Stroke

WRHN is proud to help people across Waterloo Welington get the stroke care they need. As a District Stroke Centre in the Central South Regional Stroke Network, we:

• help prevent strokes
• care for people who have had a stroke
• work with the Regional Stroke Centre and local hospitals to plan and improve stroke care
• support education and training for healthcare teams
• follow best practices based on the latest research

Our goal is to help people in the region we serve get the right care at the right time.

Being a District Stroke Centre means WRHN is able to offer advanced services when someone is having a stroke. WRHN @ Midtown is one of only two local hospitals that can:

• give a medicine that breaks up blood clots, called Tenecteplase (tNK)
• assess whether a patient needs surgery to remove a blood clot, called an endovascular thrombectomy (EVT)

These treatments need to be given quickly to help someone’s recovery. That is why it is so important to call 911 right away if you think someone is having a stroke.

After you have been treated in the Emergency Department, there are a few possible next steps. These depend on the type of stroke you had and the care you need. You may:

• go to Hamilton Health Sciences for EVT surgery
• stay at WRHN for more tests and treatment in the Acute Inpatient Stroke Unit
• be well enough to go home with a referral to the Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic

Our stroke units offer skilled care for people who have had a stroke. We focus on helping you recover safely and get back as much independence as possible.

The Acute Inpatient Stroke Unit at WRHN @ Midtown cares for people who have had a stroke and need to stay in the hospital. During your hospital stay, you will have tests to find out:

• the type of stroke you had
• how serious the stroke was
• what part of the brain was impacted by the stroke
• if you have any health problems or habits that may raise your chances of having another stroke

The care team will work with you and your care partners to set treatment goals and make a plan for your care. Your care plan will likely include rehabilitation. This type of care helps you get back your strength, skills, and independence.

Before they go home, some patients may need to stay at another care centre for more rehabilitation. Others may need to continue going to rehabilitation appointments after they go home.

Inpatient rehabilitation helps patients recover while they stay in the hospital. Many types of healthcare team members work together to help you rebuild your strength and independence. You are able to get support 24 hours a day.

Currently, there are two designated stroke rehabilitation centres in Waterloo Wellington where you may continue your recovery:

• WRHN @ Chicopee
• St. Joseph’s Health Centre Guelph

At WRHN @ Chicopee, the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit offers daily therapy and support. When you arrive, the team will meet with you to talk about your goals and create a plan for your care.

During the program, you will take part in regular rehabilitation therapy sessions. This may include exercise and activities to help with:

• mobility, balance, strength, and coordination
• speaking or swallowing
• reading or writing
• thinking and memory

using adaptive equipment like a walker or a shower bench

Therapy also includes the exercises and activities you do on your own between sessions, such as:

• personal hygiene and grooming
• getting dressed
• eating
• practicing exercise from therapy
• other self-care activities

It is important to practice these skills and activities. They will help you get ready to go home and return to the community.

Stroke outpatient clinics support patients after they leave the hospital. We work with you to reach your recovery goals, help you stay healthy, and lower your risk of another stroke.

Rehabilitation does not always mean staying in the hospital. The Neuro Rehabilitation Clinic cares for people who have had a recent stroke or other health problems that affect the brain, spinal cord, or nerves.

The Secondary Stroke Prevention Clinic helps people who have had a stroke or are at a high risk of having one. It connects them with tests and services. The goal is to help lower your chance of having a stroke in the future.

The clinic offers:

• quick access to tests and stroke doctors
• screening for health problems or habits that could cause a stroke in the future
• support to help lower your risks of having a stroke
• referrals to other services

At the clinic, you will meet with a doctor and a registered nurse with special stroke training. They will talk with you about your medical history and lifestyle. This helps them find out what might raise your risk of stroke. They may also give you advice on how to lower your risk, suggest more tests, or prescribe medicine.