scholarly journals Accuracy of Administrative Data for the Coding of Acute Stroke and TIAs

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 765-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Hall ◽  
Luke Mondor ◽  
Joan Porter ◽  
Jiming Fang ◽  
Moira K. Kapral
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Administrative Data ◽  
Data Validation ◽  
Reference Standard ◽  
Stroke Registry ◽  
Diagnostic Codes ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
Stroke Type ◽  
Ischemic Attack

AbstractObjective: Administrative data validation is essential for identifying biases and misclassification in research. The objective of this study was to determine the accuracy of diagnostic codes for acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) using the Ontario Stroke Registry (OSR) as the reference standard. Methods: We identified stroke and TIA events in inpatient and emergency department (ED) administrative data from eight regional stroke centres in Ontario, Canada, from April of 2006 through March of 2008 using ICD–10–CA codes for subarachnoid haemorrhage (I60, excluding I60.8), intracerebral haemorrhage (I61), ischemic (H34.1 and I63, excluding I63.6), unable to determine stroke (I64), and TIA (H34.0 and G45, excluding G45.4). We linked administrative data to the Ontario Stroke Registry and calculated sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV). Results:: We identified 5,270 inpatient and 4,411 ED events from the administrative data. Inpatient administrative data had an overall sensitivity of 82.2% (95% confidence interval [CI95%]=81.0, 83.3) and a PPV of 68.8% (CI95%=67.5, 70.0) for the diagnosis of stroke, with notable differences observed by stroke type. Sensitivity for ischemic stroke increased from 66.5 to 79.6% with inclusion of I64. The sensitivity and PPV of ED administrative data for diagnosis of stroke were 56.8% (CI95%=54.8, 58.7) and 59.1% (CI95%=57.1, 61.1), respectively. For all stroke types, accuracy was greater in the inpatient data than in the ED data. Conclusion: The accuracy of stroke identification based on administrative data from stroke centres may be improved by including I64 in ischemic stroke type, and by considering only inpatient data.

scholarly journals Why Stroke Patients Don’t Receive T-PA? An Analysis of Patient Eligibility: Implications for Improving Clinical Impact by Increasing Future Treatment Numbers

Stroke ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 32 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. 372-372
Author(s):  
Philip A Barber ◽  
Jinijin Zhang ◽  
Andrew M Demchuk ◽  
Michael D Hill ◽  
Andrea Cole-Haskayne ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Acute Stroke Care ◽  
Stroke Registry ◽  
Specific Protocol ◽  
Stroke Type ◽  
Ischemic Attack

P183 Background T-PA is an effective treatment of acute ischemic stroke within 3 hours. However, the success of t-PA on reducing disability is dependent on it being accessible to more patients. We identified the reasons why patients with ischemic stroke did not receive intravenous t-PA and assessed the community impact of the therapy in a large North American city. Methods Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke were identified in a prospective stroke registry at a teaching hospital between October 1996 and December 1999. Additional patients with ischemic stroke admitted to one of three other hospitals during the study period were identified. The Oxford Community Stroke Program Classification was used to record stroke type. Results Of 2165 stroke patients presenting to the emergency department 1179 (54.5%) were diagnosed with ischemic stroke, 31.7% with intracranial hemorrhage, and 13.8 % with transient ischemic attack. 84/339 (29%) patients were admitted within 3 hours of stroke received intravenous t-PA. The major reasons for exclusion for stroke patients presenting within 3 hours were mild stroke (20%), clinical improvement (18.6%), and specific protocol exclusions (11.5%). Delay in presentation to emergency department excluded 840/1179 (71%). 1817 ischemic stroke patients were admitted to Calgary hospitals during the study period of which 4.6% received intravenous t-PA. Generalization of the Calgary experience to other Canadian communities suggests the benefit from t-PA for ischemic stroke may be substantial with an additional 460 independent survivors per annum. Conclusion The effectiveness of t-PA can be improved by understanding why patients are excluded from its use. The eligibility of patients for t-PA must increase by promoting health education programs and by developing organized acute stroke care infrastructure within the community.

