Exchanging Knowledge through Collaboration to Improve the Experience for Persons with Stroke and Aphasia

During August 2014, members from the Stroke Assessment and Treatment Team at North York General Hospital participated in a TICC Stroke Care Observership that was hosted by staff and volunteers at the Aphasia Institute in Toronto

In the months of August and September 2014, the Aphasia Institute and North York General Hospital (NYGH) participated in the Toronto Stroke Networks’ Transition Improvement for Continuity of Care (TICC) Stroke Care Observership initiative.

This involved the Aphasia Institute hosting two visits for North York General Hospital’s Stroke Assessment and Treatment Team to exchange knowledge on best practices in communication screening, assessments and strategies for persons with aphasia.  This also provided NYGH staff the opportunity to learn more about resources and services offered at the Aphasia Institute, as well opportunity to interact with stroke clients and their families to gain an in-depth and personal understanding of persons living with aphasia.  Additionally, NYGH Stroke Assessment and Treatment Team hosted two visits for Aphasia Institute staff to observe persons with stroke in the acute care setting and participate in patient rounds.  All in all, these stroke care observerships provided opportunities for knowledge exchange, enriched learning of each other’s practice environments, and enhanced collaboration between sites.

Through these collaborative experiences, both sites hope this will be one of many future opportunities to offer meaningful education for their staff and to see the possibilities beyond their care environment.

For more information on this initiative, please contact the Toronto Stroke Networks at moc.ekortsotnull@ofni.