What is the GoodHope EDS program?
The GoodHope EDS program is a large multidisciplinary clinical and research program located in Toronto built to diagnose patients with EDS and Generalized Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (G-HSD).
We are the only comprehensive EDS diagnosis and management clinic in Canada.
We provide detailed assessment by expert EDS practitioners to diagnose EDS based on most up-to-date diagnostic criteria. We provide screening for common comorbidities and access to self-management resources (such as exercise rehabilitation, psychology, pain management, dietary support) for patients in which we can confirm a diagnosis of EDS/G-HSD
We support primary care clinicians in managing the care of their patient with EDS/G-HSD.
We are involved in basic science, local and international research in the field of EDS and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders.
When to Consider EDS Referral
A brief set of questions that may help suspect the diagnosis of EDS are outlined as below:
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Does the patient (or their family) have a lot of trouble with their hypermobile joints, tendons, ligaments and muscles? If so, check the Beighton Score.
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Does the patient suffer from easy bruising with trivial trauma and has multiple bruises at any given time?
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Do they have a chronic functional gut disorder or malabsorption?
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Do they have asthma/eczema/hay fever/rhinitis, multiple food/drug/other allergies or intolerances, itching or urticaria, or more than one autoimmune condition?
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Do they experience dizziness and headache symptoms when standing that are usually resolved by lying down?
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Do they feel exhausted a lot of the time, or can’t seem to think as clearly as normal?
If the Beighton score is at least 4, and the patient presents with some of the other symptoms as outlined in the questions above, a referral to the EDS clinic should be considered.
Please Note: The clinic is only able to accept referrals for residents of Ontario with a valid OHIP card. Due to exceptionally high volume of referrals, current wait times for initial assessment are up to 18 months.
Benefits of Referring your Patient
Patients undergo expert assessment to confirm/rule out a diagnosis of EDS/G-HSD based on most up-to-date diagnostic criteria.
Patients in whom we can confirm diagnosis of EDS/G-HSD will gain access to a multidisciplinary team that provides education, treatment and self-management resources to help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Our team is composed of health professionals whose practice is specialized in EDS/G-HSD chronic illness and chronic pain including:
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Physicians, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, psychologists, physiotherapists/kinesiologist, dietitian and other allied health providers
Treatment takes place in-clinic at the Toronto General Hospital and/or by Telemedicine, and includes:
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Exercise rehabilitation, craniocervical and occipital rehabilitation, psychotherapy, nutrition support, GI assessment, pain management consultation and patient education
