Abstract
Background: Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage results in high patient mortality or poor functional outcomes. Early access to specialty care allows for rapid implementation of evidence-based strategies that improve the patient's long-term outcomes.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of a dedicated stroke response team on timeliness of blood pressure control, administration of anticoagulation reversal agents, and emergency department arrival to a critical care bed.
Methods: A stroke response team was developed from the neuro intensive care unit that compliments the hospital's current rapid response team. Development of an algorithm guides the implementation of key interventions for intracerebral hemorrhages. Widespread education targeting care of patients with hemorrhagic stroke provided the stroke response team and emergency department staff with knowledge to implement the plan of care.
Results: Baseline time interval data were collected on 70 consecutive patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. After implementation of a dedicated stroke response team, time interval data on 70 consecutive patients with intracerebral hemorrhage were collected for comparison with the baseline measurement. A significant decrease was seen in the time to control the patient's systolic blood pressure (median of 130 to 56 minutes, P = .000) and emergency department arrival to a critical care bed (240 to 132 minutes, P = .000). Patient arrival to anticoagulation reversal agent administration decreased from a mean of 98 to 72 minutes (P = .32).
Discussion: Implementation of a stroke response team increased the knowledge of the care team, improved the timeliness of blood pressure control, and decreased the time for emergency department arrival to a critical care bed, and to anticoagulation reversal agent administration.