Emergency

Spinal Cord Injury Navigation Service (SCI Nav)

abstract illustration representing sand

SCI Nav connects clinicians with expert support for caring for patients living with spinal cord injury (SCI). Get free advice, training, and consultation services from specialists across B.C.

About SCI Nav

 

More than 12,000 people across British Columbia (B.C.) live with spinal cord injury (SCI): a lifelong condition for which there is no cure and numerous complications that impact health, independence, and participation. 

SCI Nav is a pilot service that aims to strengthen clinical capacity across the province and support clinicians in providing the best possible care for patients living with spinal cord injury (SCI), including during community reintegration after acute rehabilitation.

SCI Nav offers clinicians free expert support in caring for patients with SCI, including access to advice and information, training opportunities, and participation in three-way consultations with clinicians and their patients. The program is led by a coordinator and clinical consulting team at G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre, with support from the Rick Hansen Foundation, Spinal Cord Injury BC, and the VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

The SCI Nav team serves as a key resource for clinicians, helping to:

  1. Provide timely access to SCI-specific resources and support across BC
  2. Connect clients with the right G.F. Strong team members for complex cases
  3. Offer knowledgeable, problem-solving support for SCI-related health concerns

If you’re a clinician in B.C. that would benefit from support from SCI Navigation:

Call: 672-965-1702
Email: scinav@vch.ca

How to access

Please note: This service is not yet open to patients or families directly. 

We ask clinicians to please forward us the contact information of anyone you think could benefit from the SCI Nav service.

  • Eligibility criteria for patient referrals

    • Must have a diagnosed spinal cord injury (by a physician)
    • Injury must be chronic (not newly diagnosed within past 3 months)
    • Injury must have significant functional impact (bowel/bladder involvement and/or primary use of a wheelchair)

  • Referral information

    If you would like to consult with SCI Nav or refer a patient, please contact:

    Email: SCINav@vch.ca

    Phone: Rachel Hendry, RN: 672-965-1702

Hours of operation

Open from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Closed on Saturday and Sunday. 

This service is available at
This service is available at

G.F. Strong Rehabilitation Centre

4255 Laurel Street
Vancouver, BC V5Z 2G9
See directions on Google Maps