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聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Those who suffer a stroke will now be cared for quickly and efficiently with integration of a new set of protocals.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With the formal launch of the Saskatchewan Acute Stroke Pathway on January 16, patients showing signs of a stroke will benefit from standardized care during the first few hours after the onset of symptoms, which can significantly improve outcomes for many patients, according to a release from the Ministry of Health.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The pathway establishes consistent protocols for rapid, co-ordinated, high-quality care of stroke patients in all of Saskatchewan, ensuring that best practice care is available from ambulance to emergency room to hospital admission.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淧eople who display symptoms of a stroke, no matter where they live in Saskatchewan, now have access to more timely and appropriate care during the first crucial hours following a stroke,鈥� said MLA Gene Makowsky on behalf of Jim Reiter, the health minister. 鈥淭hrough the Acute Stroke Pathway, health care teams are working together to identify, evaluate and treat patients as quickly as possible.鈥�

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲hen dealing with stroke, we鈥檙e working against the clock,鈥� said Dr. Michael Kelly, Saskatoon Health Region cerebrovascular surgeon. 鈥淏y arriving at an accurate diagnosis quickly, we increase the chances of reducing or eliminating the sometimes debilitating damage a stroke can cause.鈥�

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Since 2013, Dr. Kelly and a team of stroke experts have worked with health system partners to align local procedures with national standards for hyperacute stroke care, the release said. Physicians and health region staff assisted in the adoption of the Acute Stroke Pathway protocols so more patients can receive early assessment and access to acute stroke treatment.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Pathway-based hyperacute stroke care is offered in seven primary stroke centres across the province and two tertiary stroke centres, which are located in Regina and Saskatoon.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Dr. Kelly holds a Saskatchewan Research chair in Clinical Stroke Research, with primary funding by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the provincially-funded Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation, in order to offer a number of improvements in stroke care provincially, nationally and internationally.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e are pleased that this pathway allows provincial implementation of guidelines based on the Heart and Stroke Foundation鈥檚 best-practice recommendations for hyperacute stroke care, and that Dr. Kelly鈥檚 role as research chair supported the adoption of the pathway,鈥� said Allison Kesler, CEO of Heart and Stroke Saskatchewan.

聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In 2015 and 2016, a total of 1,751 people in Saskatchewan were hospitalized for stroke. About half of all stroke patients experience some permanent or long-term disability.