At the first sign of a stroke, time is of the essence. For every minute of delay in treatment, people typically lose almost two million brain cells. Yet a new study presented at the Canadian Stroke Congress reveals that those delays -- in getting the right tests and the right drugs -- can be longer when people experience a stroke in a hospital. Investigators from the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine, the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES) and the University Health Network looked at data from acute care facilities in Ontario over nine years. They examined stroke care delivery and outcomes for two groups: those who had a stroke in the community (about 32,000 people), and those who had a stroke while already hospitalized for another reason (just over 1,000 cases), such as, for example, a hip replacement. The results were surprising. "Intuitively, you would imagine that having a stroke in the hospital is the best place possible, and that is just not the case," says Dr. Alexandra Saltman, a third year internal medicine resident at the University of Toronto, and one of the authors of the Code Stroke on the Ward study. Compared to the patients brought … Continue reading →

NY medical malpractice attorneys, Cory Rosenbaum and Robert Fader, announce the launch of their new YouTube channel, Stroke Law; a directory of video infomercials focusing on the legal questions asked most often by stroke victims and their families in the event of misdiagnosed stroke, delayed treatment of stroke and other incidences of medical malpractice. The Stroke Law YouTube channel is a natural extension of the content found on our website, said StrokeLaw co-founder, Cory Rosenbaum. However, these video presentations create a much closer connection to our audience, which is especially helpful when we address the the specific questions most often asked about stroke misdiagnosis and medical malpractice cases. Some of the topics covered on the Stroke Law YouTube channel include, Can You Win My Malpractice Case?, Stroke Misdiagnosis in Teenagers, Signs and Symptoms of Stroke, Types of Stroke, and Failure to Diagnose Stroke. Viewers will also find videos with information on how to arrange for free legal consultations with a Stroke Law attorney as well as some of the factors to consider if a person believes that their injuries and disabilities were caused by medical malpractice. YouTube is a terrific medium for reaching our audience and providing them with the … Continue reading →

PUBLIC RELEASE DATE: 7-Oct-2014 Contact: Amanda Bates amanda@curvecommunications.com 604-684-3170 Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada @TheHSF A new model for stroke care is being studied in rural Alberta to reduce inequities in health across communities. This model, presented at the Canadian Stroke Congress, shows how hospitals in rural areas can mimic the type of care that's often only available in larger centres. In geographically diverse Canada, stroke care can seem like tale of two cities or more like a city and a small town. The ideal is stroke unit care, where a multidisciplinary staff of doctors, nurses and therapists collaborate on treatment and the road to recovery. In Alberta, that type of care is only offered to 52 per cent of patients, mainly in urban settings. The proportion is lower in many other provinces. Frequently, hospitals in smaller centres just don't have the same resources. "There are challenges in these smaller centres, mainly because of a lack of sub-specialists, dedicated beds or early exposure to therapists," says Dr. Thomas Jeerakathil, stroke neurologist and co-chair for the Stroke Action Plan project, which is funded by the Cardiovascular Health & Stroke Strategic Clinical Network, Alberta Health Services. "What we're trying to do … Continue reading →

An innovative patient management system at the acute stroke unit of Kelowna (BC) General Hospital has reduced the number of stroke patient bed days by more than 25 per cent, according to a study of the system presented at the annual Canadian Stroke Congress in Vancouver. In total, it is estimated the new system is saving the 380-bed hospital more than 1,000 bed days per year. This represents annual savings of up to $800,000, all achieved without the need for any new investment in devices, treatments or personnel. "It's a win-win situation," says Dr. John B. Falconer, director of the transient ischemic attack (TIA) and stroke clinic at the hospital, and author of the study. "Patients are better and more efficiently treated, the hospital saves resources and the morale of the whole unit is much better." The program is called Proprietary Physician, or Pro-MD. It involves assuring that one of the hospital's five neurologists is always designated as primarily responsible for best bed usage and patient flow on the acute stroke unit. "The ward becomes "that doctor's" ward; they have a propriety interest in it functioning well," says Dr. Falconer. Each doctor's assignment as Pro-MD could last several weeks or … Continue reading →