In-Hospital Stroke: Time is Brain!

Stroke is a common neurologic disease and some patients suffer stroke while in the hospital for another reason. Most people would think that they “are lucky to be in the hospital.” But is that true? A recent Canadian study compared 973 patients with in-hospital stroke to 28, 837 with community-onset stroke to evaluate the processes of stroke care delivery (time to neuroimaging and rates of thrombolysis, as well as outcome). The data proved just the opposite. Patients who presented from the community had significantly faster imaging and thrombolytic treatment from symptom recognition.

It’s not really surprising that emergency departments are more efficient with rapid work up and treatment since that is their primary function. But skilled neuroscience nurses can play a vital role in changing this by developing protocols that promote symptom recognition, expedite imaging and thrombolytics for those that are eligible. Time is Brain!! To learn more, please read the original JAMA publication.JAMA Neurol. 2015;72(7):749-755. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2015.0284.