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SickKids

Transitional Pain Service

Location:
525 University Avenue, Suite 925
Phone:
416-813-6975

About the Clinic

The paediatric Transitional Pain Service (pedTPS) provides specialized pain management to children, adolescents and their families who are recently discharged from hospital or in preparation for, and following painful procedures, such as surgery. The pedTPS also provides subspecialty pain management consultation for outpatient acute pain conditions.

Helping you and your child or adolescent to take and monitor pain medications safely is an important part of what we do. This includes safe storage and disposal, adjusting doses, monitoring and managing side effects and safe weaning off pain medications.

Read our pedTPS Impact Report (PDF).

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Pre-appointment Instructions

Complete pre-clinic forms

Prior to your appointment, you will be sent a link to complete pre-clinic forms. Please ensure these are completed at least 24 hours before your appointment time.

Your appointment may be in person or virtual through phone or video. This will be confirmed in an email sent by the clinic, or by accessing MyChart.

Virtual appointments

If your child is eligible for a virtual appointment, please ensure your internet connection is tested and working properly before your clinic appointment. Visit the Virtual Clinic Visits page for more information on virtual care, or if you have questions or issues with connection.

In-person appointment directions

The Transitional Pain Clinic is located at 525 University Avenue, Suite 925. The building is located on the southeast corner of University Avenue and Elm Street, directly across from SickKids main building. 

What to Expect During Your Visit

The length of the clinic appointment will depend on whether your child is a new patient scheduled for an initial appointment or coming in for a follow-up appointment. The length may also vary depending on the complexity of your child’s pain. An initial appointment is scheduled for 1 hour and a follow-up appointment is scheduled for 30 minutes. We try our best to remain on time.

At your initial clinic appointment, you will meet with an Anesthesiologist (a doctor specialized in pain management) and/or an Advanced Practice Nurse. There may be other health-care professionals present during the appointment, such as a Physiotherapist, and/or Psychologist. SickKids is a teaching hospital, and learners may be present. You will be notified at the start of your clinic appointment. 

The appointment with the Transitional Pain Service team will involve assessing your child’s pain, if present, and discussing how it impacts daily life (if applicable). Some of the topics we will talk about may include: 

  • Past and/or current pain and how the pain is affecting sleep, mood, and participation in physical activities  
  • What you and your child are currently doing to manage the pain  
  • What medications your child may be taking or may have taken  
  • What physical exercises your child is doing  
  • What coping strategies are helpful or unhelpful  
  • Other medical information  (e.g., other conditions or allergies)
  • Questions or concerns about pain management for upcoming surgery 
  • Education on pain management and expectations  
  • Education on how to store, give, wean off and dispose of pain medications safely 

The doctor or nurse practitioner may also perform a physical examination.  

At the end of the appointment the team will discuss with you and your child their findings and their suggestions for treatment.  

We encourage you to ask questions and give feedback about the pain management plan. At the end of the appointment, you will be given a summary to take home and is available on MyChart. A copy of this plan will also be sent to your family doctor or paediatrician.  

If any referrals or follow-up appointments are needed, the clinic coordinator will be available to assist you with scheduling an appointment.  

For Health-care Providers

Referrals are made through EpicCare Link. Learn how to refer a patient to SickKids.

Before referring a patient, please review the Transitional Pain Service's referral criteria.

Meet the team

Headshot of Lisa Isaac

Medical Director

Dr. Lisa Isaac

Staff Anesthesiologist

Dr. David Levin

Headshot of Barbara Couper

Clinical Manager

Barbara Couper

Headshot of Jennifer Tyrrell

Nurse Practitioner

Jennifer Tyrrell

Nurse Practitioner

Lori Palozzi

Registered Physiotherapist

Brittany Wu

Clinical and Health Psychologist

Dr. Danielle Ruskin

Clinic Administrative Coordinator

Susan Lawless

Data Analyst

Ben Hoggan

Coming to a clinic appointment

It's important to come prepared and be on time for a clinic appointment. Visit Coming for Clinic Appointments to read appointment guidelines that are applicable for most clinical appointments at SickKids.

You’ll find information on how to prepare and what to bring, what to do if you/your child are sick before your appointment or you need to cancel,  and important things to know about the SickKids philosophy.

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