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Sudbury hospital's MOTIVE stroke program cuts treatment delays
HNS's MOTIVE Project improves stroke care by bringing early assessments to patients and cutting delays. "Every second matters," says Dr. Ravinder Jeet Singh.
Health Sciences North is revolutionizing stroke care through its Mobile TIA and Stroke with Adaptive Workflow or project MOTIVE, which brings specialized treatment directly to patients – reducing delays and improving recovery outcomes.
Christine Perras
Stroke survivor Christine Perras celebrates a sucessful recovery, which she attributes to Health Sciences North's MOTIVE program. (Madison Marier/CTV News Norhtern Ontario)
For stroke survivor Christine Perras, the impact was immediate. 'Yay! I got up and walked! Yes! Everything was okay!' she said, highlighting the success of the program's rapid intervention model.
Unlike the traditional approach, where patients were transferred to a designated stroke unit after initial treatment, MOTIVE deploys a specialized team to assess and treat patients wherever they are in the hospital. 'Every second matters to the brain because every minute, millions of neurons are dying,' said Dr. Ravinder Jeet Singh, a stroke neurologist at the hospital. 'That's why patients need to be treated and assessed quickly.'
Dr. Ravinder Jeet Singh
Dr. Ravinder Jeet Singh, a stroke neurologist at Health Sciences North, talks with CTV News about the hospital's MOTIVE program. July 18, 2025 (Madison Marier/CTV News Norhtern Ontario)
Closing gaps in stroke care
The MOTIVE team ensures no patient falls through the cracks by coordinating treatment plans and streamlining access to rehabilitation. Lisa Zeman, manager of the hospital's stroke prevention clinic, noted that under the old system, some patients were discharged before specialists could intervene.
'We don't always know about patients in ICU. Sometimes they're discharged before we're aware, and then we're backtracking to find them – whether they're still in the hospital or already sent home,' Zeman said. 'I don't want that to happen to anybody.'
Dr. Singh emphasized that recovery is often better at home for many patients, particularly older adults. 'There are a lot of patients who are older, and they feel more comfortable and relaxed and at peace at home than being in a hospital bed.'
Zeman clarified that Health Sciences North is not reducing patient intake but rather making recovery more efficient and comfortable. The MOTIVE team assesses each case individually, as not all strokes or transient ischemic attacks require prolonged hospitalization.
HSN
The exterior of Health Sciences North on July 18, 2025. (Madison Marier/CTV News Norhtern Ontario)
Raising awareness: Know the signs of stroke
Stroke remains a critical health threat in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, 878,500 Canadian adults aged 20 and older experienced a stroke in 2017-2018, with adults 55+ at higher risk. The Heart and Stroke Foundation is urging Canadians to recognize stroke symptoms using the FAST acronym:
F ace ( Is it drooping? )
ace ( ) A rms ( Can you raise both? )
rms ( ) S peech ( Is it slurred or jumbled? )
peech ( ) Time (Call 911 immediately.)
'FAST is a mnemonic to help people recognize the most common signs of stroke,' said Rebecca Lund, Manager of Stroke at the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. 'Time is critical – delays can mean irreversible damage.'
Lund also stressed the importance of understanding personal risk factors, including diet, exercise, and blood pressure. 'One of the best ways to do that is to talk to your health care team,' she said.
With stroke being the fourth leading cause of death in Canadians, Lund encouraged the public to visit the Heart and Stroke Foundation's website to learn more about symptoms and prevention.
A pilot program with long-term goals
Currently funded as a two-year pilot by the Ministry of Health, the hospital hopes to secure ongoing support for MOTIVE beyond 2026. The goal is simple: get patients treated faster, home sooner, and on the path to a smoother recovery.
For now, the program stands as a promising step forward in stroke care – one that prioritizes speed, efficiency, and patient well-being.