Abstract T MP80: Comparison of ICD-9-CM and Clinical Diagnoses for Stroke Patients in the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry, 2013

Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany E Chang ◽  
Mary G George
Keyword(s):  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Performance Measures ◽  
Hemorrhagic Stroke ◽  
P Value ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Stroke Registry ◽  
Clinical Diagnoses ◽  
Improved Performance ◽  
Stroke Type ◽  
Ischemic Attack

Background: Few large studies have examined the comparison of ICD-9-CM codes and clinical diagnoses (CDX) for acute stroke patients. We analyzed the concordance between these two coding systems for patients entered in the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry (PCNASR). We hypothesized that discordance between patient-level ICD-9-CM codes and clinical diagnoses will result in differences in outcomes on stroke performance measures (PMs). Methods: Eleven states submitted 90,035 records between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2013. In-hospital strokes and records with multiple or missing CDXs were excluded from the analysis, resulting in a final sample size of 85,024. Clinical diagnoses were defined as: ischemic stroke (IS), transient ischemic attack (TIA), subarachnoid hemorrhagic stroke (SAH), intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke (ICH), stroke not specified (SNS), admission for carotid intervention only (CI), and other. Data was analyzed by comparing the documented principal ICD-9-CM code and final CDX of each patient. Any discordance between ICD-9-CM codes and CDX was analyzed further by examining its effect on outcomes of ten stroke performance measures (PMs) collected by PCNASR. Results: The agreement rate between ICD-9-CM codes and clinical diagnoses differs by stroke type (94.1% (IS) to 1.6% (SNS)) (Table 1). Discordance in diagnosis led to differences in outcomes on stroke PMs (range: difference of 0.1-1.03 percentage points; p-value < 0.05 for 5 measures), with 8 out of the 10 PMs having improved performance when ICD-9-CM codes are used (data not shown). Using only cases where the CDX is the same as the ICD-9-CM results in even higher adherence to PMs. Conclusion: In conclusion, due to discrepancies between ICD-9-CM codes and clinical diagnoses, outcomes on stroke PMs can vary significantly, depending on the diagnosis method used.

Carotid web: an under-recognized and misdiagnosed ischemic stroke etiology

2021 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-017306
Author(s):  
Ehizele M Osehobo ◽  
Raul G Nogueira ◽  
Sitara Koneru ◽  
Alhamza R Al-Bayati ◽  
Catarina Perry de Camara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Patient Volume ◽  
Large Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Vessel Occlusion ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
Ischemic Attack ◽  
Possible Cause ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Significant Point

BackgroundCarotid web (CaW) constitutes a possible cause of ischemic stroke, particularly large vessel occlusion syndromes. We aim to evaluate misdiagnosis rates and diagnosis trends for CaW.MethodsBased on CT angiography (CTA), we prospectively identified a cohort of patients with symptomatic CaW treated at two comprehensive stroke centers (CSC) from 2014 to 2020 to assess misdiagnosis. Official CTA reports from the CSCs and referring hospitals were then reviewed for mention of CaW. For diagnosis trends, we retrospectively analyzed a CSC electronic medical record, identifying patients with CaW mentioned in an official CTA report from 2011 to 2020.ResultsFor misdiagnosis, 56 patients with symptomatic CaW were identified in the CSCs; 16 (28%) had bilateral CaW, totaling 72 CaWs. Only one CaW (5.5%) was reported at referring facilities, from 14 patients/18 CaWs imaged with CTA. Conversely, 43 (69%) CaWs were reported from 49 patients/62 CaWs at the CSC (p<0.01). For diagnosis trends, from 2011 to 2020, 242 patients at a CSC accounted for 266 CTA reports mentioning CaW. The majority of these reports (n=206, 77%) were associated with stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) ICD-9/ICD-10 codes. The rate of CaW diagnosis adjusted per 1000 patients with stroke/TIA increased over time, 2015 being the most significant point of change ('joinpoint'; p=0.01). The analysis of CaW mentions normalized per 1000 CTA reports also showed increasing rates of diagnosis over time (joinpoint:2014; p<0.02).ConclusionCaW was predominantly identified in patients with strokes/TIAs rather than asymptomatic patients. CaW was commonly overlooked in facilities with lower levels of cerebrovascular certification. Recognition of CaW at a CSC has significantly increased over time, independent of overall imaging and stroke patient volume.

