Page 23 - Christiana Care Health System Focus September 2018

| Acute Medicine
on top of new opportunities to improve stroke care. It really does affect our neighbors and how we are able to treat patients.”
Christiana Care’s broad, multidisciplinary Stroke Center team includes members from the emergency department, stroke neurology, neurointerventional surgery, neurosurgery, neurointensive care, radiology, pharmacy and rehabilitation, as well as stroke program coordinators, nurses and patient care technicians. Stroke care begins in the field with emergency medical technicians who begin life-saving stroke treatment en route to the emergency department
and alert the stroke team at Christiana Hospital that a patient is on the way. Stroke care may continue after the patient leaves the hospital, which is why a
comprehensive approach to treatment is so important.
Christiana Care was a driving force
in partnering with other hospitals in Delaware to develop legislation to create a statewide stroke care system. This allows patients anywhere in the state
to get the best care possible both locally and regionally. In some cases, severe stroke patients or critically ill patients are transported from hospitals throughout the state to Christiana Hospital, where the most advanced imaging capabilities, interventional/surgical treatments, neurointensive care and rehabilitation, are available 24 hours a day.
It’s all about getting patients to the right hospital at the right time for the best chance of recovery. Teams from each hospital, the emergency medical services
CONTINUED
Watch the video of Cynthia’s story at https://news.christianacare.org
Symptoms of a Stroke?
Act FAST and call 911
At the moment a 911 call is received for a stroke, care teams rush into action. Here are some of the steps that take place:
STROKE CARE TIMELINE
In the best cases, the patient often begins talking and moving limbs before
leaving the operating room.
Delaware’s statewide Stroke Care System activates. EMS notifies Christiana
Hospital of an incoming stroke patient.
RAPID CT perfusion is performed to   assess viability of brain tissue, as well as CT angiogram
to identify vessel occlusion. Carefully selected patients are immediately moved to the neurointerventional
suite for minimally invasive mechanical thrombectomy procedure, when appropriate.
Christiana Hospital activates Stroke Alert, alerting the emergency
department, stroke neurology and neurointerventional teams, as well
as radiology/CT and pharmacy.
Patient immediately receives IV alteplase (clot-busting
drug) if eligible.
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
Patient is immediately assessed upon arrival to emergency department.
Emergency medical technicians begin treatment
in the ambulance or helicopter en route to the hospital.
Head CT is performed and quickly interpreted by a
neuroradiologist.
Pharmacy prepares IV alteplase (clot-busting drug). Patient is
immediately assessed upon arrival to emergency department.
FOCUS • SEPTEMBER 2018 21