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 patient/SCOPEFor pregnant patients without a family physician in the KW area and who require an obstetric provider for pregnancy care. Patients must have referral form submitted from KW area walk-in clinic or out of region obstetric provider.Stories from GRH's stroke program
29-year old stroke survivor, Abdullahi, says: know the signs and symptoms, call 9-1-1 right away
June 23, 2021It was the middle of the night in February 2021 when 29 year-old Abdullahi knew something was very wrong. Sick with a cough, headache and fever from previously diagnosed COVID, he began experiencing numbness in his left hand and arm. By the time he woke the next morning, the numbness had spread to the left side of his body. Read Abdullahi's story here.
Jack Peterson: life and hope at GRH’s Freeport Campus
March 26, 2019As a long-time Waterloo Region resident, Jack Peterson used to think of Grand River Hospital's Freeport Campus as a last stop for many. After benefiting from care at Freeport, he now sees it as a place of life and hope. And he wants others to know that too.
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.