Monthly archive

Back by popular demand! The virtual LLG Community Stroke Partners Expo was held on October 27th, 2021. Twenty-two community agencies from across Lanark, Leeds and Grenville County and beyond shared information with the attending health care providers on the post-stroke services they offer to stroke survivors and their families.

Kayla Purdon, RN, BScN, BA, MN will begin working with the Stroke Network on Oct 20th as our Regional Stroke Community and LTC Coordinator. Kayla has a Masters of Nursing (Teaching Focus) from Athabasca, Alberta that included courses in Evidence-based Practice, Dissemination Strategies, Collaboration and Leadership roles in Health.

Liisa Ware began working as our Stroke Network Administrative Assistant on Oct 4th. Liisa brings over 17 years of KHSC experience to our program including roles in registration and data entry for the Ontario Breast Screening Program,

In recognition of Stroke Awareness Month this past June, health care providers within the southeast took the opportunity to support the sharing of stroke survivor stories, enhance awareness of stroke and provide information on relevant services.

"As a stroke survivor with firsthand knowledge of some of the unique pieces of the puzzle that are needed to help us, it was deeply fulfilling to collaborate on and lend perspective to some of the tools available to assist with navigating the numerous resources out there.

When an intracranial aneurysm ruptures and bleeds, resulting in a subarachnoid hemorrhage, the mortality rate can be 40% to 50%, with severe morbidity of 10% to 20%.

“Both my wife (who is a stroke survivor) and I have been attending the stroke support group for several years now.  We have found this service to be very effective; a place to go to where you feel like you belong, where you receive answers to your questions and practical guidance.  The camaraderie of the group fills an important gap in addressing the loneliness that can occur after a stroke when neighbors, friends and co-workers may drift away over time.  There is nothing worse than loneliness and isolation and the support group not only meets this need but also helps you to become a part o

To Since the initiation of the Community Stroke Rehab Program (CSRP) in 2009, admissions to the program have continued to trend upwards (an increase of 228% since 2009).  With the onset of COVID, community rehab providers responded by including virtual visits in their model of care.  The 2021 Annual CSRP Report includes virtual visit data for the first time noting that the percent of patients receiving at least one virtual visit during this fiscal year was 25% for PT, 26.5% for OT, 25.6% for SLP and 56.9% for SW.  An integral part of the Community Stroke Rehab Program is the Community Rehab

                 The COVID-19 pandemic has called upon health care providers across the continuum of care to make significant adjustments to models of care, embrace innovation and leverage the learnings of others from within our region and beyond.

A collaborative event about the Deseronto Indigenous Blood Pressure (BP) Screening Model was held virtually in November 2020 with the following main objectives:Learn about a culturally sensitive approach to community-based blood pressure screeningGather input to initiate an action plan for Indigenous blood pressure screening with the Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Care Team (IIPCT) who is primarily located in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and serves Indigenous communities across the south eastThe Indigenous BP Learning and Sharing Event was led by Kathy Brant and Maureen Buchanan, the I

                  The first-ever Virtual HPE Community Stroke Partners Expo was held on February 23rd, 2021. Sixteen community agencies from across Hastings Prince Edward County and beyond shared information with the attending health care providers about the services they offer to stroke survivors and their families. This project was a partnership with the University of Ottawa who hosted the event using their OnAir virtual conference platform.

             The Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations (2020) advises that all “members of the healthcare team engaged with people with stroke and their families are responsible for partnerships and collaborations to ensure successful transitions and return to the community following stroke.” Within the southeast, we have been working to integrate and sustain effective navigation supports forall healthcare providers involved in post-stroke navigation.  Following up on earlier work, the Stroke Network of Southeastern Ontario hosted a virtual workshop in April which welcomed 58 partic

      The Basic Life Support Patient Care Standards for paramedics in Ontario recently added the Los Angeles Motor Scale (LAMS) as a secondary screen in their Acute Stroke Bypass Protocol. Paramedics are now using the LAMS as their large vessel occlusion (LVO) screen for potential Endovascular Thrombectomy (EVT) candidacy.

        “Involvement in decision-making is important.

The ACT-FAST is a large vessel occlusion triage tool used to screen for EVT eligibility.

            Since the initiation of the Community Stroke Rehab Program (CSRP) in 2009, admissions to the program have essentially doubled.  Data from the current annual evaluation report demonstrated variations between urban/rural geographies.   Various data points (e.g., visit averages, referral rates, wait times for initial therapy service) help to inform quality improvement.  The report and infographic also include key messages for rehab providers.   The CSRP provides enhanced rehab intensity for up to 12 weeks following discharge from hospital.  Therapy services include PT, OT, SLP and

             According to the 2020 annual report and infographic, an increasing number of stroke survivors are participating in stroke support programs offered by the community support agencies in this region.

The Stroke Network of Southeastern Ontario welcomes Emilia Leslie who will be facilitating the KFLA stroke support groups and programs.  Emilia has shared this message:"My name is Emilia Leslie and I am very excited and grateful to announce the start of my position as the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Program Coordinator – Stroke Department at the Greater Kingston site. I have had the privilege of working with individuals and families in various settings for over a decade, as well as meaningful partnerships with community service providers.