Acute Stroke Care refers to the key interventions involved in the assessment, treatment or management, and early recovery in the first days after stroke onset.

The primary aims of the acute phase of care are to identify the nature and mechanism of stroke, prevent further complications, promote early recovery and in the case of the severest strokes provide end-of-life care. Secondary prevention plans and engagement with patients and family to transition to the next level of care is undertaken.

Working Together with Stroke Survivors and their Caregivers to Achieve Optimal Outcomes is imperative across stroke systems of care, with the participation of individuals with stroke, their families and caregivers, healthcare providers, and the broader community. The primary underpinnings of ‘acute inpatient stroke care’ are to optimize recovery and patient outcomes (Canadian Best Practice Recommendations, October 2015)

Acute Inpatient Stroke Care

Achieving optimal outcomes for stroke survivors requires patients to be cared for on dedicated inpatient stroke units by healthcare team members with specialized stroke training, and establishment of evidence-based stroke protocols for all aspects of stroke care, including team meetings with case reviews, and early access to rehabilitation assessments and therapies. Hospitals that manage stroke patients and currently do not have dedicated stroke units should strive to implement all the core elements of stroke unit care, regardless of whether there is a designated stroke unit, and at least cluster stroke patients within a consistent area of a hospital ward and provide staff with education and skills training specific to stroke care. In hospitals where this goal is not possible within, acute stroke patients should be transferred to the nearest hospital that does provide acute stroke unit care. (Canadian Best Practice Recommendations, October 2015)