Healthcare Providers from Primary Care and the Stroke Prevention Clinic in the KFLA area came together on June 24, 2024 for a local engagement and education session. The goal of the session was to share information, discuss roles and supports, and identify challenges and opportunities related to primary and secondary stroke prevention.
Best Practice News
We have great news for persons with stroke leaving hospital who require rehabilitation! Community Stroke Rehabilitation (CSR) programs at Providence Care Hospital, Quinte Health, Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital and Home and Community Care Support Services South East have each received new and ongoing funding to expand services.
On March 7th, 2024, the Stroke Network held a local engagement and education session with primary care providers in the Perth and Smiths Falls area. The goal of this event was to share information about primary and secondary stroke prevention and to discuss challenges and opportunities specific to that part of the region.
The event showcased current evidence-based practices in primary and secondary stroke prevention. Information was shared about approaches across the continuum in supporting primary care with stroke prevention. Collaborative discussions with primary care providers focused first on challenges and then brainstorming opportunities to address these challenges
On November 22, 2023- the Stroke Network held a local engagement and education session with physicians and other primary care providers in the Brockville area. The goal of this event was to share information about primary and secondary stroke prevention, and to host a discussion about challenges and opportunities that exist specific to Leeds and Grenville counties
“Getting to the stroke unit made all the difference- I knew I could relax a bit knowing [family member] was well cared for.”
A person who experiences a stroke is more likely to survive, recover, and return home when early stroke care is provided by a specialized team in an Acute Stroke Unit. Ontario Health - CorHealth Ontario has been leading a provincial project on Stroke Unit Care. An Ontario Stroke Unit Definition was released in June 2023 outlining ten key components of acute stroke unit care.
Quinte Health's stroke program has achieved the prestigious Distinction in Stroke Services, Acute and Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation, through Accreditation Canada. This remarkable recognition showcases the team’s national leadership and unwavering dedication to delivering exceptional stroke care.
Check out the updated Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations for Acute Care. Stroke team discussions across the South East are already underway about potential changes with our current clinical hyperacute and acute stroke processes. One recent change at the KHSC-KGH site was the implementation of tenecteplase (TNK) instead of alteplase (tPA) for eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke. Use of TNK as an alternative for IV thrombolysis was launched on September 1st. The team described the change as “fairly seamless” and “going well.”
Good news was received from Accreditation Canada on January 20th: for the fourth time, Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) achieved the National Stroke Distinction Award for Acute Stroke Services! KHSC was commended for its many strengths in the delivery of stroke care and prevention, including strong leadership support and a strong dedicated and knowledgeable interprofessional team providing the best care for patients.
An Ontario Secondary Stroke Prevention Task Group has been gathering and developing resources to further support Stroke Prevention Clinic (SPC) efforts to implement the Ontario SPC Core Elements. The group reviewed the SPCs’ Core Elements self-assessment summary to look for unaddressed gaps and listed them in a 2020 survey circulated to SPCs across Ontario.
The Primary Care and Stroke Prevention Clinic CME held virtually February 16th 2022 was well-received with 71 health care providers attending from across Southeastern Ontario. Participants learned more about current stroke prevention best practices, stroke prevention medications, and stroke risk factors such as cancer and recreational drug use.