News

Welcoming Corrie Hall to our Acute and Regional Stroke team!

Jennifer Holliday, KHSC Stroke Specialist Case Manager will be moving to a management role on Kidd 4 as of Feb 20th. We are very grateful to Jen for her leadership and support on the stroke team over the past few years and wish her the very best in her new role

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.

The Community Stroke Support Services: Southeastern Ontario Annual Report and Infographic have been released. This report is produced annually in partnership with the Community Support Agencies involved in the delivery of Stroke Support Services: Community Care for South Hastings (HPE), VON – Greater Kingston Area (KFLA) and Community and Primary Health Care (LLG).

The Community Stroke Rehabilitation Program (CSRP) 2021-22 Annual Report and Infographic have been released jointly by Home and Community Care Support Services and the Stroke Network of Southeastern Ontario.

“The entire region is to be congratulated on the stroke care improvements seen in each sector of care; every indicator showed positive change in our regional report!” Dr. Al Jin, Stroke Neurologist and Medical Director, Stroke Network of Southeastern Ontario.

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.

“I’m learning how to talk” and “she can communicate and I can understand” were two comments voiced by participants of Aphasia Supportive Conversation Groups in the Lanark, Leeds and Grenville area. These groups resumed in Perth and their success has led to a second group in Brockville.

You may have seen the Ministry of Health announcement that came out April 12th Ontario Building a Stronger, More Resilient Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Program. Our Stroke Network was so pleased to see this new emphasis on home-based and outpatient Community Stroke Rehabilitation Services. The announcement noted that the Ontario government is investing up to $5 million to establish a new, comprehensive community post-stroke rehabilitation program for adult stroke patients of all ages

Transitioning from hospital to community is recognized as a challenging time for individuals who have experienced a stroke and their families. Melissa Roblin, Stroke Resource Nurse, Quinte Health Care states " Leaving hospital brings forward both good and bad stress. To alleviate some this stress, we have found it helps to introduce patients and families to our partners in the community prior to discharge. Whether it be an in person meeting with a home and community care OT or a virtual visit with the stroke service coordinator with community care, these introductions help our patients feel more comfortable transitioning back to the community"