Project News

“The post-stroke physiotherapy and occupational therapy care following my release from hospital was very good, as well as the ongoing care that I received from my physiatrist.”  Stroke Survivor – SNSEO Community Support Services Consultation, 2023
As a part of a multi-year initiative to establish a new, comprehensive community stroke rehabilitation program in Ontario, Ontario Health - CorHealth partnered with Heart & Stroke to conduct a current state assessment of Community Stroke Rehab services. This assessment was comprised of program surveys and engagement sessions with providers and people with lived experience. The aim was to identify program limitations and critical resources needed.  Planning has begun to work with local programs in the South East to identify quality improvement initiatives that will help to address priority gaps identified in our region.  

The Integrated Stroke Unit at Brockville General (BrGH) opened on October 12th, 2022. An ISU Steering Committee including front line clinicians and patient experience advisors collaboratively planned and guided this approach to care.

The results are in: a new Fast Track rehabilitation referral process is a sustained success (even through COVID challenges)! Kingston Health Sciences Centre and Providence Care Hospital have worked together to enable rehab-ready stroke patients who meet Fast Track criteria to move to rehab quickly. Key to success was the quality improvement approach used, where stroke teams identified process changes and collaborated regularly on implementation.

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%.

Stroke care information for the Public - why to act FAST and call 911Local COVID-19 stroke care resources are listed by sector of continuum of care followed by Provincial and National resources.  Questions about the COVID-19 resources and their implementation can be directed to Stroke Network of SEOTake Care and Stay Safe! 

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KHSC achieved its third Stroke Distinction award!  The 2018 Accreditation Canada Report  highlighted many strengths. There were more standards to meet this time round and the results were positive.   KHSC sustained achievement of performance indicator targets despite growing patient volumes. A greater number of criteria were achieved for patient and family education and each of the 14 protocols were demonstrated, an increase from last survey. KHSC received extremely positive feedback on implementing 24/7 access to Endovascular Thrombectomy across the region.

Teams can remove blood clot from brain of a patient suffering severe strokeKingston, ON – October 10, 2017 – A new stroke treatment is now available 24/7 at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (KHSC) and it’s already proving to be a game changer for some patients.

Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital and Brockville General Hospital have worked together to improve outcomes for stroke survivors.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. Collaboration  between Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital (PSFDH) and Brockville General Hospital (BGH) created a combined Acute Stroke Unit in Brockville.

The Stroke Network of Southeastern Ontario delivered several poster presenttaions at the 2016 Canadian Stroke Congress in Quebec City.  Please see the links below:What We Heard: Charting a Course for Successful Community Reintegration after StrokeGaining Momentum to Improve Stroke Rehabilitation Intensity: One PDSA at a TimeProviding Access for Rehabilitation for Stroke Patients with DysphagiaPost Stroke Community-Based Exercise Guidelines: Update 2015

The Stroke Network of Southeastern conducted a community consultation in 2015.  The intent of the consultation was to hear stroke survivor, caregiver and health care provider voices and to actionably respond to those stories by charting a course toward improved community reintegration.  This report identifies priority areas for change as identified by the consultation participants as well as the resulting recommendations for charting that course.