To more effectively treat cases of stroke, the CHUM has developed a pilot project in Montérégie. This initiative, called teletriage, relies on technology as simple as a video call with the Microsoft Teams application. Launched in 2023, the project aims to accelerate the triage of patients and direct them more quickly to the right hospital.
In Montreal, paramedics directly redirect people suffering from an acute stroke to university hospital centers (CHU), such as the CHUM. In the region, a person who shows signs of a stroke is transported by default to the hospital closest to their home. The on-site medical team then assesses the seriousness of their condition and determines whether the person requires specialized intervention. If this is the case, she is transported again by ambulance to a hospital.
This pilot project is an initiative of the CHUM neurovascular health program. It is currently being carried out in Montérégie only. It aims to reduce the time between stroke and intervention.
Teletriage allows ambulance personnel to communicate directly with a doctor who will be able to assess the severity of the accident. The average call lasts only five minutes. Thanks to telehealth, the hospitalized person can therefore be redirected as quickly as possible to the right hospital.
Every minute counts during a stroke and reduce the risk of complications and after-effects.
- in parle
Discover the testimonies of Dr. Christian Stapf, vascular neurologist and head of the pilot project at the CHUM, and Ms. Lucy Michaud, stroke victim.
-Teams calls to better treat strokes
- – January 5, 2025
We would like to thank all the stakeholders without whom this pilot project would not have been possible: the CHUM neurovascular health program (CHUM neurology department), the DCAF (with the Flux Réseau Coordination Center (COFR) and the Telehealth Coordination Center (CCT)), the Montérégie pre-hospital emergency service and the Montérégie ambulance technicians cooperative (CETAM).
To learn more about stroke and its treatments
There are two types of stroke: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke. Ischemic stroke is the most common. It is caused by a clot that blocks the flow of blood to part of the brain. A hemorrhagic stroke, on the other hand, is caused by a blood vessel that has burst in the brain and causes bleeding. In the affected area of the brain, cells die one by one from lack of oxygen. This is why it is vital to act quickly.
Two treatments are possible to treat an ischemic stroke: thrombolysis and thrombectomy. Thrombolysis is a medication that is injected into the patient to dissolve the clot within four hours of the stroke. Thrombectomy is a surgical procedure that aims to remove the clot as quickly as possible after the stroke. In cases of more serious ischemic stroke (acute and severe), thrombectomy is recommended.
Take a look at the page Locomotive route for more details on stroke and stroke rehabilitation.
