The previous posting spoke to the impact of strokes in
Canada when counting numbers. Two recent
events have brought brain health back into the public eye.
Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer suffered a stroke just
over a year ago. Recently he spoke to
the Globe and Mail about his experience and current rehabilitation Globe
and Mail January 17, 2013. His risk
factors combined with lifestyle were contributors to his event, and his
recovery remains at less than 100%. One
can hope the machinations of the PHAC entity continue to grind, but since they
appeared to be near a standstill, it is hard to notice a difference.
South of the border, Hiliary Rodham Clinton’s “concussions”
(but sounds a lot like a subdural hematoma) and noticeable neurological
deficit have the media attention.
In one case the individual remains in his job, in the other,
a replacement is pending.
Both however speak to the personal impacts of brain damage,
something that some 1% of the population carry with them daily.
Rehabilitation services are often scanty and difficult to
access. It is the other end of the
health spectrum, truly contributing to functional recovery and adaptation, but
generally tolerated only in so much as it is a convenient service to channel
stroke or hip fracture patients who are blocking badly needed acute care beds.
When will we learn balance in health care requires
consideration of all aspects of continuum of health services?
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