Ontario

The level of care provided to stroke patients in Ontario has increased significantly according to a study conducted in 2008 and 2009.

The government funded study, conducted by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, looked at four-thousand stroke patients between 2008 and 2009.

It found improvements in several aspects of care, such as a procedure to break down blood clots.

The procedure was given to 27 percent of patients within two-and-a-half hours — compared to only nine-and-a-half percent six years earlier.

And 93 per cent of patients received neuroimaging in hospitals during the period of the study, up from 77 per cent in 2002-2003.

The procedure is required to confirm diagnosis of a stroke.

Researchers say more work needs to be done to provide consistent care across the province.