Evenings: 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. $3 for every 30 minutes to a maximum of $7.50.
- Weekends and Holidays: $3 for every 30 minutes to a maximum of $7.50.
Street parking is also available at your own discretion. Please ensure that you read all street signs properly and do not park in any of the emergency driveways surrounding the hospital.
Please keep copies of all your parking receipts, as these costs can often be recovered from insurers.
More information about parking can be found here on the Sicks Kids website.
Transit
The closest TTC stations are Queen’s Park and St. Patrick. The hospital is also a short walk from the 505 and 506 streetcar stops at University Avenue.
If taking GO transit, get off at Union station and proceed to the TTC northbound on the University line until St. Patrick Station.
The PICU unit
Most seriously injured children will be brought to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) for the initial purposes of emergency surgeries and subsequent monitoring.
The PICU is most commonly located on the 4th floor of the hospital. With that being said, exact floor numbers and hospital rooms can change due to construction, or other factors. It is always recommended that you check in at the Atrium Information Desk, which is located in the centre of the Main Floor Lobby. Elevators are located behind and slightly to the right of the information desk. Upper floors are badge protected, so you may need to check-in again once you get to the correct floor.
There is a PICU waiting room located on the same floor near the unit entrance for families and caregivers. It is typically a quiet space with seating and washroom located nearby. Cafes and larger waiting areas are available in the Atrium, near the main entrance.
If you’re expecting a long wait, there are also family resource or quiet rooms located elsewhere in the hospital. Staff should be able to direct you to them.
Amenities
In the case of lengthy waiting periods or overnight stays, basic amenities may be desired. There are a few locations on side where these can be purchased:
- Shoppers Drug Mart: located on the Main Floor in the Black Wing
- Gateway Newsstands: located on the Main Floor
- 5Fiffty5 Shop (Gift Shop): located in the Atrium on the Main Floor
You can also ask PICU staff members if they have emergency comfort kits for families on site.
Post-PICU location and the Trauma Department
Once the condition stabilizes, children will be transferred out of the PICU and into a respective trauma department in alignment with their injuries and recovery needs
The unit will usually be described by service name and unit number. A staff member will tell you how to get there from the nearest elevators. These units will also appear on internal hospital maps.
The most common unit for Trauma patients is unit 5C which is located on the 5th floor of the hospital. Outside the unit, you’ll find the Thomson Rogers Lawyers Family Resource board that contains helpful information and hospital resources. Please note your lawyer is able to meet you at the hospital, should that be needed.
Visiting hours
General visiting hours at Sick Kids are from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Up to 4 family caregivers, including siblings and other visitors can stay at a time. Only 1 family caregiver is allowed to stay with the patient overnight.
Both the PICU and the Emergency Department allow up to 2 family caregivers to visit at a time and are open to visitors 24 hours a day. Please note that the PICU allows overnight visitors while the ED does not.
More information about visiting and staying at Sick Kids can be found here.
Overnight stay
Here are some hotel options that are located close to Sick Kids Hospital:
- Chelsea Hotel
- Location: 3 Gerrard St W Toronto, ON, M5G 1Z4
- Phone: 416-595-1975 or 1-800-243-5732
- Website: https://www.chelseatoronto.com/
- Rates: Discounted hospital rate is offered with proof of treatment. Rates can vary depending on time of year. Contact the hotel directly for more information on rates.
- Courtyard by Marriott Toronto Downtown
- Location: 475 Yonge St Toronto, ON, M4Y 1X7
- Phone: 416-924-0611 or 1-800-847-5075
- Rates: Discounted hospital rate is offered with proof of treatment. Rates can vary depending on time of year. The link above should provide a reservation with the special discounted rate.
- Double Tree Hilton
- Location: 108 Chestnut St Toronto, ON, M5G 1R3
- Phone: 416-977-5000 or 1-800-668-6600
- Rates: Discounted hospital rate is offered with proof of treatment. Rates can vary depending on time of year. Contact the hotel directly for more information on rates.
- Holiday Inn Downtown Centre
- Location: 30 Carlton St Toronto, ON, M5B 2E9
- Phone: 416-977-6655 or 1-800-367-9601
- Rates: Discounted hospital rate is offered with proof of treatment. Rates can vary depending on time of year. Contact the hotel directly for more information on rates.
- Holiday Inn Express
- Location: 111 Lombard St Toronto, ON, M5C 2T9
- Phone: 416-367-5555 or 1-877-660-8550
- Rates: Discounted hospital rate is offered with proof of treatment. Rates can vary depending on time of year. Contact the hotel directly for more information on rates.
More information about accommodation near Sick Kids can be found here.
Length of Stay
How long your loved one remains at Sick Kids depends entirely on the nature of their injury and on how their condition improves, with stays ranging from a few days to a few weeks.
The Trauma Team
Please see below for the contact information of the Trauma Team at Sick Kids Hospital:
- Dr. Suzanne Beno
- Title: Medical Co-Director, Trauma Program, Division of Emergency Medicine
- Email: [email protected]
- Dr. Joshua Ramjist
- Title: Surgical Co-Director, Trauma Program, Division of General and Thoracic Surgery
- Email: [email protected]
- Sheila Rowed
- Title: Clinical Manager, Trauma Program
- Email: [email protected]
- Johanna Crudden
- Title: Administrative Coordinator, Trauma Program
- Email: [email protected]
Discharge
Discharge planning starts at the time of admission as the care team starts to think about what the child may need post their stay at Sick Kids. Before discharge, families will receive information from the respective medical professionals on tasks such as:
- medication administration
- meal and feeding plans
- equipment uses
- warning signs to look out for
- other medical professionals to call if something goes wrong
One of the most common pediatric rehab hospitals is the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.
Even though your loved one is ready to be discharged to the rehabilitation centre often there are no beds yet available, so that your loved one is asked to return home or to a suitable living space until the rehab facility has a bed available. In those cases, you may very well need the assistance of an occupational therapist to do an in-home assessment. To find a suitable occupational therapist, go to the Ontario Occupational Therapy resource directory.
A personal injury lawyer can also help coordinate the discharge and rehabilitation processes.
Accident benefit rights
Many of the expenses you incur while at Sick Kids are recoverable from insurance companies. If your loved one has been injured in a car accident in any way, they may be able to receive benefits from their insurer under Ontario’s No-Fault insurance system. Benefits can include but are not limited to:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses: Covers treatments such as physiotherapy, chiropractic care, or counselling
- Income replacement benefits: If your injuries prevent you from working (typically a modest $400 per week)
- Attendant care or housekeeping support: Support services for tasks you can’t perform yourself
- Non-earner benefits: If you were unemployed at the time of the accident
Receipts for all out-of-pocket expenses including mileage, gas, foods, accusations, travel and more should be kept as well.
For more information on what to do after a motor-vehicle accident, click here.
Finding a lawyer
Schedule a free consultation with the expert legal team at Thomson Rogers. Call us at 416-868-3100 or 1-888-223-0448 or contact us online.
Caution: be careful about providing statements to insurers, as they may be able to use information against you in a litigation process. Speak with a PI lawyer before submitting anything.
Success stories
SickKids has played a vital role in the care and recovery of thousands of individuals who have sustained catastrophic injuries. Many of these patients have gone on to make remarkable recoveries.
We have also had the privilege of assisting hundreds of seriously injured individuals whose experiences at SickKids significantly contributed to their rehabilitation and recovery.
Testimonials from some of these former clients are shared below.