Abstract TP284: Implementation of an Organized Stroke Care Program Reduced Door-to-needle Time in a Hospital in Mexico City

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Calleja ◽  
Jesus Martinez ◽  
Isabel Gutierrez

Introduction: Reperfusion therapies are the optimal treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Their effectiveness is highly time-dependent. Worldwide, organized stroke care has shown to improve efficiency and quality of attention in stroke management. Neither reperfusion therapies or stroke center care have been widely implemented in Mexico. The objective of this study is to describe whether the implementation of a Stroke Care Program (ABC Stroke Center) improved time to treatment and adherence to Get With The Guidelines parameters on patients who underwent IV thrombolysis for AIS. Hypothesis: Implementation of an institutional Stroke Program lowers door-to-needle time (DNT) and improves adherence to stroke quality measures in patients treated with IV thrombolysis. Methods: The study included all patients with AIS diagnosis treated with IV thrombolysis between January 2010 and May 2016. We then compared patients admitted before and after June 2014 (start of the Stroke Program). Results: A total of 56 patients were included, 30 (53.6%) were admitted preintervention and 26 (46.4%) postintervention. All of them were treated with IV thrombolysis. All time parameters related to quality of attention were shorter in patients after the Stroke Program started. DNT was 21 minutes shorter in the Stroke Program group (mean 65 vs 86 min, p<0.03), and the number of patients within the DNT time goal of 60 minutes was larger postintervention (44.8 vs 29.6%, (95%CI 0.76 - 2.6, p=0.24)]. Adherence to stroke quality measures was more common in the Stroke Program group. Patients included after the start of the stroke program had a higher NIHSS score upon discharge. The probability of a good outcome (mRS<3) upon discharge was higher in the Stroke Program group (61.1% vs 31.4%) [RR = 1.9 (95%CI 1.17 - 3.38)]. Conclusions: Implementation of a Stroke Care program diminished DNT significantly and improved adherence to stroke quality measures. This may result on better outcomes for AIS patients.

Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nerses Sanossian ◽  
May A Kim-Tenser ◽  
David S Liebeskind ◽  
Justina Breen ◽  
Scott Hamilton ◽  
...  

Background: Primary Stroke Centers (PSC) provide better acute stroke care than non-PSC hospitals, including faster times to imaging and lytic treatment, and higher rates of lytic delivery. Nationwide less than 1 in 3 hospital has achieved this designation. We aimed to determine the extent to which the better performance at PSC is driven by improvements within hospitals after PSC designation versus better baseline hospital care among facilities seeking PSC certification. Methods: From 2005 to 2012, the NIH Field Administration of Stroke Therapy -Magnesium (FAST-MAG) Phase 3 clinical trial enrolled subjects with likely stroke within 2 hours of onset in a study of prehospital start of a neuroprotective agent. Subjects were routed to 59 community and academic centers in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Of the original 59 centers, 39 eventually achieved PSC status during the study period. Each subject was classified as enrolled at a PSC before certification (pre-PSC), at a PSC post certification (post-PSC), or at a hospital that never achieved PSC (non-PSC). Results: Of 1700 cases, 529 (31%) were enrolled at pre-PSC, 856 (50%) at post-PSC, and 315 (19%) at non-PSC hospitals. Mean time in minutes from ED arrival to first scan was 33 minutes at post-PSC, 47 minutes at pre-PSC and 49 at non-PSCs [p<0.001 by Mann-Whitney]. Among cases of cerebral ischemia (CI) [N=1223], rates of TPA utilization were 43% at post-PSC, 27% at pre-PSC and 28% at non-PSC hospitals [p<0.001 by X2]. Time in minutes from ED arrival to thrombolysis in treated cases was 71 at post-PSC, 98 at pre-PSC, and 95 at non-PSC hospitals [p<0.001 by Mann-Whitney]. Hospitals that achieved PSC showed improvements in pre-PSC and post-PSC performance on door to imaging time, from 47 to 33 minutes [p=0.014]; percent TPA use in CI, from 27% to 43% [p<0.001], and reduced door-to-needle times, from 98 to 71 minutes [p=0.003]. There was no difference in time to imaging [47 vs. 49 minutes], time to thrombolysis [98 vs. 95 minutes] and percent TPA use [27% vs. 28%] between pre-PSC hospitals and non-PSC hospitals. Conclusions: Better performance of Primary Stroke Centers on acute care quality metrics is primarily driven by a beneficial impact of the PSC-certification process, and not better performance prior to seeking PSC status.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Cesar Velasco ◽  
Brandon Wattai ◽  
Scott Buchle ◽  
Alicia Richardson ◽  
Varun Padmanaban ◽  
...  

