North Florida Primary Stroke Center TeleStroke Case Study
ABOUT
The facility is a 226-bed, acute care hospital that offers 24/7 emergency services around Tallahassee, Florida. They are a certified by The Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center and are a part of HCA Healthcare.
THE ISSUE
The facility partnered with TeleSpecialists in July of 2019 and reported to us that their previous telestroke provider was having activation to on-screen times of upwards of 40 minutes, delaying their Door-to-Needle (DTN) times. Upon starting the partnership, Dr. Adam Heller and Riley Solich, RN went on-site to evaluate their stroke alert process to see where improvements could be made. With a Comprehensive Stroke Center less than 10 minutes away, pressure to improve stroke procedures was substantial to maintain market share.
THE SOLUTION
TeleSpecialists considered the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) recommendations for best practice and worked with the facility’s internal process to make changes with their stroke team on-site. The facility’s processes were already streamlined, focus was targeted on incorporating TeleSpecialists’ new partnership to maximize effectiveness.
- Buzz Words education to non-clinical and clinical staff at registration and triage desk
- Utilizing the SAVES tool on all possible stroke patients
- Activation of TeleSpecialists for stroke alert
- Utilizing a bedside Accuchek for blood sugar level
- Rapid triage of patient once back in Emergency Department, then to CT
- RN’s are able to mix on a verbal order
THE RESULTS
From July to October of 2019, the facility and TeleSpecialists met or beat the recommended AHA/ASA recommended time of 15 minutes of neurologist to bedside from stroke alert. Further, in that timespan, no DTNs exceeded 60 minutes. of neurologist to bedside from stroke alert. Further, in that timespan, no DTNs exceeded 60 minutes.