Sunnybrook experts create new educational resource to enhance stroke care
Stroke experts at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre continue to lead the way with the publication of a new educational resource called “The Code Stroke Handbook”.
“This textbook is designed to assist frontline clinicians in the assessment and treatment of patients with stroke in the emergency department, and we hope it will help the delivery of best practice stroke patient care at hospitals far and wide,” says Dr. David Gladstone, senior author.
Sunnybrook is the provincial Regional Stroke Centre for the North and East Greater Toronto Area Stroke Network, and an international leader in stroke care, teaching, and research.
In Canada, a stroke occurs every nine minutes and ranks as the third leading cause of death. Stroke is also a major cause of long-term disability. Recent advances in emergency stroke treatments and new protocols are making it possible to improve the prognosis for more patients with stroke than ever before.
“This book goes beyond most standard medical textbooks,” explains Dr. Andrew Micieli, lead author and fifth-year neurology resident at the University of Toronto. “It is a practical teaching tool that can help physicians, nurses, paramedics, medical students, and residents at all levels to gain the latest knowledge about stroke and how to act quickly and effectively in responding to a Code Stroke situation.”
Co-authors include Drs. Raed Joundi, Houman Khosravani, and Julia Hopyan.
“Acute stroke is a medical emergency and the aim is to achieve rapid and accurate diagnosis and treatment,” adds Dr. Gladstone. “The goal is to save the brain and reduce stroke damage as quickly as possible, before it's too late.”
