Prehospital notification by emergency medical services reduces delays in stroke evaluation: findings from the North Carolina stroke care collaborative.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Individuals with stroke-like symptoms are recommended to receive rapid diagnostic evaluation. Emergency medical services (EMS) transport, compared with private modes, and hospital notification before arrival may reduce delays in evaluation. This study estimated associations between hospital arrival modes (EMS or private and with or without EMS prenotification) and times for completion and interpretation of initial brain imaging in patients with presumed stroke.

Methods

Among patients with suspected stroke identified and enrolled by the North Carolina Stroke Care Collaborative registry in 2008 to 2009, we analyzed data on arrival modes, meeting recommended targets for brain imaging completion and interpretation times (<25 minutes and <45 minutes since h

SUBMITTER: Patel MD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3970287 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature