At a news conference today, Chester Gillan, Minister of Health and Charlotte Comrie, Executive Director of the Heart and Stroke Foundation jointly announced an Integrated Stroke Strategy for the province.
Minister Gillan noted that, “The strategy has three main components – health promotion/disease prevention, stroke management and rehabilitation.” The three components all aim to reduce the impact of stroke among Islanders and will be coordinated through a phased-in approach.”
A stroke is the sudden loss of brain function, caused by the interruption of blood flow to the brain. Over 80 percent of all strokes are caused by a blood clot blocking a blood vessel in the brain. The remaining 20 percent are caused by the rupture of a blood vessel and uncontrolled bleeding into the brain. Without a constant supply of blood and oxygen, brain cells begin to die within a few minutes. The impacts of stroke vary widely depending on the location and severity of the stroke.
Ms. Comrie said, “The strategy is not the solution or cure to every stroke situation. It is a call to action for partners, for the public, and other interested parties. The strategy is broad in scope, asking for the active involvement of individuals, health charities, community groups, municipalities, and the Island’s health system. It is not about advocating for any particular group to change or contribute, it's about realizing we all need to contribute.”
The strategy was developed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the PEI Department of Health.
From April 1, 2004 to March 31, 2005, there were 265 stroke patients admitted to hospitals across the province.
As part of the strategy, Island EMS, the province’s ambulance provider, is working to implement direct transport to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and the Prince County Hospital (PCH) for suspected stroke patients by the end of this year. These two health facilities are equipped to provide immediate emergency care for those experiencing a stroke and have 24/7 emergency departments, 24/7 capabilities for CT scanning and 24/7 capabilities for radiologist interpretation of CT scan.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation is planning an inter-professional stroke conference for next spring in order to address the theme of required professional education that was evident throughout the development of the Strategy.
Minister Gillan added, “The Department of Health partners with community groups across PEI on a number of strategies to improve the health of Islanders and minimize the risk of illness such as stroke and heart disease. The Healthy Living Strategy, for example, continues to help decrease the risk of stroke in the Island population.
Aside from focusing on the importance of prevention and health promotion, the strategy also emphasizes acute care, both pre-hospital and in-hospital, as well as rehabilitation and community re-integration of those who have experienced stroke. The strategy focuses on using established best practice to affect improvements and enhancements in the area of stroke prevention, effective care and rehabilitation in the province.