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Semin Neurol
DOI: 10.1055/a-2619-2397
Review Article

Neurological Practice in Canada

Nathalie Jette
1   Department of Clinical Neurosciences & Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
,
Amy Y.X. Yu
2   Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
,
Celine Odier
3   Neurovascular Health Program, Neurology, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, and Neuroscience Axis, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
,
Julian Alejandro Rivillas
4   Department of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
5   Departamento de Salud Pública y Medicina Comunitaria. Universidad Icesi and Departamento de neurología. Fundación Valle del Lili Hospital Universitario, Cali, Colombia
,
Alice Schabas
6   Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia and Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
,
Michael D. Hill
7   Department of Clinical Neurosciences & Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, AB, Canada
› Author Affiliations
Funding A.S. has received honoraria from Biogen, Roche, Novartis, Amgen, Teva, and EMD Serono. A.Y. holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in data-driven design of stroke systems. N.J. receives grant funding unrelated to this work from the NINDS (R01NS130119; 4R00HD106060–03) and an honorarium for her role as an Associate Editor of Epilepsia.
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Abstract

This article explores Canada's healthcare system, focusing on neurological care delivery and available national population-based data for research. Canada's publicly funded, provincially administered healthcare ensures universal access to medically necessary services, with provincial variations in coverage. Neurological care is predominantly hospital-centered, with support from advocacy groups promoting equity and research. In Quebec, stroke care is structured through regional service corridors, integrating telemedicine and geolocation-based transfer models to mitigate urban–rural disparities. British Columbia confronts challenges in providing neurological care to rural populations, utilizing outreach clinics, tele-neurology, and subsidized transportation. The First Nations Health Authority addresses unique healthcare access and governance needs for Indigenous populations. Canada's healthcare infrastructure supports population-level research via linked administrative and electronic health records, enabling comprehensive evaluations of healthcare utilization, outcomes, and quality metrics. Despite interprovincial differences and coverage limitations, advancements in data interoperability and standardization have propelled neurologic health services research.

Keywords

neurological care - Canada - ischemic stroke - administrative data - health services research

Authors' Contributions

The primary paper was written in sections by all. All the authors contributed to data collection and provided critical review and revision of the manuscript.




Publication History

Accepted Manuscript online:
26 May 2025

Article published online:
20 June 2025

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