Ambulance service call handler and clinician identification of stroke in North East Ambulance Service

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-65
Author(s):  
Graham McClelland ◽  
Emma Burrow
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
Ambulance Service ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
North East ◽  
Audit Data ◽  
Suspected Stroke

Introduction: Emergency medical services (EMS) are the first point of contact for most acute stroke patients. The EMS response is triggered by ambulance call handlers who triage calls and then an appropriate response is allocated. Early recognition of stroke is vital to minimise the call to hospital time as the availability and effectiveness of reperfusion therapies are time dependent. Minimising the pre-hospital phase by accurate call handler stroke identification, short EMS on-scene times and rapid access to specialist stroke care is vital. The aims of this study were to evaluate stroke identification by call handlers and clinicians in North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) and report on-scene times for suspected stroke patients.Methods: A retrospective service evaluation was conducted linking routinely collected data between 1 and 30 November 2019 from three sources: NEAS Emergency Operations Centre; NEAS clinicians; and hospital stroke diagnoses.Results: The datasets were linked resulting in 2214 individual cases. Call handler identification of acute stroke was 51.5% (95% CI 45.3‐57.8) sensitive with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 12.8% (95% CI 11.4‐14.4). Face-to-face clinician identification of stroke was 76.1% (95% CI 70.4‐81.1) sensitive with a PPV of 27.4% (95% CI 25.3‐29.7). The median on-scene time was 33 (IQR 25‐43) minutes, with call handler and clinician identification of stroke resulting in shorter times.Conclusion: This service evaluation using ambulance data linked with national audit data showed that the sensitivity of NEAS call handler and clinician identification of stroke are similar to figures published on other systems but the PPV of call handler and clinician identification stroke could be improved. However, sensitivity is paramount while timely identification of suspected stroke patients and rapid transport to definitive care are the primary functions of EMS. Call handler identification of stroke appears to affect the time that clinicians spend at scene with suspected stroke patients.

scholarly journals 145 Point of care lung ultrasound in patient triage: integration of ultrasound into a streaming pathway for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (12) ◽  
pp. 839.1-839
Author(s):  
Dominic Craver ◽  
Aminah Ahmad ◽  
Anna Colclough
Keyword(s):  
Point Of Care ◽  
District General Hospital ◽  
Training Programme ◽  
Service Evaluation ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Junior Doctors ◽  
Point Of Care Ultrasound ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Point Of Care Diagnostics ◽  
Audit Data

Aims/Objectives/BackgroundRapid risk stratification of patients is vital for Emergency Department (ED) streaming during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ideally, patients should be split into red (suspected/confirmed COVID-19) and green (non COVID-19) zones in order to minimise the risk of patient-to-patient and patient-to-staff transmission. A robust yet rapid streaming system combining clinician impression with point-of-care diagnostics is therefore necessary.Point of care ultrasound (POCUS) findings in COVID-19 have been shown to correlate well with computed tomography (CT) findings, and it therefore has value as a front-door diagnostic tool. At University Hospital Lewisham (a district general hospital in south London), we recognised the value of early POCUS and its potential for use in patient streaming.Methods/DesignWe developed a training programme, ‘POCUS for COVID’ and subsequently integrated POCUS into streaming of our ED patients. The training involved Zoom lectures, a face to face practical, a 10 scan sign off process followed by a final triggered assessment. Patient outcomes were reviewed in conjunction with their scan reports.Results/ConclusionsCurrently, we have 21 ED junior doctors performing ultrasound scans independently, and all patients presenting to our department are scanned either in triage or in the ambulance. A combination of clinical judgement and scan findings are used to stream the patient to an appropriate area.Service evaluation with analysis of audit data has found our streaming to be 94% sensitive and 79% specific as an indicator of COVID 19. Further analysis is ongoing.Here we present both the structure of our training programme and our integrated streaming pathway along with preliminary analysis results.

Do methods of hospital pre-alerts influence the on-scene times for acute pre-hospital stroke patients? A retrospective observational study

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-25
Author(s):  
Jacob Gunn
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Observational Study ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Ambulance Service ◽  
Time Saving ◽  
North East ◽  
Admission Policies ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Time Critical ◽  
Mean Time

