THE TRIP TO EDMONTON

Ron was invited to be part of the QulCR (Quality Improvement and Clinical Research) DTN (Door to Needle) Collaborative Closing Celebration held in Edmonton on September 23. Indeed, as Ron and I learned during the day long session, the Alberta Stroke Program is right to celebrate. They are now world leaders in stroke treatment and care. All Albertans can expect to receive treatment for an ischemic stroke (a stroke caused by a blot clot in the brain and which comprises 87% of all strokes) within sixty minutes if they live in a rural part of the province and within thirty minutes (give or take a few) if they live in a larger centre.

“Door” refers to the door of the hospital and “Needle” refers to the needle which administers tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) commonly called “the clot-busting drug”.

These phenomenal times have been achieved by re-engineering the delivery of stroke care. Since “Time is Brain” the “quicker” a stroke victim can receive treatment, the more likely they are to suffer minor brain damage. The resultant savings to Health Care Systems are HUGE.

Instead of using a linear model for the delivery of care, where step A follows B follows C etc. the stroke teams in Alberta now “swarm” the newly arrived stroke patient, with neurologist, emergency room doctor, CT technicians, etc. all on hand to collaborate, saving precious time. Further brain damage is prevented (and often reversed) thereby dramatically reducing hospital and rehab times. And should a CT scan reveal that a stroke patient needs further intervention, an Albertan can expect to receive the latest revolution in stroke care, endovascular treatment, whereby a stent is sent through the groin, into an artery, up into the brain, to attach to the clot and pull it back out.

People can return home, supported by home care teams, to their families, their familiar surroundings and their jobs. There are huge savings for the Canadian economy here as well.

Aside from seriously thinking about moving to Alberta, Ron and I were left to marvel at the advancements in stroke treatment being made in the province by legions of inspired health care professionals. And we could only wonder “what if this kind of care had been available for Ron?”