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Exterior of G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre with wayfinding sign in the foreground

Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Program at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre

The Inpatient Spinal Cord Injury Program at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre offers specialized inpatient rehabilitation for individuals with spinal cord injuries. This program is primarily for clients with new spinal cord injuries. However, clients with chronic spinal cord injuries who have required a flap repair for pressure injuries may also be eligible.

How to access

  • Check eligibility

    We serve people with spinal cord injuries within the province of British Columbia and the Yukon. This includes traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injuries and adults with Spina Bifida.

    Patients must meet the G.F. Strong inpatient admission criteria

  • Get a referral

    A physician or nurse practitioner must make referrals to the Inpatient spinal cord injury program. Have your physician or nurse practitioner complete the G.F. Strong Inpatient Referral Form.

    G.F. Strong inpatient referral form

Hours of operation

Currently open

We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Outpatient services are available Monday to Friday. Visiting hours may vary depending on the unit. Please call the G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre switchboard at (604) 734-1313 to determine visiting times before your visit.

Parking & Transportation

GF Strong is located at 4255 Laurel Street, Vancouver, one block east of Oak Street and one block south of West King Edward Avenue.

Parking

Paid parking is available.

If you are a client or a visitor, you may park in the GF Strong visitor-paid parking lot (handicap-accessible paid parking spots are available in the front of the building). The parking meters will accept credit cards, coin payments, and pay-by-phone options. Please remember to arrive at the site prepared to pay the parking meter using one of these means, as meters do not provide change.

You may be able to find 2-hour free street parking, though spaces are very limited. With a valid SPARC parking permit, free 3-hour parking is allowed on residential streets without need for a residential parking permit (*Note: City of Vancouver by-law is subject to change.  For more information visit the City of Vancouver Accessible Parking page)

Parking rates for VCH facilities

Getting here by TransLink

GF Strong is accessible by TransLink services from Vancouver International Airport, BC Ferry Terminals at Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen, Pacific Central Station (downtown Vancouver rail and bus station), and SkyTrain stations.

Buses 17 and 25 stop on Oak Street, close to GF Strong.

TransLink provides information on transit routes and schedules. TransLink can also tell you which buses take wheelchairs are wheelchair accessible.

Transit accessibility on Translink.ca

If you use HandyDart

Translink’s HandyDART – “A door-to-door, shared ride service for passengers with physical or cognitive disabilities who are unable to use conventional public transit without assistance.”

  • If you qualify and would benefit from this service, we recommend you contact your family physician to assist with the completion of the application form

HandyDART Modernization Program

Places to stay around G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre 

The CIBC Centre for Patients and Families at Vancouver General Hospital is a resource centre that helps you and your family make informed choices about your health, before, during, and after your hospital stay. If you are visiting G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, the Centre also maintains the Places to Stay Guide for VGH and G.F. Strong to list accommodation options in the area.

If you are looking for additional support, you can also visit the Travel Assistance Program website to learn about the financial assistance available.

Download the Places to Stay Guide 

G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre

​GF Strong Rehabilitation Centre is British Columbia's largest rehabilitation centre. As a freestanding facility, G.F. Strong provides inpatient, outpatient and clinical support services to clients/patients in three unique programs: Acquired Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury and Neuromusculoskeletal.

Spinal Cord Injury Inpatient Program

The Spinal Cord Injury Inpatient Program offers specialized inpatient rehabilitation for individuals with spinal cord injuries. This program is primarily for clients with new spinal cord injuries. However, clients with chronic spinal cord injuries who have required a flap repair for pressure injuries may also be eligible.