Introduction. Many reports have described a decrease in the numbers of patients seeking medical attention for typical emergencies during the COVID-19 pandemic. These reports primarily relate to urban areas with widespread community transmission. The impact of COVID-19 on nonurban areas with minimal community transmission is less well understood. Methods. Using a prospectively maintained prehospital quality improvement database, we reviewed our hospital EMS transports with a diagnosis of stroke from January to April 2019 (baseline) and January to April 2020 (pandemic). We compared the volume of patients, transport/presentation times, severity of presenting symptoms, and final diagnosis. Results. In January, February, March, and April 2019, 10, 11, 17, and 19 patients, respectively, were transported in comparison to 19, 14, 10, and 8 during the same months in 2020. From January through April 2019, there was a 53% increase in transports, compared to a 42% decrease during the same months in 2020, constituting significantly different trend-line slopes (3.30; 95% CI 0.48–6.12 versus -3.70; 95% CI -5.76–-1.64, p = 0.001 ). Patient demographics, comorbidities, and symptom severity were mostly similar over the two time periods, and the number of patients with a final diagnosis of stroke was also similar. However, the median interval from EMS dispatch to ED arrival for patients with a final diagnosis of stroke was significantly longer in January to April 2020 ( 50 ± 11.7   min ) compared to the same time period in 2019 ( 42 ± 8.2   min , p = 0.01 ). Discussion/Conclusion. Our data indicate a decrease in patient transport volumes and longer intervals to EMS activation for suspected stroke care. These results suggest that even in a nonurban location without widespread community transmission, patients may be delaying or avoiding care for severe illnesses such as stroke. Clinicians and public health officials should not ignore the potential impact of pandemic-like illnesses even in areas of relatively low disease prevalence.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Suhan ◽  
Spozhmy Panezai ◽  
Jaskiran Brar ◽  
Audrey Z Arango ◽  
Anna Pullicino ◽  
...  

Background: Various strategies have been implemented to reduce acute stroke treatment times. A unique code process pathway was designed at our hospital specifically to be activated by the stroke team for the purpose of rapidly assembling the Neurointerventional team. Methods: Code Neurointervention (NI), was designed and tested from January 2014 to April 2014 for all the patients who presented with ischemic strokes to our community based, university affiliated comprehensive stroke center. We retrospectively analyzed all patients who had Code NI called from May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015 and compared them to patients who underwent acute endovascular treatment the prior year (Non Code NI). The following parameters were compared: decision to recanalization and door to recanalization times. Further analysis was done to compare patients presenting during business hours (Monday-Friday 8am-5pm) and off hours using GraphPad QuickCalcs Web site. Results: There were 28 Code NI; 14 were called during work hours and 14 during off hours. The previous year 25 patients underwent acute endovascular intervention; 12 during work hours and 13 during off hours. Mean decision to recanalization time was 106 (Code NI) vs 115 minutes (Non Code NI) (p<0.0.6) during work hours and 154 (Code NI) vs 139 minutes (Non Code NI) (p<0.37) during off hours. Mean door to recanalization time was 169 (Code NI) vs 173 minutes (Non Code NI) (p<0.85) during work hours and 252 (Code NI) vs 243minutes (Non Code NI) (p< 0.75) during off hours. Subset analysis of time parameters for patients in Code NI group showed mean decision to recanalization times of 106 minutes during work hours vs 154 minutes off work hours (p<0.004). Mean door to recanalization times were 169 minutes vs 251 minutes (p<0.0003), respectively. Conclusion: Institution of Code NI significantly improved intervention time parameters during work hours as compared to off hours. Rapid assembly of the neurointervention team, rapid availability of imaging and angiography suite likely contribute to these differences. Further initiatives, such as improving neurointervention staff availability during off hours or cross training other staff can further improve acute intervention time parameters.


