Emergency
Grand River Hospital is a partner in the Waterloo Wellington Integrated Stroke Program, which includes a number of health providers. We want to see fewer strokes, and better outcomes for stroke patients and their families.
Grand River Hospital provides emergency care, acute care after a stroke, and rehabilitation to restore function and quality of life.
Please note that our emergency and acute stroke services are provided at GRH’s KW Campus at 835 King Street West. Rehabilitation for stroke patients takes place at our Freeport Campus at 3570 King Street East.
A stroke happens in your brain. When you or a family member has symptoms, you need to dial 9-1-1 right away for the fastest care.
Please remember the FAST approach and call 9-1-1 if you have any of these symptoms, all of which appear suddenly:
• FACE: is it drooping?;
• ARMS: can you raise them both over your head?;
• SPEECH: is it slurred?;
• TIME to call 9-1-1 right away.
Looking to refer a patient?
If you're a physician and would like to refer a patient to GRH, visit our referral page for referral forms and more information.
Refer a patientStories from GRH's stroke program
Jennifer Sutherland: recovering from a stroke during pregnancy
October 25, 2018Jennifer Sutherland used to think a stroke would happen to someone else. She learned otherwise while 29 weeks pregnant. She's doing fine now, while encouraging others to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke.
Living With Stroke sessions this fall to support survivors and family members
September 27, 2018Grand River Hospital is pleased to support this fall’s group learning sessions of Living With Stroke in Kitchener. The hospital is partnering with Heart and Stroke as well as the A.R. Kaufman Family YMCA to hold the sessions.
Roderick Tobin: patience and determination in stroke recovery
June 28, 2018Roderick Tobin of Waterloo knows his good fortune to have a second chance after a very serious stroke.
Sherry Rock: achieving a first in Canada designation to support rehabilitative care
June 25, 2018GRH occupational therapist Sherry Rock [OT Reg. (Ont.)] is the first occupational therapist in Canada to become an adult occupational therapy instructor in neuro-developmental treatment (NDT) as certified by the NDTA ™ Neuro-Developmental Treatment Association.
Bremely Berganza: help patients re-acquire speech and swallowing skills
May 24, 2018Bremely Berganza realizes the abilities to communicate and swallow are often taken for granted… meaning the loss of those functions can be devastating. So as a speech language pathologist, she’s determined to help patients recover those key skills.
Nancy Halstead and Emilie Gordon: nurses supporting patients with telemedicine technology
May 8, 2018GRH registered nurses Nancy Halstead and Emilie Gordon are using their skills to support technology that links Waterloo Region patients to specialists in other cities.
Marsha Krueger: restoring health through HELP
January 10, 2018Marsha Krueger is thrilled to play a role in making GRH's hospital elder life program (HELP) a reality. GRH has hosted HELP since 2012. The program pairs volunteers with older adults who are hospitalized, providing activities designed to reduce hospital-acquired delirium.
Heart & Stroke, Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services and GRH take FAST action to create more stroke survivors
October 26, 2017In support of World Stroke Day on October 29, 2017, Heart & Stroke, Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services, and Grand River Hospital are teaming up to ensure that more lives are saved from the effects of stroke.
Andrea Guth wins GRH award of excellence for outstanding care and leadership
July 19, 2017Andrea Guth has won Grand River Hospital's award of excellence for her work as a care provider and a leader in many portfolios.
Erika Barbosa: "I can't imagine doing anything else besides nursing"
June 21, 2017After being in health care for almost 18 years, Erika Barbosa knows how demanding nursing can be both physically and mentally. However, there’s also no other profession Erika can imagine herself doing.
Now she’s currently the resource nurse on GRH’s stroke unit and helps to make sure the patients are getting the care they need.
Sarah Renner: helping stroke patients regain their independence
June 16, 2017Sometimes, a stroke can be life changing. Some patients will have to relearn how to do simple, independent tasks, like getting dressed or brushing their teeth.
That’s where occupational therapists (OTs) like Sarah Renner come in. An OT is there to help a patient who has suffered a stroke learn to regain their independence by completing everyday tasks, and improve their quality of life in the long run.
Maureen Evans: supporting care and recovery through speech language pathology
June 13, 2017Maureen Evans has provided care to stroke and cancer patients at Grand River Hospital’s KW Campus for the past decade. She supports patients through a wide range of difficulties that can include swallowing and communications problems.
Judy Goetz: proud to be a part of the stroke and rehabilitation program
May 9, 2017Some people know from a very young age what they want to do when they get older. That was the case for Judy Goetz, who always knew she wanted to be a nurse, even as a child. She feels like she has the best job at GRH because she gets to come into work and work with an amazing group of individuals who make a difference in the lives of those they encounter.
GRH honours Ontario Seniors Achievement Award recipients
November 8, 2016Grand River Hospital is proud to honour Betty South and Robert Povey whose work with the hospital community has helped to improve the lives of others.
Jennifer Escobar: helping people get back their quality of life through occupational therapy
October 31, 2016Jennifer Escobar wants to help her clients get back the skills people normally take for granted. Jennifer is an occupational therapist at GRH’s Freeport Campus. She supports patients returning home after a hospital stay.
Waterloo-Wellington stroke care update open to the community on Tuesday October 25th
October 3, 2016The Waterloo Wellington Integrated Stroke Program (of which Grand River Hospital is a member) will provide an update for the community on World Stroke Day in late October.
Dr Brian Kelly: part of GRH’s stroke care team
July 7, 2016If you have a stroke in Waterloo Region and require hospital care, your first stop will be Grand River Hospital. After you’ve had care in the emergency department, you’ll likely meet Dr. Brian Kelly and his many colleagues in GRH’s inpatient stroke unit.
Donna Gill- caring for and encouraging patients in stroke recovery
June 29, 2016Donna Gill wants stroke patients to know that recovery is possible. As a nurse practitioner in the rehabilitation program at GRH’s Freeport Campus, she has a special feeling when that recovery starts happening.
Dr. Abdel Kaleel: advancing exceptional stroke care
June 27, 2016Dr. Abdel Kaleel is part of GRH’s secondary stroke prevention clinic. He also provides his expertise as a stroke neurologist to hospitals and health providers across Waterloo and Wellington.
Lorne and Karen Bakanec: the long road back from a stroke
June 14, 2016Lorne Bakanec never knew his journey home from Simcoe for a potential car purchase one December morning would be so full of twists and turns.
Tammy Tebbutt: part of GRH’s stroke prevention team
June 9, 2016Tammy Tebbutt is part of the secondary stroke prevention clinic in GRH’s Kaufman building at the KW Campus. The clinic gives patients the knowledge and tools to prevent another transient ischemic attack (TIA) or even a much more serious stroke from happening.
Julie Weir: helping patients navigate the stroke recovery journey
June 3, 2016When a patient has a serious illness like a stroke, navigating the road back to health can involve a lot of different stops along the way. That’s when Julie Weir comes in.