Sunnybrook Hospital
This guide is for families whose loved one has been admitted to Sunnybrook following a serious accident and who are navigating trauma or ICU care.
When a Loved One Is Taken to Sunnybrook
When a serious accident occurs, families are often suddenly told their loved one is being taken to Sunnybrook, with little explanation at an already overwhelming moment.
Sunnybrook is one of Canada’s leading trauma hospitals, specializing in severe injuries such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and multi-system trauma. A transfer does not mean the situation is hopeless. It means your loved one needs advanced, specialized care from an experienced trauma team.
Why Patients Are Transferred to Sunnybrook
Sunnybrook is a designated trauma centre in Toronto equipped to treat life-threatening injuries from:
Car Accidents and Motor Vehicle Collisions
Pedestrian or Cycling Accidents
Falls and High-Impact Trauma
Sunnybrook also manages:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries
Orthopaedic and Internal Injuries
Complex Polytrauma
ICU and the C5 Trauma Unit at Sunnybrook
Patients are often admitted to the ICU or C5 trauma unit, where they receive constant monitoring and rapid-response care.
The environment can feel intense, with machines, alarms, and large care teams. This is normal. Admission to ICU does not always mean the condition is worsening. It is often a proactive step to manage complications early.
Understanding the Trauma Care Team
Care at Sunnybrook involves a multidisciplinary team including surgeons, intensivists, neurologists, nurses, and therapists.
Information may come from multiple providers and may change as the patient stabilizes. This is expected in trauma care.
You can ask:
- Who is leading care right now
- When updates or rounds happen
- What matters most today
Clear explanations in plain language are always appropriate to request.
What Families Experience in the First Days
Families often feel overwhelmed, numb, or unable to process information. Others feel fear, guilt, or pressure to make immediate decisions.
There is no right way to feel. Trauma care moves quickly, and families are often exhausted.
If needed, ask the care team to slow down, repeat information, or clarify what is urgent versus what can wait.
What to Focus on Right Now
In the early days at Sunnybrook, your role is to be present and absorb information as you can.
You are not expected to personally manage everything right away, including:
• Handling insurance or accident benefit claims on your own
• Speaking to police or providing statements
• Planning long-term care immediately
However, some early steps are time-sensitive. Accident benefits (SABS) application forms are typically required to be submitted within 7 days of the accident, and it is important that this process is started promptly.
The team at Oatley Vigmond can step in to take care of these early requirements for you, so you can remain focused on your loved one.
Rehabilitation and Next Steps
For serious injuries, rehabilitation planning often begins while the patient is still at Sunnybrook. This does not mean discharge is near. It ensures continuity of care.
Patients may later transfer to:
Timing depends on stability and recovery progress. Plans often evolve.
Managing the Practical and Financial Impact
As time passes, families may face pressures related to work, caregiving, transportation, and finances. Insurance and accident benefits can add complexity.
These systems are difficult to manage during a crisis and should not take priority over your loved one’s care.
A Final Reminder for Families
You are not expected to have answers right now.
Focus on understanding today. Tomorrow can wait.
LINKS TO GUIDES
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was my loved one transferred to Sunnybrook?
Sunnybrook is a major trauma centre with specialized teams and equipment. Transfers are made to provide the highest level of care for serious injuries.
Does ICU admission mean the situation is worsening?
Not necessarily. ICU admission is often preventative and allows for close monitoring and rapid response.
When will we know what recovery looks like?
In many cases, it takes time. Early prognoses often change as swelling decreases and the patient stabilizes.
Do we need to manage insurance or reports while at Sunnybrook?
No. Families are not expected to personally handle administrative or insurance tasks during acute trauma care.
Some steps do need to be started early. Accident benefits (SABS) application forms are typically required within 7 days of the accident, and getting this underway helps avoid delays or complications.
The team at Oatley Vigmond can take care of this for you, so you can stay focused on your loved one.