Managing disability from stroke

Strokes are the single greatest neurological cause of disability, yet many stroke patients do not ever reach a specialized stroke rehabilitation unit. For those remaining in the hospital to which they were first admitted, active medical involvement may decline dramatically once the diagnosis has been made. However, the family physician can play an active role in managing post-stroke patients, enhancing their functional recovery and achieving successful discharge back into the community. This article describes post-diagnosis management of stroke, discharge planning, and post-discharge follow-up.