Critical Illness Recovery Centre
About us
At the Critical Illness Recovery Centre (CIRC), our goal is to help you and your loved ones navigate life after an episode of critical illness and a stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Recovery can involve physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges for you and your family.
We work to understand your needs, answer your questions, and connect you with resources that promote healing and quality of life.
Our services
Our team is here to listen, support, and guide you through your recovery. Whether it’s by addressing new symptoms, helping you to adjust to changes in your daily life, or simply providing a safe space to talk, we’re committed to helping you move forward. Some of the ways we do this are through patient and family check-ins, as well as peer support groups.
- See you during your hospital stay and meet with you (usually virtually) after you leave the hospital.
- Check in on your recovery by reviewing your symptoms, progress, and any changes since your ICU stay.
- Clarify your care plan so you know what to expect going forward.
- Help identify and manage ongoing challenges like fatigue, weakness or mood changes.
- Connect you to resources — from rehabilitation services to emotional support.
- Guide your family and caregivers so they can feel confident supporting you at home.
- Look over your hospital and medication history to prepare for a discussion with you.
- Check and compare your medications from before your hospital stay, during your stay, and after going home.
- Help fix any medication mix-ups so your medication plan is clear and easy to follow.
- Explain any new medication issues that might be related to your ICU stay.
- Work with your local pharmacist to make sure your pharmacy care continues smoothly.
- Look over your hospital records, including notes from specialists and follow-up appointments at the MUHC.
- Talk with you about any breathing or airway issues you had before, during, or after your hospital stay.
- Explain why certain airway procedures were done, especially if they caused you or your family discomfort.
- Help connect any symptoms you have after leaving the hospital to treatments or interventions you received in the ICU.
- Join CIRC check-ins and support meetings to provide care similar to the team-based approach used in the ICU.
- Social Worker (as needed)
- Physiotherapist (as needed)
- Speech Therapist (as needed)
We also work with the Mental Health Division’s Consultation Liaison (CL) Bridge program when this resource is appropriate for a patient.
