STROKE PROJECT BEGINS IN SUNRISE HEALTH REGION

Released on December 17, 2008

Saskatchewan is moving forward with a new strategy that will save lives and prevent disability for many people who suffer a stroke.

Sunrise Health Region has launched a pilot project in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan (HSFS) and the Ministry of Health. The project will work toward decreasing the incidence and impact of stroke through establishment of a stroke prevention clinic and improved stroke rehabilitation services. The province is investing $1.2 million over two years in the project.

"Investing now in stroke prevention, earlier treatment and intensive rehabilitation for patients will pay off in the future," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "Stroke survivors will have a better chance to recover more quickly and completely, and avoid a recurrence. Our entire health system can also benefit, if these patients do not require the support of long-term care or home care services."

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the third leading cause of death in Saskatchewan. Each year in the province about 2,000 people suffer a stroke, half of whom are left with a disability. In Sunrise Health Region alone, more than 100 people each year suffer from a stroke.

"Sunrise Health Region is pleased to have been chosen for this pilot project," Sunrise Health Region senior vice president of Health Services Suann Laurent said. "Our physicians and staff have great ideas on how to improve the health system but at times lack the resources to move forward. This pilot project will fund a stroke clinic and additional access to in-patient and out-patient therapy. Stroke prevention and care will be integrated throughout the entire spectrum of health services and the lessons learned will be shared to ultimately benefit stroke patients throughout Saskatchewan."

Integrated stroke care has been shown to significantly improve both the speed and extent of patients' recoveries. Once considered unavoidable and untreatable, stroke can now be largely prevented. In some cases, it can be treated so effectively that patients can walk away as if their strokes had never happened.

"Bringing the Integrated Stroke Strategy (ISS) to Saskatchewan is a priority for us," Heart and Stroke Foundation CEO Lucy Buller said. "Wherever this powerful new strategy has been implemented, it has saved lives, prevented disability and at the same time, saved millions of health care dollars because fewer people require long term care. This announcement is the first step in bringing better stroke prevention, care and rehabilitation to Saskatchewan people, no matter where they live."

The pilot project is based on the Heart and Stroke Foundation's work over the past several years. The Foundation gathered input from patients and their families, health regions and health professionals. The ISS is part of a national effort called the Canadian Stroke Strategy, a partnership between the Canadian Stroke Network and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada to improve the level and quality of stroke prevention, treatment and rehabilitation and to ensure the best research evidence is put into practice.

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For more information, contact:

Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083

Sharon Tropin
Sunrise Health Region
Yorkton
Phone: 306-786-0144

Rhae Ann Bromley
Heart & Stroke Foundation of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-693-0350