Prioritizing emergency and acute stroke care

To optimize the quality of emergency care, a coordinated and responsive system is required. This must provide stroke victims with timely access to medical facilities and diagnostic testing and the most effective available treatment on a province-wide basis. An overarching recommendation for a comprehensive stroke strategy is to establish stroke as a priority to be addressed by each health authority through performance agreements established by the Ministry of Health. This priority should be supported by funding to establish organized stroke care with the key components of:

1. Developing EMS protocols for detection, transport and triage of stroke patients.
2. Establishing organized stroke care in designated hospitals.
3. Improved access to timely CT scanning and expert interpretation (via telemedicine, if necessary).
4. Formalizing linkages with other hospitals and parts of the continuum of care.
5. Supporting the PHSA Emergency Department Protocol Working Group in their development of protocols for managing stroke and TIA in the Emergency Department.

The following prototype projects are planned or underway in B.C. as part of the BC Stroke Strategy:

• ACVS