Introduction: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. The ambulance service is often the first medical service to reach an acute stroke patient, and due to the time-critical nature of stroke, a time-critical assessment and rapid transport to a hyper acute stroke unit are essential. As stroke services have been centralised, different hospitals have implemented different pre-alert admission policies that may affect the on-scene time of the attending ambulance crew. The aim of this study is to investigate if the different pre-alert admission policies affect time on scene.Method: The current study is a retrospective quantitative observational study using data routinely collected by North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. The time on scene was divided into two variables; group one was a telephone pre-alert in which a telephone discussion with the receiving hospital is required before they accept admission of the patient. Group two was a radio-style pre-alert in which the attending clinician makes an autonomous decision on the receiving hospital and alerts them via a short radio message of the incoming patient. These times were then compared to identify if there was any difference between them.Results: Data on 927 patients over a three-month period, from October to December 2019, who had received the full stroke bundle of care, were within the thrombolysis window and recorded as a stroke by the attending clinician, were split into the variable groups and reported on. The mean time on scene for a telephone call pre-alert was 33 minutes and 19 seconds, with a standard deviation of 13 minutes and 8 seconds. The mean on-scene time for a radio pre-alert was 28 minutes and 24 seconds, with a standard deviation of 11 minutes and 51 seconds.Conclusion: A pre-alert given via radio instead of via telephone is shown to have a mean time saving of 4 minutes and 55 seconds, representing an important decrease in time which could be beneficial to patients.

Abstract P184: Effect of Acute Stroke Care Hospital Networks in Korea

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jihoon Kang ◽  
Seong Eun Kim ◽  
Hyunjoo Song ◽  
Hee-joon Bae
Keyword(s):  
Network Analysis ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
The Other ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Initial Visit ◽  
Analysis Method ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Acute Stroke Care ◽  
Hospital Networks

Purpose: Stroke patients generally transport stroke patients either to nearest stroke hospital with secondary transfers or to hub hospitals in selective cases. This study aimed to determine the stroke community of close networks and to evaluate their role for the access the endovascular treatment (EVT). Methods: Using the nationwide acute stroke hospital (ASH) surveillance data assessed the major quality indicators of all stroke patients of South Korea, triage information both initial visit and secondary interhospital transfers were extracted according to the hospitals. Based on them, stroke community with dense linkages were partitioned using the network-based Louvain algorithm. The hierarchical model estimated the function of stroke community for the EVT. Results: For 6-month surveying period, 19113 subjects admitted to the 246 ASHs. Of them, 1831 (9.6%) were transferred from 763 adjacent facilities not ASH, while 1283 (6.7%) from the other ASHs. The algorithm determined the 113 stroke communities where composed median 7 hospitals (2 ASHs and 5 adjacent facilities) and treated about 30 subjects per month. Most of communities formed the spindle shape with higher centralization index and located within 150 Km (Figure). Stroke communities significantly affected 11% of EVT after adjustments. Conclusions: Network analysis method effectively contoured the high centralizing stroke communities and helped the functions on the EVT accessibility.

Abstract 20: Acute Stroke Care and Thrombolysis at Critical Access Hospitals in Illinois

Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyam Prabhakaran ◽  
Robin Hamann ◽  
Kathleen O’Neill ◽  
Michelle Gardner ◽  
Peggy Jones
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
The United States ◽  
Critical Access Hospitals ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Acute Stroke Care ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Discharge Disposition ◽  
Intravenous Tissue Plasminogen Activator

Background: Critical access hospitals (CAH) are the first point of stroke care in many rural regions of the United States (US). The Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN), a network of 51 CAH in Illinois, began a quality improvement program to address acute stroke care in 2009. We evaluated the performance on several metrics in acute stroke care at CAH between 2009 and 2011. Methods: Currently, 28 of 51 CAHs in Illinois currently participate in the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines - Stroke (GWTG-S) registry for quality improvement. The GWTG-S registry captured elements including demographics, diagnosis, times of arrival, imaging completion, and intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) administration, and final discharge disposition. We analyzed the change in percent of stroke patients receiving tPA, door-to-needle (DTN) time, and proportion of total stroke patients admitted versus transferred to another facility over the 3 years. Fisher’s exact and Mann-Whitney tests were used as appropriate. Results: In the baseline assessment (2009), there were 111 strokes from 8 sites which grew to 12 sites and 305 strokes in year 1 (2010) and 14 sites and 328 strokes in year 3 (2011). The rate of tPA use for ischemic stroke was 2.2% in 2009, 4.0% in 2010, and 6.2% in 2011 (P=0.20). EMS arrival (41.1%), EMS pre-notification (82.6%), door-to-CT times (median 35 minutes; 34.6% < 25 minutes), and DTN times (average 93 minutes; 13.3% DTN time < 60 minutes) were not different over time. The rate of transfer from CAH to another hospital (51.3%) was constant. Every patient that received tPA except 1 (96.9%) was transferred (drip-ship) for post-tPA care. Conclusions: Improving acute stroke care at CAHs is feasible and represents a significant opportunity to increase tPA utilization in rural areas. As stroke systems develop, it is vital that CAHs be included in quality improvement efforts. The ICAHN stroke collaborative provided the opportunity to coordinate resources, share best practices, participate in targeted educational programming, and utilize data for performance improvement through the funded GWTG-S registry.

