St. Michael’s Hospital and Providence Healthcare have received Stroke Distinction from Accreditation Canada, recognizing excellence and leadership in the provision of acute stroke services and inpatient rehabilitation services.

Stroke Distinction is a specialty Accreditation program for health organizations that demonstrate clinical excellence and an outstanding commitment to leadership in stroke care. The program was developed in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation and closely aligns with the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations.

The program follows a defined cycle, including an on-site survey every four years conducted by expert surveyors who have extensive practical experience in the field of stroke care.

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“We’re proud to share that St. Michael’s Hospital and Providence Healthcare have achieved outstanding results in our first-ever multi-site Stroke Distinction survey by Accreditation Canada. This remarkable accomplishment highlights the strength of our fully integrated stroke program, spanning acute, rehabilitation, and ambulatory care. This recognition is a powerful testament to the dedication, expertise, and collaboration of our exceptional stroke teams, including stroke neurologists, nurse practitioners, nursing and health discipline staff, educators, operational leaders, and the many departments supporting patients throughout their recovery journey. It also underscores the strength of our partnerships with the Toronto Stroke Network, regional collaborators, and system partners who work alongside us to elevate stroke care across Ontario,” said Senior Clinical Program Director Medicine Program Norman Dewhurst and Senior Clinical Program Director Lindsay Martinek.

“Our teams continue to push boundaries to advance care, piloting innovative initiatives such as an in-home stroke care program and providing robust ambulatory support after discharge. These efforts demonstrate a shared commitment to evolving care models and maximizing each patient’s functional recovery. Their unwavering dedication is not only inspiring, it is also a source of immense pride for Unity Health Toronto. This achievement goes beyond meeting national standards. It represents our commitment to setting new ones and leading the way in stroke care excellence.” 

Members of the Providence Healthcare stroke team are pictured.
Members of the Providence Healthcare stroke team are pictured.
Members of the St. Michael’s Hospital Stroke Team are pictured.
Members of the St. Michael’s Hospital Stroke Team are pictured.

Accreditation Canada conducted a three-day onsite survey at St. Michael’s and Providence in May. The survey results were based on information provided by Unity Health Toronto, as well as interviews with clients, families, caregivers, service providers and community partners.

The survey noted several areas of success for St. Michael’s and Providence, including:

  • Strong teams, relationships and culture: There is a strong collaborative effort across multiple departments and organizations. Team members speak highly of others and support each other to achieve significant improvements in quality of care.
  • Key quality indicators: All the key quality indicators for acute and inpatient rehabilitation were met, with extremely positive results. This is evidence of UHT’s commitment to achieving excellence in care.
  • Quality improvement and research: There’s a strong culture of continuous quality improvement that drives all teams to do better every day. A notable example is Providence Healthcare’s recent pilot of the In-Home High Intensity Rehabilitation Program. St. Michael’s Hospital has a strong presence in stroke research and innovation.  
  • Investment in resources: Strong investment in the stroke program, particularly when it comes to equipment and professional development opportunities.

St. Michael’s Hospital is a regional stroke centre providing hyperacute stroke care, inpatient acute stroke care, and post-acute stroke follow up care. In 2023/2024, St. Michael’s saw a total of 901 stroke visits to the ED, and 2,700 visits to the stroke prevention clinic.

Providence Healthcare is a 256-bed rehabilitation facility, with stroke rehab provided in 18 high-intensity rehab beds across two inpatient rehab units. Providence Healthcare also provides outpatient stroke program services. In 2023/2024, Providence Healthcare had more than 200 stroke visits and more than 9,000 outpatient clinic visits.

By: Marlene Leung

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