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By Jett Schwaier
virtual health care

Rural Albertans to receive greater access to specialized stroke rehabilitation

Sep 22, 2026 | 2:31 PM

Stroke survivors in rural Alberta will have greater access to specialized rehabilitation care without having to travel long distances under a new province-wide initiative.

The Post-Stroke Spasticity Care for Rural Albertans program will connect patients in rural and remote communities with rehabilitation specialists in major urban centres through virtual assessments.

Spasticity, which can cause muscles to become stiff, tight or difficult to control, is a common complication following a stroke, affecting movement and limb function, contributing to chronic pain and making everyday activities more difficult.

The initiative aims to help patients receive earlier assessments and faster access to appropriate rehabilitation treatment closer to home.

“For stroke survivors living in rural Alberta, accessing specialized post-stroke care can mean hours of travel,” said Mark Korthuis, president and CEO of the Glenrose Hospital Foundation.

“This initiative changes that, and demonstrates what’s possible when government, healthcare, research, industry, and philanthropy come together with a shared commitment to improve access to specialized care and ensure rural Albertans can receive the care they need, when they need it.”

The program brings together the Government of Alberta, Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, Glenrose Hospital Foundation, University of Alberta Rehabilitation Robotics Lab and AbbVie.

Funding is being provided by the Glenrose Hospital Foundation, Alberta Innovates, the provincial government and AbbVie.

The initiative uses technology developed at the University of Alberta and refined through a clinical partnership with Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital to allow specialists to remotely assess upper-extremity spasticity in stroke survivors living in rural communities.

Martin Ferguson-Pell, director of the University of Alberta Rehabilitation Robotics Laboratory, said the technology can help address barriers faced by patients who have difficulty accessing specialized care.

“Many stroke survivors experience increasing muscle stiffness in an arm or hand, and determining the right treatment requires expert clinical assessment,” Ferguson-Pell said.

“With this funding, we will deploy virtual care kits in rural communities across Alberta and evaluate how this approach improves access to specialized care.”

Primary Care Alberta (PCA) CEO Kimberley Simmonds said connecting specialists with local health-care providers could also improve coordination throughout the rehabilitation process.

“By connecting rehabilitation specialists with primary care and community providers, we can strengthen coordination from assessment through treatment, helping them access the care they need sooner and closer to home,” Simmonds said.

The initiative is expected to improve access to post-stroke spasticity care in rural communities, support earlier and more coordinated care for stroke survivors and strengthen collaboration between health-care, research, industry and community partners.

Justin Wright, minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, said the program is intended to reduce the need for rural patients to travel for specialized rehabilitation.

“Albertans recovering from a stroke should be able to access specialized rehabilitation care, no matter where they live,” Wright said.

“By connecting patients in rural and remote communities with specialists through innovative technology, this initiative will support earlier assessment and treatment while reducing the need for long-distance travel.”

by Jett Schwaier