Abstract P855: Importance of Compliance in Dysphagia Screening in Acute Stroke Care

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patty Noah ◽  
Melanie Henderson ◽  
Rebekah Heintz ◽  
Russell Cerejo ◽  
Christopher T Hackett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Aspiration Pneumonia ◽  
Hemorrhagic Stroke ◽  
Oral Intake ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Stroke Severity ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Acute Stroke Care ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Stroke Center

Introduction: Dysphagia occurs in up to two thirds of stroke patients and can lead to serious complications such as aspiration pneumonia, which is also linked to increased morbidity and mortality. Evidence-based guidelines recommend a bedside dysphagia assessment before oral intake in stroke patients regardless of initial stroke severity. Several studies have described registered nurses’ competency in terms of knowledge and skills regarding dysphagia screening. We aimed to examine the rate of aspiration pneumonia compared to the rate of dysphagia screening. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data at a single tertiary stroke center was carried out between January 2017 and June 2020. Data comparison was completed utilizing ICD-10 diagnosis codes to identify aspiration pneumonia in ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients. The data was reviewed to compare the compliance of a completed dysphagia screen prior to any oral intake to rate of aspiration pneumonia. Chi square tests were used to assess proportion differences in completed dysphagia screen and proportion of aspiration pneumonia diagnosis in the ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke patients. Results: We identified 3320 patient that met inclusion criteria. 67% were ischemic strokes, 22% were intracerebral hemorrhages and 11% were subarachnoid hemorrhages. Compliance with dysphagia screening decreased from 94.2% (n=1555/1650) in 2017-2018 to 74.0% (n=1236/1670) in 2019-2020, OR=0.17 (95%CI 0.14 - 0.22), p < 0.0001. Aspiration pneumonias increased from 58 (3.5%) in 2017-2018 to 77 (4.6%) in 2019-2020, but this difference was not statistically significant, OR=0.75 (95%CI 0.53 - 1.07), p = 0.11. Conclusion: We noted that the decrease in compliance with completing a dysphagia screen in patients with acute stroke prior to any oral intake was associated with a higher trend of aspiration pneumonia.

Abstract T MP75: Facilities Available in Chinese Hospitals From China Stroke Research Network

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunjuan Wang ◽  
Zixiao Li ◽  
Yilong Wang ◽  
Yong Jiang ◽  
Xingquan Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Research Network ◽  
Level Of Care ◽  
Minimum Level ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Stroke Research ◽  
Primary Stroke Center ◽  
Stroke Center

Background and Purpose: Stroke is the first leading cause of death in China and millions of patients were admitted to various levels of hospitals each year. However, it is unknown how many of these hospitals are able to provide an appropriate level of care for stroke patients since the certification program of comprehensive stroke center (CSC) and primary stroke center (PSC) has not been initiated in China. Method: In 2012, we selected all 554 hospitals that joined into the China Stroke Research Network (CSRN) to start a survey. These hospitals were from 31 provinces or municipalities, covered nearly the entire Mainland China. A six-page questionnaire was sent to each of them to obtain the stroke facility information. We used the same criteria and definitions for CSC, PSC, and minimum level for any hospital ward (AHW) admitting stroke patients with that of the European Stroke Facilities Survey. Results: For all the hospitals in CSRN, 521 (94.0%) returned the questionnaire, 20 (3.8%) met criteria for CSC, 179 (34.4%) for PSC, 64 (12.3%) for AHW, and 258 (49.5%) met none of them and provided a lower level of care. Hospitals meeting criteria for CSC, PSC, AHW, and none of them admitted 70 052 (8.8%), 334 834 (42.2%), 88 364 (11.1%), and 299 806 (37.8%) patients in the whole of last year. There was no 24-hour availability for brain CT scan in 4.3% of hospitals not meeting criteria for AHW, while neither stroke care map nor stroke pathway for patients admission in 81.0% of them. Conclusions: Less than two fifths of Chinese hospitals admitting acute stroke patients have optimal facilities, and nearly half even the minimum level is not available. Our study suggests that only one half acute stroke patients are treated in appropriate centers in China, facilities for hospitals admitting stroke patients should be enhanced and certification project of CSCs and PSCs may be a feasible choice.

