The hospital in Melfort is now a primary stroke centre. (Cam Lee/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Major designation

Melfort Hospital designated primary stroke centre

Sep 3, 2024 | 3:15 PM

Northeast Saskatchewan is now home to a primary stroke centre, giving residents a chance at faster treatment.

Melfort Hospital was designated a primary stroke centre last month, joining nine other facilities across Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority said in a news release that the designation is given to computed tomography (CT)-enabled sites “that can assess, diagnose, and initiate treatment for patients experiencing an acute stroke caused by blood clots.”

Hospitals in Estevan, Lloydminster, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Swift Current, and Yorkton are also designated primary stroke centres, with Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon and Regina General Hospital designated tertiary stroke centres.

“When a stroke occurs, time to treatment is critical to saving brain function,” Melfort Hospital Manager of Clinical Services Nadine Mevel-Degerness said in the release. “The sooner patients can get to a primary stroke centre, the increased chances of preventing or limiting stroke-related deficits.”

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Prior to the designation, emergency medical services (EMS) in the region responding to a call about a patient with stroke symptoms would transfer the patient to a primary stroke centre in Prince Albert or Saskatoon for assessment and treatment. Now EMS can reduce potential delays by taking patients directly to Melfort Hospital.

Melfort’s CT scanner arrived three years ago, and the hospital had been working to achieve primary stroke centre designation since that time.

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cam.lee@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @northeastNOW_SK