Pre-hospital Assessment of Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes: Implications for Modeling and Planning Stroke Systems of Care.

The social and financial burden of stroke is remarkable. Stroke is a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide. For several years, intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rt-PA) remained as the only proven therapy for acute ischemic stroke. However, its benefit is hampered by a narrow therapeutic window and limited efficacy for large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes. Recent trials of endovascular therapy (EVT) for LVO strokes have demonstrated improved patient outcomes when compared to treatment with medical treatment alone (with or without IV rt-PA). Thus, EVT has become a critical component of stroke care. As in IV rt-PA, time to treatment is a crucial factor with high impact on outcomes. Unlike IV rt-PA, EVT is only available at a limited number of centers. Considering the time sensitive benefit of reperfusion therapies of acute ischemic stroke, costs and logistics associated, it is recommended that regional systems of acute stroke care should be developed. These should include rapid identification of suspected stroke, centers that provide initial emergency care, including administration of IV rt-PA, and centers capable of performing endovascular stroke treatment with comprehensive periprocedural care to which rapid transport can be arranged when appropriate. In the pre-hospital setting, the development of scales easier and quicker to perform than the NIHSS yet with a maintained accuracy for detecting LVO strokes is of paramount importance. Several scales have been developed. On the other hand, the decision whether to transport to a primary stroke center (PSC) or to a comprehensive stroke center (CSC) is complex and far beyond the simple diagnosis of a LVO. Ongoing studies will provide important answers to the best transfer strategy for acute stroke patients. At the same time, the development of new technologies to aid in real time the decision-making process will simplify the logistics of regional systems for acute stroke care and, likely improve patients' outcomes through tailored selection of the most appropriate recanalization strategy and destination center.

WhatsApp in Stroke Systems: Current Use and Regulatory Concerns.

Smartphone use is extremely common. Applications such as WhatsApp have billions of users and physicians are no exception. Stroke Medicine is a field where instant communication among fairly large groups is essential. In developing countries, economic limitations preclude the possibility of acquiring proper communication platforms. Thus, WhatsApp has been used as an organizational tool, for sharing clinical data, and for real time guidance of clinical care decisions. It has evolved into a cheap, accessible tool for telemedicine. Nevertheless, regulatory and privacy issues must be addressed. Some countries have implemented legislation to address this issue, while others lag behind. In this article, we present an overview on the different roles WhatsApp has acquired as a clinical tool in stroke systems and the potential privacy concerns of its use.

Factors associated with compliance to AHA/ACC performance measures in a myocardial infarction system of care in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate compliance with American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC) performance measures for adults with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to investigate the factors associated with compliance, in an AMI System of Care in Brazil. DESIGN: Observational longitudinal study. SETTING: A high-complexity University Hospital, part of the AMI System of Care implemented in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, in 2010. PARTICIPANTS: Of note, 1129 patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) admitted to a single center over 36 months (between 2011 and 2014). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Compliance with 13 pre-specified AHA/ACC AMI performance measures was evaluated for patients with AMI, observing exclusion criteria and appropriate numerators and denominators. Median compliance was calculated and variables independently associated with compliance rates were evaluated. RESULTS: Median age was 60 (51/68) years, 67.7% male, 69.8% presented with STEMI and hospital mortality was 8.7%. Median compliance with performance measures was 83% (75/88). Among patients with STEMI, 56% received reperfusion therapy. Overall, 67.3% of patients complied with ≥80% of quality measures. Factors independently associated with better compliance were later date of presentation (semester), likely reflecting ongoing training (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.10-1.28, P < 0.001), male gender (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.00-1.76, P < 0.046), Killip I/II on admission (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.36-2.80, P < 0.001) and diagnosis of NSTEMI (OR = 5.0, 95% CI: 3.51-7.11, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Compliance with AHA/ACC AMI performance measures remains below target in Brazil, but the time trends observed suggest improvement. Continuing education, reduction of system delays and prioritizing high-risk groups are needed to optimize AMI systems of care and improve patient outcomes.

Sistemas de organización de cuidados en enfermería: reflexiones sobre la complejidad del cuidado como práctica asistencial / Sistemas organizacionais de cuidados em enfermagem: refletindo sobre a complexidade do cuidado como prática assistencial / Nursing care organization systems: Reflections on the complexity of care as assistance practice

El presente artículo se propone comprender cómo las enfermeras ven la complejidad de los cuidados de enfermería dentro de un Sistema de Organización de la Salud. Para este fin se realizó una revisión bibliográfica integradora, utilizando la base de datos SciELO. El análisis dio como resultado 26 referencias completas en el período de 2004 a 2010. Se encontró que entender la enfermería como un sistema complejo de producción de los servicios de salud no siempre es fácil, así como reconocer la profesión dentro de las bases administrativas. La producción científica sobre el cuidado de enfermería dentro de esa complejidad no siempre es valorada y, a menudo infravalorada, ya que el enfermero considera que es sólo un integrador de otras profesiones. Llegamos a la conclusión de que nos alejamos de la esencia de la enfermería cuando perdemos la capacidad de comprender nuestro producto no sólo como un integrador, sino como una parte clave del proceso de vivir, estar sano y adolecer(AU)

This article aims to understand how nurses see the complexity of nursing care within an orrganizational system in health. To this end, we developed an integrative literature review, using the Scielo database. The analysis resulted in 26 complete references from 2004 to 2010. We found that understanding nursing as a complex system of production of health services is not always easy, as well as recognizing the profession within the administrative bases. The production of nursing care within this complex phenomenon is not always valued and often underestimated because the nurses feel it is only an integrator of other professions. We conclude that we move away from the essence of nursing when we lose the ability to understand our product not only as an integrator, but as a key part of the process of living, being healthy and sick(AU)

Esse artigo tem como objetivo compreender de que maneira os enfermeiros vislumbram a complexidade do cuidado de enfermagem dentro de um Sistema Organizacional de Saúde. Para tanto realizamos uma revisão integrativa da literatura, utilizando a base de dados Scielo. A análise resultou em 26 referências completas, no período de 2004 a 2010. Constatamos que entender a enfermagem como um sistema complexo de produção de serviços em saúde nem sempre é tarefa fácil, assim como reconhecer a profissão dentro das bases administrativas. A produção do cuidado de enfermagem dentro dessa complexidade é um fenômeno nem sempre valorizado e muitas vezes subestimado pelo fato de o enfermeiro sentir-se somente um integrador de outras profissões. Concluímos que nos afastamos da essência da enfermagem quando perdemos a capacidade de entender o nosso produto não somente como integrador, mas como parte primordial do processo de viver, ser saudável e adoecer(AU)