The Division of Neurology, in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of British Columbia and the B.C. Stroke Strategy, is working to establish a regional stroke program, centered out of the Victoria General Hospital. In addition, the Campbell River Regional Hospital has developed an outpatient stroke clinic that works with patients to prevent strokes and manage risk factors.
The goal of the program is to offer all residents of the Vancouver Island Health Authority with stroke symptoms the opportunity to receive the same level of care.
How it Works
Emergency physicians may connect with neurologists in Victoria using a TeleStroke system. This means the local physician, patient and neurologist are linked via video technology, allowing the neurologist to review CT scan brain images, the clinical examination and patient history. For some cases, acute medical therapies are administered to allow for reperfusion of the brain, which can potentially be life-saving and can limit the size of a stroke.
The TeleStroke system is in the developmental stages, with plans to be fully operational in 2010.
More complex cases may be treated at community hospitals and then transferred to the Victoria General Hospital, or they may be referred to Royal Jubilee Hospital for surgery on the major arteries to the brain.
All hospital sites within VIHA have a designated nursing unit for stroke survivors. These units have teams who are familiar with the care required by stroke survivors.
Should you need rehabilitation, the Regional Stroke Program is also connected with inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. Inpatient rehabilitation services are provided at the Victoria General Hospital and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Community services also help enhance reintegration of stroke survivors into the community.