Stroke remains as significant cause of long-term disability and death. Although there is no guaranteed way to prevent a stroke, area hospitals and medical facilities can do their part of improve patient outcomes in the event a stroke occurs.
Do Community Outreach
It is important to utilize every opportunity at your disposal to disseminate information to the public about the warning signs of stroke and the importance of seeking emergency care. Public service announcements, social media advertisements, and information in area doctor's offices are ideal places to grab attention. Since clot-busting medications must be administered within a few hours of stroke onset to be effective, convey the message of how time is critical to not only reduce the likelihood of fatalities from stroke, but also long-term disability. Other components of your outreach should include information about risk factors that increase the odds of having a stroke or multiple strokes.
Integrate Telestroke Technology
Although there may be several hospitals within a region, it does not mean that each hospital is specially equipped to provide the most modern and comprehensive stroke care. Since time is of the essence to minimize the short-term and long-term ramifications of a stroke, telestroke is one method to provide patients with access to better specialists in the area of neurology. If the doctors at the patient's current hospital are unsure of how to proceed in their specific case, the doctors can contact a specialist to act as a consultant. This is typically accomplished through two-way interactive video so the patient can be assessed remotely and the specialist can use their best judgment to assist in developing a treatment plan.
Add Interventional Radiology
Having an interventional radiologist or neurointerventionalist on staff can drastically improve stroke outcomes. Since these doctors specialize in techniques that can remove a blood clot and restore blood flow to the brain, having them readily available means patients can receive prompt treatment. Additionally, this specialty uses minimally-invasive techniques which reduces risks to the patient and gives them more opportunities to recover.
Traditionally, ischemic strokes were treated with a "watch and wait" approach since little could be done to improve blood flow to blocked areas. In the event of a hemorrhagic stroke, surgeons may try to repair the damaged blood vessel by opening the skull. Unfortunately, hemorrhagic strokes often have a high rate of mortality because bleeding can happen quickly and the damage is typically widespread. The incorporation of interventional radiology can significantly reduce the time to treatment, giving even the most critical patients a better shot at recovery.
With more attention on the severe consequences associated with stroke, more medical facilities are trying to improve their approach to stroke care. Utilizing a combination of techniques can improve patient outcomes. For more information, contact companies like Telespecialists.
Share14 July 2017
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