Abstract P250: A Strategy for Reliable Identification of Ischemic Stroke, Thrombolytics, and Thrombectomy in Large Administrative Databases

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kori S Zachrison ◽  
Sijia Li ◽  
Mathew J Reeves ◽  
Opeolu M Adeoye ◽  
Carlos A Camargo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Administrative Data ◽  
Administrative Databases ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Inpatient Hospitalization ◽  
Accurate Identification ◽  
Stroke Research ◽  
Diagnosis Codes ◽  
Icd 10 ◽  
Icd Codes

Background: Administrative data are frequently used in stroke research. Ensuring accurate identification of ischemic stroke patients, and those receiving thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is critical to ensure representativeness and generalizability. We examined differences in patient samples based on different modes of identification, and propose a strategy for future patient and procedure identification in large administrative databases. Methods: We used nonpublic administrative data from the state of California to identify all ischemic stroke patients discharged from an emergency department or inpatient hospitalization from 2010-2017 based on ICD-9 (2010-2015), ICD-10 (2015-2017), and MS-DRG discharge codes. We identified patients with interhospital transfers, patients receiving thrombolytics, and patients treated with EVT based on ICD, CPT and MS-DRG codes. We determined what proportion of these transfers and procedures would have been identified with ICD versus MS-DRG discharge codes. Results: Of 365,099 ischemic stroke encounters, most (87.7%) had both a stroke-related ICD-9 or ICD-10 code and stroke-related MS-DRG code; 12.3% had only an ICD-9 or ICD-10 code, and 0.02% had only a MS-DRG code. Nearly all transfers (99.9%) were identified using ICD codes. We identified32,433 thrombolytic-treated patients (8.9% of total) using ICD, CPT, and MS-DRG codes; the combination of ICD and CPT codes identified nearly all (98%). We identified 7,691 patients treated with EVT (2.1% of total) using ICD and MS-DRG codes; both MS-DRG and ICD-9/-10 codes were necessary because ICD codes alone missed 13.2% of EVTs. CPT codes only pertain to outpatient/ED patients and are not useful for EVT identification. Conclusions: ICD-9/-10 diagnosis codes capture nearly all ischemic stroke encounters and transfers, while the combination of ICD-9/-10 and CPT codes are adequate for identifying thrombolytic treatment in administrative datasets. However, MS-DRG codes are necessary in addition to ICD codes for identifying EVT, likely due to favorable reimbursement for EVT-related MS-DRG codes incentivizing accurate coding.

Dysphagia screening after intracerebral hemorrhage

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 503-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raed A Joundi ◽  
Rosemary Martino ◽  
Gustavo Saposnik ◽  
Vasily Giannakeas ◽  
Jiming Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Clinical Severity ◽  
Stroke Severity ◽  
Stroke Registry ◽  
Patients At Risk ◽  
Poor Outcomes ◽  
Risk Of Aspiration ◽  
To Receive

