The Quality of Stroke Care in Canada / 2011

by the Canadian Stroke Network

Stroke is a leading cause of death and adult disability. Of all chronic diseases in Canada, stroke is among the most impactful. Sixty per cent of people who have a stroke report that they need help afterwards and 80% have restrictions to their daily activities. In 2005, the Canadian Stroke Strategy set out to ensure every province in Canada was organized to deliver the best possible stroke care. Over six years, progress has been achieved nation-wide.

Despite the impact of stroke on Canadians and the progress to date, there has never been a comprehensive pan-Canadian report on the quality of stroke care. For this reason, the Canadian Stroke Network collected data representing 38,210 patients admitted with stroke from 295 hospitals across Canada over the period 2008-2009. This data, supplemented with data from national health databases, resulted in The Quality of Stroke Care in Canada. The purpose of this report is to describe the quality of stroke care being provided to Canadians and to make recommendations on how it may be improved. Key findings and recommendations from are described on the web: Quality of Stroke Care in Canada.