Latest news with #HealthSciencesNorth
CTV News
3 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
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.
CTV News
04-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Golf tourney to aid mental health, addiction services
A golf fundraiser on July 31 will be hosted at the Idylwylde Golf and Country Club in support of Health Sciences North's mental health and addiction programs. Alana Everson has more.
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
COVID-19 outbreak at Sudbury hospital cardiac unit
A new variant of COVID known as 'razor blade throat' leads MedicalWatch for June 18, 2025. It's been more than two years since the COVID-19 pandemic ended, but the infectious disease continues to circulate, and an outbreak has been declared at the Sudbury hospital cardiac unit. Health Sciences North declared the COVID-19 outbreak in 8 North on Monday. 'We are asking all visitors and designated care partners to follow the steps below to prevent the spread of infection at HSN,' the hospital said Tuesday afternoon in a social media post. 'Clean your hands frequently when visiting HSN using hand sanitizer, wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (gown, gloves and mask) when visiting patients who are on isolation and if you are sick, refrain from visiting friends and family members.' Masking at the hospital is optional, except on units experiencing an outbreak. 'Visitors are required to self-screen for symptoms by reading signage as they enter the hospital,' HSN said. 'Please do not visit patients at HSN if you are not feeling well, have had COVID-19 in the last 10 days or come into close contact with someone who has had COVID-19 in the last 10 days.' The number and severity of cases is not known. Public Health Sudbury & Districts continues to monitor respiratory illnesses in the community and posts details on the number of cases, hospital admissions and outbreaks for COVID-19, influenza and RSV. The respiratory illness surveillance dashboard numbers are updated each Wednesday by 4 p.m.
CTV News
19-06-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Sudbury hospital annual meeting highlights success, challenges
Northern Ontario Watch Some of the highlights from the Health Sciences North annual hospital meeting are the hiring of 900 new staff and 32 physicians.
CTV News
09-06-2025
- CTV News
Three injured in side-by-side crash on Manitoulin Island
A crash involving a side-by-side on Manitoulin Island on Sunday morning sent three people to hospital. Emergency crews were called to the single-vehicle collision on Murray Hill Road in Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory around 8:30 a.m., Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service said on social media. 'Two of the occupants have been transported to Health Sciences North and one occupant was transported to Little Current Hospital,' police said. 'The injuries sustained by some of the occupants are serious.' An investigation is underway with the help of the Ontario Provincial Police collision reconstruction team. 'If anyone has information with respect to this investigation, please contact the Wikwemikong Tribal Police Service.'
