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January 30, 2008
Stroke prevention and care improved with provincial investment
$22.5 million to support Alberta Provincial Stroke Strategy
Edmonton... Alberta is investing $22.5 million to support a province-wide stroke network that will help Alberta’s nine health regions to work together on prevention programs, primary and comprehensive treatment centres, telehealth links and improved after-stroke care.
“The Alberta Provincial Stroke Strategy helps prevent this debilitating and costly disease, while also ensuring stroke patients receive timely expert care,” said Dave Hancock, Minister of Health and Wellness. “By investing in primary and comprehensive stroke treatment centres and telehealth links, we can provide Albertans with 24-hour access to specialists, no matter where they live in the province.”
The program aims to have primary stroke centres in all Alberta health regions by the end of 2008. Centres are currently located in six of the nine health regions (Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Red Deer, Camrose, Cold Lake, Hinton and Grande Prairie). Four additional primary stroke centres are planned for Fort McMurray, Peace River, Lloydminster and Drumheller.
Telehealth links allow physicians at primary stroke centres to consult with stroke specialists at comprehensive stroke centres in Edmonton and Calgary. Telehealth breaks down the geographical barriers to providing care through a team-based approach, which can improve survival rates and stroke recovery.
One of the principle initiatives of the Alberta Provincial Stroke Strategy is to emphasize prevention by increasing public awareness of the risk factors and warning signs of stroke. Other goals of the strategy are to improve stroke care, reduce the financial burden of stroke and enhance outcomes for those who have had a stroke. The program ensures that stroke patients will have rehabilitative care after a stroke which includes medical monitoring, ongoing education, exercise programs and social support.
“This investment by the Alberta government will expand telehealth infrastructure throughout the province, delivering quicker access to cutting-edge stroke treatments for all Albertans,” said Dr. Andrew Demchuk, Director of the Calgary Stroke Program. “Wellness initiatives such as improved blood pressure screening can help prevent strokes. Stroke patients will also benefit from rehabilitation programs that will result in improved reintegration to normal living after stroke. The end result is a better quality of life.”
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability and death in Canada. More than half of strokes are preventable.
Caring for stroke patients costs the Alberta government up to $300 million each year.
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Micky Elabdi, Communications To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000. |
Patricia Hannah |
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What is a stroke?
Stroke occurs when the blood flow to the brain is interrupted by a blood clot or when a blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain. Cells in and around the stroke site rapidly die and brain function is impaired.
Stroke Facts
Stroke is the number one cause of long-term disability in the adult population and is the third leading cause of death in Canada. It is the most common neurological problem requiring admission to the hospital and is the most costly neurological disease. Twenty per cent of strokes are fatal and 75 per cent of those who survive stroke live with some form of long-term disability. In Alberta, there are over 5,500 documented new stroke cases each year and approximately 25,000 stroke survivors.
What are symptoms of a stroke?
The symptoms of a stroke are numbness or weakness (particularly on one side), confusion and/or impaired speech, loss of vision, dizziness and sudden, severe headache. Basic functions such as walking, thinking, speaking and personality, can change.
What are the effects of a stroke?
The effects of a stroke depend on where the brain was injured, as well as how much damage occurred. A stroke can impact any number of areas including your ability to move, see, remember, speak, reason, read and write.
Stroke Treatment
Major advances have occurred in stroke care over the past decade and there are a number of highly effective treatments for stroke that have established a new standard of care:
- “t-PA” (tissue plasminogen activator) drugs, often called clot busters, can stop a stroke caused by a blood clot. The drug must be given within three hours from symptom onset of ischemic stroke and results in a
30 per cent increase in the chance of an excellent outcome compared to patients who do not receive the drug. - Surgical and non-invasive surgical procedures are used to remove blood clots and repair blood vessels.
- Outcome of stroke patients is improved when they are admitted to and treated on a stroke ward.
- Survival rates and quality of survival are improved, duration of hospital stay is shortened and more patients return home when they are cared for by a multidisciplinary stroke team.
- Early and aggressive rehabilitation under a multidisciplinary rehabilitation team significantly improves functional recovery in stroke survivors.
Comprehensive Stroke Centres Located in:
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Primary Stroke Centres Located in:
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Primary Stroke Centres
Planned for the end of 2008:
- David Thompson Health Region (Drumheller)
- East Central Health Region (Lloydminster)
- Peace Country Health Region (Peace River)
- Northern Lights Health Region (Fort McMurray)
Media inquiries may be directed to:
Micky Elabdi, Communications To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000. |
Patricia Hannah |
