A DECADE IN THE MAKING: THE HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA'S FIRST PAEDIATRIC STROKE PROGRAM

Objectives: To discuss the evolution of the Paediatric Stroke Program at the Hospital for Sick Children including the successes challenges, barriers, and strategies experienced in the developmental process. The presentation will also examine future directions of the program. Methods: A ten year retrospective review of the development of the Stroke Program will illustrate how the Stroke Program evolved from a monthly clinic into a weekly clinic, expanded its complement of health care professionals, broadened its breadth of expert consultants, established a world class outcomes research program and created cutting edge hyperacute and acute stroke paediatric treatment guidelines. The presentation will also examine the exciting future initiatives such as the introduction of institutional TPA guidelines, and the work to establish a provincial paediatric stroke network.

Results: The Hospital for Sick Children Paediatric Stroke Program is the first program in North America. It has led the way for research in paediatric stroke and gained world recognition as a centre of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive paediatric stroke care.

Conclusion: As other major paediatric centres around the world look to develop stroke programs, they can look to the Hospital for Sick Children for its pioneering work in paediatric stroke as a model program that is worthy of duplication.