Your rehabilitation journey with Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services (PCVRS) begins by helping you identify your rehabilitation needs and learning about how our Rehabilitation Service Specialists (RSSs) and Rehabilitation Service Professionals (RSPs) can support your success in Veteran Affairs Canada’s (VAC) Rehabilitation Services and Vocational Assistance Program.

As the Participant, you play the most important role in your rehabilitation journey, but you don’t do it alone. Our “Team around the Participant” approach means that your rehabilitation team will work with you throughout your Rehabilitation Plan. During the Referral and Intake phase, you will meet with key members of your rehabilitation team, including your VAC Case Manager, your PCVRS RSS and a PCVRS RSS Case Coordinator (RSS CC). Our goal is to help you feel supported and empowered while you participate in the Rehabilitation Program.

VAC’s Rehabilitation Program is voluntary, but active participation in assessments and services is required to ensure you successfully meet your rehabilitation goals. Active participation requires you to maintain a significant and consistent effort over time to support your rehabilitation progress.

Once you are found eligible for the Rehabilitation Program, you are referred to PCVRS by your VAC Case Manager. Next, an RSS CC will contact you to provide an overview of next steps, schedule your intake interview and help you register in the Participant Portal to ensure the safe exchange of information. During this conversation, you will review and sign consent forms and complete questionnaires so that we can better understand your needs and measure your rehabilitation progress.

At your intake interview, you will discuss your rehabilitation needs related to your eligible health problem and determine if you are ready, willing and able to participate in the Rehabilitation Program. Once your rehabilitation needs are identified, we will book rehabilitation focused assessments with one or more RSPs. These important steps help to build your Rehabilitation Plan. Your RSS will act as your main point of contact for all things rehabilitation related throughout your rehabilitation journey. They will provide your VAC Case Manager with regular progress updates.

The question we hear most from Participants is, “why are signed consent forms needed?” In healthcare, privacy and confidentiality are of utmost importance. You have a right to authorize access to your information. Providing consent allows us to collect information, as required, from existing providers to determine your current treatment, and for your rehabilitation team to be able to communicate with each other.

You will be asked to complete questionnaires to support the development of an appropriate and effective Rehabilitation Plan. The questions will help you describe your challenges, experiences and feelings. You will work with your RSS to establish personalised rehabilitation goals based on your responses and your rehabilitation assessments. That’s why fully completing the questionnaires accurately is essential for creating an optimal Rehabilitation Plan. Your responses will be kept confidential and only shared with those who need them to plan, deliver or monitor rehabilitation services.

During this stage, consider what you want to get out of the Rehabilitation Program. Through PCVRS, you have access to rehabilitation-focused professionals who will work with you to achieve your rehabilitation goals to the fullest extent possible. It’s important for your RSS to understand your goals so they can tailor your Rehabilitation Plan to meet your unique needs. Make sure your voice is heard!