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Improving The Odds Of Recovery For Toronto Stroke Patients
TORONTO, Feb. 14 /CNW/ - Toronto patients will get faster access to
stroke care effective immediately as a result of an initiative that will see
Toronto hospitals, Toronto Emergency Medical Services and the Ontario
government working together to improve patient care, Health and Long-Term Care
Minister George Smitherman announced today.
"The faster that strokes are identified and the proper treatment
delivered, the better the outcome for stroke patients," said Smitherman. "The
collaboration we have brought about among health care providers in Toronto
will improve screening, speed access to treatment, and better the odds of
recovery for people who have suffered strokes."
The Toronto initiative is the result of a nearly $4 million investment,
part of Ontario's overall $30 million stroke strategy. Launched in 2000, the
strategy has been implemented in phases across Ontario as a comprehensive
provincial plan to provide education and training for health care workers,
prevention and research.
In Toronto, access to stroke care will be enhanced as follows:
- Toronto paramedics receive special training to identify and screen
potential stroke patients.
- When a stroke has been identified, the patient will be taken directly
to one of three regional stroke centres, located at University Health
Network (Toronto Western Campus), Sunnybrook and Women's College
Hospital (Sunnybrook Campus) and St. Michael's Hospital. Health care
workers who specialize in responding to strokes will ensure care is
provided as quickly as possible.
- When intensive medical response is no longer needed, follow-up care
and rehabilitation will be performed at acute hospitals within the
Toronto Regional Stroke Networks (see backgrounder) so the patient
can receive care closer to home.
Stroke is a leading cause of death, disability and hospitalization in
Ontario. Since June, 2000, when implementation of the Ontario Stroke Strategy
began, 27 hospitals and 19 prevention clinics have improved access to stroke
prevention, rehabilitation, acute services and diagnostic testing in
communities across the province.
"Thanks to an exciting partnership with health care providers, the
Ontario government and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, this
province is now an international leader in stroke care," said Heart and Stroke
Foundation of Ontario CEO, Rocco Rossi. "The Foundation is proud to have
played a leadership role in building the Ontario Stroke Strategy since its
inception."
This news release, along with other media materials, such as reprintable
articles and audio clips, on other subjects, are available on our website at:
http://www.health.gov.on.ca under the News Media section.
For more information on achievements in health care, visit:
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca.
Backgrounder
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ONTARIO STROKE STRATEGY
On February 14, 2005, the McGuinty government announced the
implementation of a coordinated and collaborative response to those who may be
suffering a stroke in Toronto, as part of the Ontario Stroke Strategy. The
strategy is designed to ensure people who suffer a stroke and who are eligible
for t-PA, the clot-busting drug, have quick access to medical assessment and
treatment at a Regional Stroke Center, increasing their chances of recovery.
There are now nine Regional Stroke Centres, 17 District Stroke Centres
and 19 Secondary Prevention Clinincs in operation in 27 hospitals throughout
Ontario.
WHAT IS A STROKE?
Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function caused by the interruption of
blood flow to the brain, as a result of either a blood clot (ischemic stroke)
or the rupture of a blood vessel and bleeding into or around the brain
(hemorrhagic stroke).
The symptoms of stroke appear suddenly, over a few minutes or hours or at
most a couple of days. Individuals should be able to recognize the five main
symptoms of stroke and seek immediate medical attention if any of these
symptoms occur:
- Sudden paralysis or numbness of the face, arm, or leg (usually on only
one side of the body)
- Sudden loss of speech or trouble understanding speech
- Sudden loss of vision (often in one eye only) or double vision
- Sudden dizziness or loss of balance or coordination
- Sudden severe and unusual headache (often described as "the worst
headache of my life" that starts suddenly) with no known cause.
THE IMPACT OF STROKES
Strokes are the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of
disability in Ontario. It is also the leading cause of admission of the
elderly in long-term care homes. More than 16,000 Ontarians suffer a stroke
each year. At least 90,000 Ontarians are living with the effects of stroke.
Strokes cost the Ontario economy almost $1 billion each year.
WHY ONTARIO NEEDS A STROKE STRATEGY
As our population continues to age and grow, it is expected that the
number of Ontarians who suffer strokes will also increase. By 2010, strokes
are expected to increase hospital admissions by nine per cent at a cost of
$850 million to the health care system.
Medical developments have shown that strokes can be effectively treated
through early detection and treatment, followed by appropriate rehabilitation.
The Ontario Stroke Strategy has resulted in a coordinated and collaborative
medical response to those who suffer a stroke. Emergency Medical Service staff
have received special training to help ensure those who suffer a stroke access
the care they need as quickly as possible to help increase their odds of
recovery.
INVESTMENTS
Ontario has invested $70 million in the first four years of developing
and implementing the Ontario Stroke Strategy model. Annual funding for the
strategy totals $30 million as follows:
<<
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Hospital funding (including regional and district
stroke centres) $23,400,000
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Prevention through public awareness, health promotion
and wellness projects $4,600,000
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Clinical research and evaluative studies $2,000,000
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Total $30,000,000
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PARTICIPATING HOSPITALS
Toronto Regional Stroke Centres
Toronto paramedics have received special training to identify and screen
potential stroke patients who will then be transported to one of three Toronto
regional stroke centres:
- University Health Network (Toronto Western Campus)
- Sunnybrook and Women's College Hospital (Sunnybrook Campus)
- St. Michael's Hospital.
Upon arrival, health care workers who specialize in care for stroke
patients will help ensure care is provided as quickly as possible.
Toronto Regional Stroke Networks
Follow-up care will be performed at acute and rehabilitation hospitals
within the Toronto Regional Stroke Networks when the patient no longer needs
intensive medical response. All five Toronto Community Care Access Centres are
also involved in the regional stroke networks. The participating Toronto
hospitals are:
- Humber River Regional Hospital
- Mount Sinai Hospital
- North York General Hospital
- Rouge Valley Health System
- St. Joseph's Health Centre
- The Scarborough Hospital
- Toronto East General Hospital
- Sunnybrook and Women's College Hospital
- St. Michael's Hospital
- University Health Network
- William Osler Health Centre
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute
- Bridgepoint Hospital
- St. John's Rehabilitation Centre
- Providence Health Care Centre
- Baycrest Centre
- Westpark Health Centre.
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For further information: Members of the media: Eva Lannon, Minister's Office, (416) 327-4320; David Jensen, Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, (416) 314-6197; Members of the general public: (416) 327-4327, or (800) 268-1154
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