Stroke and TIA

Our Challenge

Stroke is the number one cause of acquired long-term disability in adults in British Columbia. In 2008/2009, there were 4,526 patients in the province who experienced an incident stroke that was severe enough to require hospitalization. 1,610 (36%) of these patients died within a year following their stroke, making stroke the third leading cause of death in the province.

How Hospitals in British Columbia are Improving Stroke Care

Time is Brain. And care processes within both the pre-hospital and emergency departments require sustained improvement efforts to achieve optimal care. If resources are not adequate to allow for pre-hospital paramedic training, ambulance protocols, and stroke-tuned emergency departments to be established and maintained, then highly effective, brain-saving tPA (clot-busting therapy) will not be administered within the required 4.5 hour time window of stroke onset. For TIA patients, it is critical that the patients recognize their symptoms and proper referrals are made to secondary prevention clinics to prevent the onset of stroke.

The CCM Stroke initiative aims to standardize the care of ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke and TIA patients through the proper use of evidence-based guidelines, protocols and pathways.

Our Clinical Care Management team is here to support your work to improve the care of Stroke & TIA in your emergency department. Get started with the resources provided or contact us today.

At a Glance

Key Contact:

Dr. Devin Harris,
Clinical Lead
BC Patient Safety & Quality Council
dharris@bcpsqc.ca

James L. Watson,
Director, Clinical Innovation
Clinical Consultation and Operational Monitoring Branch
Health Authorities Division/Ministry of Health
james.watson@gov.bc.ca
250.952.2857