Neurology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. e236-e248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidsel Hastrup ◽  
Soren P. Johnsen ◽  
Thorkild Terkelsen ◽  
Heidi H. Hundborg ◽  
Paul von Weitzel-Mudersbach ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of centralizing the acute stroke services in the Central Denmark Region (CDR).MethodsThe CDR (1.3 million inhabitants) centralized acute stroke care from 6 to 2 designated acute stroke units with 7-day outpatient clinics. We performed a prospective “before-and-after” cohort study comparing all strokes from the CDR with strokes in the rest of Denmark to discover underlying general trends, adopting a difference-in-differences approach. The population comprised 22,141 stroke cases hospitalized from May 2011 to April 2012 and May 2013 to April 2014.ResultsCentralization was associated with a significant reduction in length of acute hospital stay from a median of 5 to 2 days with a length-of-stay ratio of 0.53 (95% confidence interval 0.38–0.75, data adjusted) with no corresponding change seen in the rest of Denmark. Similarly, centralization led to a significant increase in strokes with same-day admission (mainly outpatients), whereas this remained unchanged in the rest of Denmark. We observed a significant improvement in quality of care captured in 11 process performance measures in both the CDR and the rest of Denmark. Centralization was associated with a nonsignificant increase in thrombolysis rate. We observed a slight increase in readmissions at day 30, but this was not significantly different from the general trend. Mortality at days 30 and 365 remained unchanged, as in the rest of Denmark.ConclusionsCentralizing acute stroke care in the CDR significantly reduced the length of acute hospital stay without compromising quality. Readmissions and mortality stayed comparable to the rest of Denmark.


2020 ◽  
pp. 174749302091355
Author(s):  
Bao-Hua Chao ◽  
Feng Yan ◽  
Yang Hua ◽  
Jian-Min Liu ◽  
Yi Yang ◽  
...  

In China, stroke is a major cause of mortality, and long-term physical and cognitive impairment. To meet this challenge, the Ministry of Health China Stroke Prevention Project Committee (CSPPC) was established in April 2011. This committee actively promotes stroke prevention and control in China. With government financial support of 838.4 million CNY, 8.352 million people from 536 screening points in 31 provinces have received stroke screening and follow-up over the last seven years (2012–2018). In 2016, the CSPPC issued a plan to establish stroke centers. To shorten the pre-hospital period, the CSPPC established a stroke center network, stroke map, and stroke “Green Channel” to create three 1-h gold rescue circles, abbreviated as “1-1-1” (onset to call time <1 h; pre-hospital transfer time < 1 h, and door-to-needle time < 1 h). From 2017 to 2018, the median door-to-needle time dropped by 4.0% (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4–9.4) from 50 min to 48 min, and the median onset-to-needle time dropped by 2.8% (95% CI, 0.4–5.2) from 180 min to 175 min. As of 31 December 2018, the CSPPC has established 380 stroke centers in mainland China. From 1 November 2018, the CSPPC has monitored the quality of stroke care in stroke center hospitals through the China Stroke Data Center Data Reporting Platform. The CSPPC Stroke program has led to a significant improvement in stroke care. This program needs to be further promoted nationwide.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristina Shkirkova ◽  
Theodore T. Wang ◽  
Lily Vartanyan ◽  
David S. Liebeskind ◽  
Marc Eckstein ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 137 (3) ◽  
pp. 443-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frédérique M.L. Tan ◽  
Wilko Grolman ◽  
Rinze A. Tange ◽  
Wytske J. Fokkens