Background Dysphagia screening is recommended after acute stroke to identify patients at risk of aspiration and implement appropriate care. However, little is known about the frequency and outcomes of patients undergoing dysphagia screening after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods We used the Ontario Stroke Registry from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2013 to identify patients hospitalized with acute stroke and to compare dysphagia screening rates in those with ICH and ischemic stroke. In patients with ICH we assessed predictors of receiving dysphagia screening, predictors of failing screening, and outcomes after failing screening. Results Among 1091 eligible patients with ICH, 354 (32.4%) patients did not have documented dysphagia screening. Patients with mild ICH were less likely to receive screening (40.4% of patients were omitted, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26–0.63). Older age, greater stroke severity, speech deficits, lower initial level of consciousness, and admission to intensive care unit were predictive of failing the screening test. Failing screening was associated with poor outcomes, including pneumonia (aOR 5.3, 95% CI 2.36–11.88), severe disability (aOR 4.78, 95% CI 3.08–7.41), and 1-year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 2.1, 95% CI 1.38–3.17). When compared to patients with ischemic stroke, patients with ICH were less likely to receive dysphagia screening (aOR 0.64, 95% CI 0.54–0.76) and more likely to fail screening (aOR 1.98, 95% 1.62–2.42). Conclusion One-third of patients with ICH did not have documented dysphagia screening, increasing to 40% in patients with mild clinical severity. Failing screening was associated with poor outcomes. Patients with ICH were less like to receive screening and twice as likely to fail compared to patients with ischemic stroke, and thus efforts should be made to include ICH patients in dysphagia screening protocols whenever possible.

scholarly journals Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations for Acute Stroke Management: Prehospital, Emergency Department, and Acute Inpatient Stroke Care, 6th Edition, Update 2018

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 949-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Boulanger ◽  
MP Lindsay ◽  
G Gubitz ◽  
EE Smith ◽  
G Stotts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Transient Ischemic Attack ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Stroke Care ◽  
Stroke Management ◽  
Practice Recommendations ◽  
Prehospital Emergency ◽  
Ischemic Attack

The 2018 update of the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations for Acute Stroke Management, 6th edition, is a comprehensive summary of current evidence-based recommendations, appropriate for use by healthcare providers and system planners caring for persons with very recent symptoms of acute stroke or transient ischemic attack. The recommendations are intended for use by a interdisciplinary team of clinicians across a wide range of settings and highlight key elements involved in prehospital and Emergency Department care, acute treatments for ischemic stroke, and acute inpatient care. The most notable changes included in this 6th edition are the renaming of the module and its integration of the formerly separate modules on prehospital and emergency care and acute inpatient stroke care. The new module, Acute Stroke Management: Prehospital, Emergency Department, and Acute Inpatient Stroke Care is now a single, comprehensive module addressing the most important aspects of acute stroke care delivery. Other notable changes include the removal of two sections related to the emergency management of intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. These topics are covered in a new, dedicated module, to be released later this year. The most significant recommendation updates are for neuroimaging; the extension of the time window for endovascular thrombectomy treatment out to 24 h; considerations for treating a highly selected group of people with stroke of unknown time of onset; and recommendations for dual antiplatelet therapy for a limited duration after acute minor ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack. This module also emphasizes the need for increased public and healthcare provider’s recognition of the signs of stroke and immediate actions to take; the important expanding role of paramedics and all emergency medical services personnel; arriving at a stroke-enabled Emergency Department without delay; and launching local healthcare institution code stroke protocols. Revisions have also been made to the recommendations for the triage and assessment of risk of recurrent stroke after transient ischemic attack/minor stroke and suggested urgency levels for investigations and initiation of management strategies. The goal of this updated guideline is to optimize stroke care across Canada, by reducing practice variations and reducing the gap between current knowledge and clinical practice.

scholarly journals How Reliable Are Administrative Data for Capturing Stroke Patients and Their Care

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 96-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Porter ◽  
Luke Mondor ◽  
Moira K. Kapral ◽  
Jiming Fang ◽  
Ruth E. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Administrative Data ◽  
Stroke Risk ◽  
Billing Data ◽  
Stroke Risk Factors ◽  
Physician Billing ◽  
Stroke Type ◽  
Hospital Administrative ◽  
Kappa Agreement ◽  
Hospital Administrative Data

