Stroke Nurse Triage: Effects on Time Metrics at a Regional Stroke Center.

INTRODUCTION: Optimization of time metrics in the management of acute stroke is a priority. Nurses with special training in stroke management may contribute to enhanced delivery of care. This study analyzes the effects of initiating a nurse-led stroke triage program at a regional stroke center on time metrics of acute stroke. METHODS: In retrospective review, stroke metrics 25 months prior to the start of the triage program and 23 months after the start of the program were analyzed, including time from arrival to: emergency department assessment, neurologist assessment, head computed tomography (CT) scan, start of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration, and puncture for mechanical thrombectomy. RESULTS: The study included 1,019 patients presenting with symptoms of acute stroke. Significant decrease was found between means for the time measures of arrival to emergency department (ED) physician assessment (pre-program: 6.2 minutes, post-program: 5.7 minutes, p= 0.0036), and CT start (pre-program: 21.3 minutes, post-program: 19.8 minutes, p= 0.0001). Time from arrival to ED physician assessment and CT start showed an increase in the proportion of cases meeting goal times: ED physician assessment increased from 82 percent to 84.4 percent of cases meeting the goal time (p= 0.3543), and CT start increased from 55.3 percent to 63.2 percent (p= 0.0481) of cases meeting the goal time. Significant increase was found between means for time from arrival to neurologist assessment (pre-program: 11.6 minutes, post-program: 17.1 minutes, p= 0.0015), and the proportion of cases meeting the goal time for arrival to neurologist assessment decreased (88.8 percent pre-program, 75.8 percent post-program). No significant differences were found for times from arrival to tPA administration and mechanical thrombectomy, or between Modified Rankin Scores (mRS) at discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Certain time-sensitive metrics of acute stroke care were improved after implementation of the stroke nurse triage program, particularly those related to immediate patient assessment within the ED. Time metrics related to the direct administration of stroke therapies were unaffected, indicating the need for recognition of additional factors affecting timely stroke management. Incorporating specially trained stroke nurses in acute stroke management may be an important component in efforts to improve time metrics of acute stroke.

Effects on Stroke Metrics and Outcomes of a Nurse-led Stroke Triage Team in Acute Stroke Management.

Background Timely administration of healthcare in acute stroke, congruent with national stroke metrics, relates to better patient outcomes. A nurse-led stroke triage team instituted at our facility was hypothesized to improve metrics and outcomes. To evaluate the effect of the nurse-led stroke triage team we compared specific stroke metrics and patient outcomes before and after the program initiation.  Methods In retrospective review, we analyzed stroke metrics one year prior to the start of the triage program (controls) and one year after the start of the program (cases), including the following metrics: patient arrival, emergency department assessment, neurology contact, head computed tomography (CT) scan, and delivery of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) or puncture for mechanical thrombectomy. Primary outcome measures were improved metric times.  Results Ninety-five acute stroke events were analyzed: 26 controls and 69 cases. Cohort demographics included means of age 72.82 years, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 15.96, discharge and 90-day mRS 3.71 and 3.55 respectively, and length of stay 5.98 days. There were significantly different improvements in metrics between arrival time to CT start, emergency room physician evaluation to CT start, neurology contact to CT start, and neurology contact to tPA initiation for cases post-triage team institution. No significant differences during this period were seen for other metrics. Multivariate analysis controlling for age, sex and NIHSS found no significant difference for discharge or 90-day mRS scores.  Conclusions An interdisciplinary approach to acute stroke management can impact stroke metrics. These data support the integration of specially trained stroke nurses in acute stroke triage for quality improvement efforts.