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of perceived sound in relation to the audiometric result after stapedotomy. STUDY DESIGN: Ninety-eight patients with otosclerosis, who underwent stapedotomy between 2004 and 2005, participated in this retrospective study. Audiometric data were obtained before and after stapedotomy. Patients filled out two questionnaires: the Amsterdam Post Operative Sound Evaluation and the Operation Benefit Profile, which is based on the Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile. RESULTS: There were 83 responders and 15 nonresponders; 83% indicated that their hearing was now better compared to preoperatively. The sounds that gave the highest percentage of distortion were “high pitched sound” (15%) and “loud sound” (13%). The groups with an air-bone gap of 0 to 10 dB and 10 to 20 dB report a relatively high number of patients who experience distortion. The audiometric data correlate well with the Operation Benefit Score. CONCLUSIONS: Audiometric improvement does not necessarily mean an improvement in perceived sound and vice versa. But the audiometric outcome is significantly related to the patient's experienced handicap, benefit of the operation, residual difficulty, and overall satisfaction.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Henderson ◽  
Susan Boesch ◽  
Kristine Peyton ◽  
Chris Hackett ◽  
Patty Noah ◽  
...  

Introduction: Dysphagia is a common comorbidity after stroke linked to increased morbidity and mortality. Evidence-based guidelines recommend a bedside dysphagia screen before oral intake to reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia in stroke patients. Prior studies have reviewed barriers to dysphagia screens being completed or documented timely on stroke patients before giving oral intake. Through Lean A3 process, we aimed to improve overall nursing documentation, including dysphagia screen, for stroke patients in the Emergency Department (ED) at an established Primary Stroke Center. Methods: The ED Charge Nurses and the Stroke Coordinator began an A3 project in May 2019 which focused on ED nurse documentation for stroke patients. Data included was 7 months prior to A3 implementation and 8 months post-implementation using Get With The Guidelines quality “Dysphagia Screen” measure. Lean A3 process involved changes to the computer system and re-education of nursing staff in July 2019 by the charge nurses and Stroke Coordinator. The post-A3 measurement period was between August 2019 and March 2020. Chi square tests were used to assess proportion differences in completed dysphagia screen and proportion of meeting or exceeding goal before and after the A3. Results: Overall compliance of patients screened for dysphagia was 87.3% (n = 379/434). After the A3 project, compliance for dysphagia screening was significantly higher than prior to the A3 implementation ((91.9% (n = 228/248) vs. 81.2% (n = 151/186), OR = 2.64 [95%CI 1.47-4.75], p < 0.001). In addition, the 90% goal for dysphagia screen compliance was achieved only 1 month of 7 (14.3%) prior to A3, but was achieved in 6 months of 8 post-A3 (75%), p = 0.04. Conclusion: In conclusion, we found that dysphagia screening documentation by ED nurses improved due to the Lean A3 process improvement project conducted in the ED.


Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Dickson ◽  
Adrian Nedelcut

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that introduction of a care coordination application to our emergency stroke care would improve time to thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Introduction: The objective of our study was to evaluate the effect of the STOP STROKE© medical application on patient arrival to thrombolytic times for patients arriving at our emergency department with AIS. STOP STROKE© is a novel medical application developed by physicians to improve the coordination and communication tasks essential to rapid assessment and care of patients suffering from AIS. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the Good Shepherd Health System stroke dashboard between February 2012 and February 2014 (13 months prior to STOP STROKE© and 12 months after). The stroke dashboard is a quality improvement database for acute stroke activations in patients arriving to our level II emergency department with annual volumes of 90,000. We analyzed all data from CMS reportable cases receiving TPA for AIS during the study period. The primary outcome was mean Door-to- Needle (DTN) times before and after initiating STOP STROKE©. Secondary outcome was the effect on the DTN <60 min benchmark. Results: During the study period we had 533 stroke activations (200 pre-application and 333 post-application), representing an 80% increase in activations after the app. A total of 85 patients received TPA therapy for AIS (41 pre-application and 44 post-application). Of these, 17 cases were excluded that did not meet CMS criteria for reporting. We observed the mean D2N times post STOP STROKE© decreased 21 min (77 - 56min), a 28% improvement (p=0.001). Further, the patients meeting D2N < 60 min improved from 32% (11/34) to 82% (28/34) after the app. Conclusions: In this cohort of patients with AIS, STOP STROKE© improved mean D2N times and number of patients treated within 60 min of arrival. Further we saw an increase in total stroke activations. We conclude our results demonstrate the app’s effect of increasing awareness of suspected AIS and improved coordination of care, evidenced by the magnitude of its effect on treatment times.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document