Every Second Counts: Team Delivers Stroke Medication in Record Time

What started as a routine weekend shift quickly turned into a high-stakes moment for Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) Aaliyah Weller and Kirsten Lumley on the Complex Continuing Care (CCC) Unit at Belleville General Hospital.

When one of their patients began showing signs of a stroke, Aaliyah and Kirsten didn’t hesitate. Despite being relatively new to their roles—and never having called a ‘Code Stroke’ before—they trusted their instincts and sprang into action. Within seconds, a Code Stroke was activated.

What followed was an incredible display of collaboration and clinical excellence. The CCC team, along with colleagues from the Sills 3 Stroke and Rehabilitation Unit, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the Emergency Department, and Diagnostic Imaging, worked in seamless coordination to deliver critical care.

In stroke cases, every minute counts. The faster a patient receives the clot-busting TNK medication, the greater the chance of minimizing long-term brain damage. Typically, it takes about 60 minutes to navigate the steps needed to administer TNK during an inpatient stroke emergency.

Thanks to swift teamwork and clear communication, this patient received the lifesaving medication in just 30 minutes! A hospital record!

“Congratulations to the teams involved for their excellent care and collaboration,” said Giffy Justine, Manager of the Complex Continuing Care and Transitional Care Units. “I’m proud of Aaliyah and Kirsten and the other CCC team members working that day. CCC doesn’t see Code Strokes often, but they recognized the signs and acted without hesitation. With support from many other teams, this patient got the right care—fast.”

#Connection

#StrongerTogether