Prediction of Independent Gait in Acute Stroke Patients with Hemiplegia Using the Ability for Basic Movement Scale II Score

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-55
Author(s):  
Hiroyuki Uwatoko ◽  
Masahiro Nakamori ◽  
Eiji Imamura ◽  
Takeshi Imura ◽  
Kazunori Okada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Operating Characteristic ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Curve Analysis ◽  
Unilateral Lesion ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Minimum Score ◽  
Operating Characteristic Curve ◽  
Basic Movement

Introduction: Since independent gait is an important factor for home discharge, early prediction of independent gait after stroke is essential. The revised version of the Ability for Basic Movement Scale II (ABMS II) has been developed and validated for assessment of basic movements poststroke. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictive value of the ABMS II score for independent gait in acute stroke patients with hemiplegia. Methods: We included 67 patients with first stroke and a unilateral lesion who were admitted to the stroke care unit. We evaluated the gait on the 14th and 90th days from admission. Results: The ABMS II score was significantly higher in patients with independent gait on both the 14th and 90th days from admission. On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, a minimum score of 26 points was predictive of independent gait on the 14th day from admission. Similarly, a score of 15 points was predictive of independent gait on the 90th day from admission. Conclusions: The ABMS II score is a useful predictor of independent gait in acute stroke patients with hemiplegia.

scholarly journals Development of a national stroke audit in Ireland: scoping review protocol

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Carlos Bruen ◽  
Niamh A. Merriman ◽  
Paul J. Murphy ◽  
Joan McCormack ◽  
Eithne Sexton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Scoping Review ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Acute Stroke Care ◽  
Study Selection ◽  
Audit Data ◽  
Scoping Reviews ◽  
Review Protocol ◽  
Minimum Dataset

Introduction Recent advances in stroke management and care have resulted in improved survival and outcomes. However, providing equitable access to acute care, rehabilitation and longer-term stroke care is challenging. Recent Irish evidence indicates variation in stroke outcomes across hospitals, and a need for continuous audit of stroke care to support quality improvement. The aim of this project is to develop a core minimum dataset for use in the new Irish National Audit of Stroke (INAS), which aims to improve the standard of stroke care in Ireland. This paper outlines the protocol for conducting a scoping review of international practice and guidelines in auditing acute and non-acute stroke care. Objective Identify data items that are currently collected by stroke audits internationally, and identify audit guidelines that exist for recommending inclusion of content in stroke audit datasets. Methods and analysis This scoping review will be conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). We will search the following databases: Medline Ovid; Embase; CINAHL EBSCOHost. Grey literature will also be searched for relevant materials, as will relevant websites. Study selection and review will be carried out independently by two researchers, with discrepancies resolved by a third. Data charting and synthesis will involve sub-dividing relevant sources of evidence, and synthesising data into three categories: i) acute stroke care; ii) non-acute stroke care; and iii) audit data collection procedures and resourcing. Data will be charted using a standardised form specific to each category. Consultation with knowledge users will be conducted at all stages of the scoping review. Discussion This scoping review will contribute to a larger project aimed at developing an internationally benchmarked stroke audit tool that will be used prospectively to collect data on all stroke admissions in Ireland, encompassing both acute and non-acute data items.

scholarly journals P027: Development of a physician assistant lead stroke protocol to provide timely and equitable access to hyperacute stroke care in a telestroke community hospital

CJEM ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S74-S74
Author(s):  
L. Shoots ◽  
V. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Community Hospital ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Physician Assistants ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Acute Stroke Care ◽  
Hyperacute Stroke ◽  
Phone Calls ◽  
Triage Time

Background: The Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) has consistently been well above the recommended 30 minute benchmark for door-to-needle (DTN) for eligible acute stroke patients. As a large community hospital with no neurologists, and like many other hospitals internationally, we rely on telestroke support for every stroke case. This is a time-consuming process that requires a multitude of phone calls, and pulls physicians from other acutely ill patients. We sought to develop a system that would streamline our approach and care for hyperacute stroke patients by targeting improvements in DTN. Aim Statement: We will decrease the door-to-needle (DTN) time for stroke patients arriving at the BCHS Emergency Department (ED) who are eligible for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) by 25% from a median of 87 minutes to 50 minutes by March 31, 2018 and maintain that standard. Measures & Design: Outcome Measures: Door-to-needle time for acute stroke patients receiving tPA Process Measures: Door-to-triage time, Door-to-CT time, Door-to-CTA time; INR collection-to-verification time, telestroke callback time Balancing Measures: Number of stroke protocol patients per month Model Design: We simultaneously designed and implemented a robust program to train physician assistants in hyperacute stroke care. Evaluation/Results: Through vast stakeholder engagement and implementing a multitude of change ideas, by March of 2018 we had achieved an average DTN of 53 minutes. Our door-to-triage time went from an average of 7 minutes to 3 minutes. Our door-to-CT time decreased from 17 minutes to 7 minutes and our time between CT and CTA from an average of 13 minutes to 3 minutes. One and a half years later, our average DTN is maintained at 55 minutes and physician assistants continue to effectively lead and liaise with telestroke neurologists and stroke patients. Discussion/Impact: Prior to this program, acute stroke care was a very contentious topic at our local community hospital. Creating a program that streamlined the care and standardized the work has proven successful, and not only allowed for improved DTN times but also freed up physicians to better simultaneously care for other acutely ill patients.

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