The date is set! On April 8, 2020, Scarborough Health Network (SHN) will be launching our new Stroke Centre of Excellence at our Birchmount hospital.

The Stroke Centre will on the 4B unit at Birchmount, and will be built around Scarborough’s first-ever Integrated Stroke Unit (ISU). This 22-bed unit is best practice for treating stroke patients who have been hospitalized ” providing specialized medical care and rehabilitation services all within the same space. The Centre will also include an outpatient Stroke Prevention Clinic to support patients in managing their risk factors for stroke.

Learn more about our new Stroke Centre of Excellence.

  • Effective April 8, acute stroke patients will be taken to the Stroke Centre at Birchmount hospital (until then, patients are taken to the closest emergency department)

  • Hyperacute stroke patients will be taken to a regional stroke centre at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre or Unity Health – St. Michael’s Hospital

Stroke patients in the Emergency Departments at SHN’s Centenary and General hospitals will get rapid treatment and assessment.

  • Acute stroke patients who are a fit for the Integrated Stroke Unit, will be transferred and admitted to the Stroke Centre at Birchmount (effective April 8)

  • Minor stroke patients (who have experienced a transient ischemic attack or TIA) will be scheduled for a follow-up appointment with the Stroke Prevention Clinic

This is an exciting time for health care in Scarborough and at SHN. Our new Stroke Centre of Excellence reflects how planning clinical services can make a positive difference for our community. We are transforming the health experience for patients and families across our connected health network.