Peterborough, ON – Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is pleased to announce that the hospital’s Stroke Program has been awarded with Stroke Distinction by Accreditation Canada – a formal recognition that PRHC has demonstrated national leadership in the provision of high-quality stroke care.
Stroke Distinction is a rigorous and highly-specialized program developed in partnership with Heart and Stroke Canada, and follows standards based on Canadian Stroke Best Practices and in-depth, stroke specific performance indicators and protocols. This is the third consecutive time that PRHC has received this distinction.
As part of the Central East Stroke Network, PRHC is the designated District Stroke Centre for the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (HKPR) region, and is committed to:
- Providing organized and coordinated stroke care to patients based on best practices and evidence
- Working with our community partners to provide leadership in stroke care
- Ongoing education and training
- Continuous monitoring, evaluation and improvement of services in the HKPR district
“Our Stroke Program at PRHC does an incredible job of caring for patients,” says Noel Bennett, Executive Vice President, Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive at PRHC. “Our teams in the Emergency Department, Diagnostic Imaging, ICU, Integrated Stroke Unit and Outpatient Stroke Program, as well as our Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Communications Disorders Assistants, Social Workers, Speech & Language Pathologists, Recreational Therapists, Dietitians, patient experience partners and volunteers – all work closely together to provide the specialized stroke knowledge and high-quality care our patients need, closer to home. I’m so proud to see them recognized for the amazing work they do.”
Following a site visit to PRHC in May, Accreditation Canada surveyors specifically commended the program for being an early adopter of the transition from Alteplase to Tenecteplase clot-busting medication for acute stroke. The team was also recognized for its innovative and collaborative work to enhance stroke care in long-term care (LTC) settings. Implemented in 2025/26, this project was designed in partnership with a team of second-year Trent University nursing students, and now delivers targeted stroke education in LTC settings across the region.
“Stroke Distinction is an outstanding achievement, and yet another example of how the PRHC team is here for patients and families when they need us most,” said Dr. Lynn Mikula, President & CEO. “Congratulations to everyone who is involved in providing the highest possible quality of stroke care here at PRHC, every day. I am incredibly proud of the many ways our team has set PRHC apart a leader in transformation, adaptation and innovation among our hospital peers.”
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- With 500 inpatient beds, PRHC is a regional acute care referral centre serving one of the fastestgrowing and aging populations in Canada across a broad urban and rural geography extending north to Haliburton, south to Northumberland, east to Quinte, and west to Durham.
- Our 2024-2029 Strategic Plan highlights our commitment to provide timely and excellent care. Learn more about PRHC’s strategic plan here.
- PRHC is working to meet the growing demand for care in our community and region. With the support of generous donors through the PRHC Foundation, we aim to empower world-class care, closer to home; fuel innovation and bring new, life-saving services to our region; attract the best and brightest healthcare professionals; and find solutions to critical hospital challenges. Find out more about the Campaign for PRHC here: prhcfoundation.ca/an-update-on-the-progress-of-the-70-million-campaignfor-prhc/
For more information: Michelene Ough | Director, Communications | mough@prhc.on.ca
