You have been taken to the hospital because you have had a stroke.
What will happen?
- You will be cared for by a ‘stroke team’. They will assess your medical needs and decide if you will be admitted to the hospital.
- You will be assessed for the type of stroke you had and if a clot-busting drug or medical procedure called endovascular treatment will help.
- You will learn about the type of stroke you had, why you had it and what will happen next.
What tests are involved?
These may include: Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Computed Tomography Angiogram (CTA), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA), Carotid Doppler, Cerebral Angiography, Echocardiogram (Echo), Electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter monitor, blood work, swallowing.
What to expect if you are admitted?
- 24 hour nursing care.
- You may have a restriction or change in foods or liquids you are allowed to have.
- You may get Intravenous (IV) therapy and/or a nasogastric (NG) tube.
- You may be started on new medications to reduce your risk of another stroke.
- You may expect to stay here about 5–7 days but your stay could be shorter or longer depending on your overall care needs.
Who will you work with?
- Nurses, doctors, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, registered dietitian, social worker, pharmacist, etc.