Background/Aims: The reliability of diagnostic coding of acute stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) in administrative data is uncertain. The purpose of this study is to determine the agreement between administrative data sources and chart audit for the identification of stroke type, stroke risk factors, and the use of hospital-based diagnostic procedures in patients with stroke or TIA. Methods: Medical charts for a population-based sample of patients (n = 14,508) with ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), or TIA discharged from inpatient and emergency departments (ED) in Ontario, Canada, between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2013, were audited by trained abstractors. Audited data were linked and compared with hospital administrative data and physician billing data. The positive predictive value (PPV) of hospital administrative data and kappa agreement for the reporting of stroke type were calculated. Kappa agreement was also determined for stroke risk factors and for select stroke-related procedures. Results: The PPV for stroke type in inpatient administrative data ranged from 89.5% (95% CI 88.0-91.0) for TIA, 91.9% (95% CI 90.2-93.5) for ICH, and 97.3% (95% CI 96.9-97.7) for ischemic stroke. For ED administrative data, PPV varied from 78.8% (95% CI 76.3-81.2) for ischemic, 86.3% (95% CI 76.8-95.7) for ICH, and 95.3% (95% CI 94.6-96.0) for TIA. The chance-corrected agreement between the audited and administrative data was good for atrial fibrillation (k = 0.60) and very good for diabetes (k = 0.86). Hospital administrative data combined with physician billing data more than doubled the observed agreement for carotid imaging (k = 0.65) and echocardiography (k = 0.66) compared to hospital administrative data alone. Conclusions: Inpatient and ED administrative data were found to be reliable in the reporting of the International Classification of Diagnosis, 10th revision, Canada (ICD-10-CA)-coded ischemic stroke, ICH and TIA, and for the recording of atrial fibrillation and diabetes. The combination of physician billing data with hospital administrative data greatly improved the capture of some diagnostic services provided to inpatients.

scholarly journals Validation of Carotid Artery Revascularization Coding in Ontario Health Administrative Databases

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad A Hussain ◽  
Muhammad Mamdani ◽  
Gustavo Saposnik ◽  
Jack V Tu ◽  
David Turkel-Parrella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carotid Artery ◽  
Administrative Data ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Administrative Databases ◽  
Ontario Health Insurance Plan ◽  
Stroke Registry ◽  
Administrative Records ◽  
Ischemic Attack ◽  
Procedure Codes

Purpose: The positive predictive value (PPV) of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) procedure and post-operative complication coding were assessed in Ontario health administrative databases. Methods: Between 1 April 2002 and 31 March 2014, a random sample of 428 patients were identified using Canadian Classification of Health Intervention (CCI) procedure codes and Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) billing codes from administrative data. A blinded chart review was conducted at two high-volume vascular centers to assess the level of agreement between the administrative records and the corresponding patients’ hospital charts. PPV was calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the validity of CEA and CAS coding, utilizing hospital charts as the gold standard. Sensitivity of CEA and CAS coding were also assessed by linking two independent databases of 540 CEA-treated patients (Ontario Stroke Registry) and 140 CAS-treated patients (single-center CAS database) to administrative records. Results: PPV for CEA ranged from 99% to 100% and sensitivity ranged from 81.5% to 89.6% using CCI and OHIP codes. A CCI code with a PPV of 87% (95% CI, 78.8-92.9) and sensitivity of 92.9% (95% CI, 87.4-96.1) in identifying CAS was also identified. PPV for post-admission complication diagnosis coding was 71.4% (95% CI, 53.7-85.4) for stroke/transient ischemic attack, and 82.4% (95% CI, 56.6-96.2) for myocardial infarction. Conclusions: Our analysis demonstrated that the codes used in administrative databases accurately identify CEA and CAS-treated patients. Researchers can confidently use administrative data to conduct population-based studies of CEA and CAS.

