Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations. Stroke Systems of Care, 7th Edition, 2026

Organized stroke systems of care have been proven to reduce rates of mortality and disability, reduce costs, and lead to increased availability of resources including stroke units, specialized healthcare professionals, stroke prevention clinics, and virtual stroke care.The 7 th edition of the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations (CSBPR) Stroke Systems of Care module synthesizes the current evidence for the development and implementation of integrated and innovative stroke systems of care.It includes the core elements of a stroke system, general principles for integrated care, transitions of care, virtual stroke care, education and support for the individual experiencing a stroke, their family and caregivers, stroke care in long-term care, advance care planning, and palliative and end-of-life care.It serves as the foundation for other CSBPR modules by focusing on common, cross functional and higherlevel principles and processes of stroke care planning and delivery across the continuum of care.Other modules apply these elements and further refine and adapt them within the context of specific topics such as acute care, rehabilitation and recovery.It is critical that stroke systems are established locally, regionally and provincially/territorially through collaboration with all partners involved in stroke care planning and delivery to ensure timely access to care, optimize outcomes and meet the needs of individuals with stroke, families and caregivers.Healthcare providers and system leaders must demonstrate exemplary collaboration with ongoing effective communication to ensure these integrated systems are functioning at their highest level, with appropriate funding and a purposeful data collection and performance measurement strategy.