Emergency Department
Tel: (441) 239-1359 Fax: (441) 232-0651 Ambulance: 911
Every second counts. If someone is experiencing stroke symptoms, visit the Emergency Department as quickly as possible. Call 911 for an ambulance.
The BHB Primary Stroke Centre aims to provide the highest quality care and services for treatment of and recovery from stroke.
Patients presenting with a new stroke are prioritised across all services, as every second counts in preserving brain function. Care and treatment are provided by multidisciplinary stroke teams, which include physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and diagnostic technicians. Intravenous thrombolytics (clot busting agents) are administered to appropriate candidates who present to the Emergency Department within 4.5 hours of the start of a stroke.
Once discharged from the hospital, patients are provided with service options to transition to community care for ongoing medical and rehabilitation services. Direct referral to the Rehabilitation Day Hospital, which provides physiatry and multidisciplinary rehabilitation therapy, is included as a service option.
As a stroke can occur anywhere, all BHB employees are required to complete training in stroke risk factors, signs and symptoms, and first response. In addition, all clinical staff complete training in stroke treatment and management, rehabilitation and post-stroke care.
The team also provides island-wide public education on the signs and symptoms of strokes, as well as stroke prevention strategies – BE FAST.
BHB’s Stroke Centre Working Group meets monthly to oversee the overall stroke programme and ensure the highest quality of stroke care is provided based on evidence-based practices. The group includes representatives from across the organisation: critical care and EMTs, inpatient care, diagnostic imaging, laboratory services, rehabilitation, education, communications, decision support and senior leadership.
Accreditation
In December 2018, BHB signed a clinical affiliation agreement with Johns Hopkins Medicine International to establish KEMH as a primary stroke centre. BHB’s current accreditation cycle with Accreditation Canada includes participation in the Stroke Distinction Program, developed in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. BHB achieved Distinction in Stroke Services in April 2022 for its acute stroke services and inpatient rehabilitation services.
- BHB Key Quality Indicators
- Stroke Distinction Letter from Accreditation Canada
- Stroke Distinction Report from Accreditation Canada
Factsheets: Stroke Prevention and Warning Signs
- BE FAST – Recognising and Preventing Strokes – Bermuda Hospitals Board
- Lets Talk About Stroke and TIA Warning Signs – American Stroke Association
- Lets Talk About Stroke Risk Factors – American Stroke Association
- Lets Talk About Preventing Stroke – American Stroke Association
- Stroke Warning Signs – American Heart Association
- Stroke Risk Scorecard – National Stroke Association