scholarly journals Association of Level and Increase in D‐Dimer With All‐Cause Death and Poor Functional Outcome After Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huiqing Hou ◽  
Xianglong Xiang ◽  
Yuesong Pan ◽  
Hao Li ◽  
Xia Meng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Functional Outcome ◽  
Transient Ischemic Attack ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Poor Functional Outcome ◽  
Stroke Registry ◽  
Poor Outcomes ◽  
Ischemic Attack ◽  
High Level ◽  
D Dimer

Background D‐dimer is involved in poor outcomes of stroke as a coagulation biomarker. We aimed to investigate the associations of the level and increase in D‐dimer between baseline and 90 days with all‐cause death or poor functional outcome in patients after ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack. Methods and Results We collected data from the CNSRIII (Third China National Stroke Registry) study. The present substudy included 10 518 patients within 7 days (baseline) of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack and 6268 patients at 90 days. Poor functional outcome at 1 year was assessed on the basis of the modified Rankin Scale (≥3). Multivariable Cox regression or logistic regression was used to assess the association of D‐dimer levels with all‐cause death or poor functional outcome. D‐dimer levels at 90 days were lower than those at baseline (1.4 µg/mL versus 1.7 µg/mL; P <0.001). Higher baseline D‐dimer level was associated with all‐cause death (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.77; 95% CI, 1.25–2.52; P =0.001) and poor functional outcome (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% CI, 1.23–1.80; P <0.001) during 1‐year follow‐up. Higher D‐dimer level at 90 days was also associated with poor outcomes independently. Furthermore, an increase in D‐dimer levels between baseline and 90 days was associated with all‐cause death (since 90 days to 1 year after index event) (adjusted HR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.12–3.53; P =0.019) but not with poor functional outcome (adjusted OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.82–1.41). Conclusions Our study shows that high level and an increase in D‐dimer between baseline and 90 days are associated with poor outcomes in patients after ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Abstract T P267: Development of an EMS Interfacility Ground Transport Protocol for Patients During/After IV tPA Administration for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerrin Connelly ◽  
Rishi Gupta ◽  
Raul Nogueira ◽  
Arthur Yancey ◽  
Alexander Isakov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Acute Stroke ◽  
Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Transport Protocol ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Stroke Registry ◽  
The Public ◽  
State Office ◽  
Stroke Center ◽  
Iv Tpa

Purpose: To standardize the care of acute stroke patients who receive IV tPA being transported by ground EMS from a treating hospital to a stroke center. Background: National consensus guidelines exist for the hospital management of patients receiving IV tPA for acute ischemic stroke. Such patients require close monitoring and management to minimize risk of clinical deterioration. Although patients are often emergently transported from local hospitals to a stroke center, there are no treatment specific national guidelines for managing such patients enroute. As a result, there is a need to develop and implement a standardized approach to guide EMS personnel, particularly in states like Georgia where the public health burden of stroke is high. Methods: In 2012, the “Georgia EMS Interfacility Ground Transport Protocol for Patients during/after IV tPA Administration for Acute Ischemic Stroke” was developed in conjunction with the Georgia Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry, the Georgia State Office of EMS, a representative group of Georgia hospitals and EMS providers. Stakeholders were brought together with the goal of creating a unified statewide protocol. The intent was to create a streamlined protocol which could be readily implemented by pre-hospital care providers. Results: Stakeholders discussed challenges and opportunities to change the process of pre-hospital care. Challenges included recognition of the broad diversity of EMS providers representing over 250 agencies in the state. Opportunities included establishing the framework for greater collaboration across organizations and providers. The final protocol was endorsed by both the Georgia Coverdell Acute Stroke Registry and the State Office of EMS, and distributed to all EMS regions in Georgia. EMS agencies are currently implementing the protocol. Conclusion: Engaging a diverse group of statewide stakeholders to develop a new treatment protocol enhances success in implementation and serves to further the public health mission of improving care of acute stroke patients.

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