Implementation of SHEA/CDC Outbreak Response Training Program Tools to Develop a Dedicated COVID-19 Hospital in Lucas County, Ohio

We describe a care delivery model in which one hospital in a larger health system was dedicated exclusively to treatment of COVID-19 patients. This allowed for rapid training, conservation of resources and promoted safety of healthcare workers, demonstrated by no healthcare worker exposures due to improper personal protective equipment use.

Long-term implementation of a prehospital severity scale for EMS triage of acute stroke: a real-world experience

BackgroundData on the implementation of prehospital large vessel occlusion (LVO) scales to identify and triage patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) in the field are limited, with the majority of studies occurring outside the USA.ObjectiveTo report our long-term experience of a US countywide emergency medical services (EMS) acute stroke triage protocol using the Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation (RACE) score.MethodsOur prospective database was used to identify all consecutive patients triaged within Lucas County, Ohio by the EMS with (1) a RACE score ≥5, taken directly to an endovascular capable center (ECC) as RACE-alerts (RA) and (2) a RACE score <5, taken to the nearest hospital as stroke-alerts (SA). Baseline demographics, RACE score, time metrics, final diagnosis, treatments, and clinical and angiographic outcomes were captured. The sensitivity and specificity for patients with a RACE score ≥5 with LVO, eligible for mechanical thrombectomy (MT), were calculated.ResultsBetween July 2015 and June 2018, 492 RA and 1147 SA were triaged within our five-hospital network. Of the RA, 37% had AIS secondary to LVOs. Of the 492 RA and 1147 SA, 125 (25.4%) and 38 (3.3%), respectively, underwent MT (OR=9.9; 95% CI 6.8 to 14.6; p<0.0001). Median times from onset-to-ECC arrival (74 vs 167 min, p=0.03) and dispatch-to-ECC arrival (31 vs 46 min, p=0.0002) were shorter in the RA-MT than in the SA-MT cohort. A RACE cut-off point ≥5 showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.77 and 0.75 for detection of patients with LVO eligible for MT, respectively.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated the long-term feasibility of a countywide EMS-based prehospital triage protocol using the RACE Scale within our hospital network.

Abstract WP277: Race Score is Scalable to Other Ems Systems; A Sensitivity Analysis

Back Ground: Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation Scale (RACE) was first instituted in Barcelona and described in 2014 to successfully assess stroke severity and identify patients with acute stroke with large vessel occlusion (LVO) at pre-hospital setting by medical emergency technicians. Objective: We instituted Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation Scale (RACE) hospital bypass protocol (RA) in Lucas county, Ohio since July 2015. Our aim in this study is to evaluate the sensitivity of our RACE protocol in identifying cerebro-vascular accidents and furthermore to identify ischemic CVAs from the cohort. Method: All county EMS personnel (N=464) underwent training in the Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation (RACE) score. The RACE Alert (RA) protocol, whereby patients with stroke symptoms, who were last seen normal less than 12 hours and had a RACE score ≥5 were taken to a facility that has neuro-interventional capacity, was implemented in July 2015. An IRB approved prospective DB was maintained during that period. Patient’s stroke characteristics, type of acute treatment and final diagnosis on discharge were reviewed for the purpose of this abstract. Our results were comparable to the Spanish study done in Barcelona in 2014. Results: Between Jul 2016-Jun 2016 186 RAs were activated. The discharge diagnoses included ischemic stroke N=91 (49%), ICH N=26 (14%) and TIA N=17(9%). The rate of stroke mimic was N=52 (28%) of the total RACE alerts. These included seizures (12%), metabolic encephalotpathy (12%) and others including sepsis and migraines. Of the patients presenting as RA, 33% underwent IV tPA treatment ± mechanical thrombectomy. Conclusion: Results from our prospective county wide data is comparable to prior studies. RACE score may be scalable to other EMS systems to triage potential LVOs for direct transfer to centers with interventional capabilities.

Abstract TMP10: Impact on Mechanical Thrombectomy Time Efficiencies Following Hospital Bypass Protocol Implementation: Northwest Ohio Experience

Background: Early stroke identification and treatment with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) increases likelihood of favorable outcome. We compared our MT time efficiencies before and after Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation Alert (RACE) bypass protocol (RA) implementation in Lucas County (LC) Ohio. Methods: Our RA protocol mandates emergent comprehensive stroke center transfer for patients with RACE score ≥ 5. We compared MT cases for RA patients (N=37) from Jul 2015-Jun 2016 with procedures performed on Stroke Alerts [(SA) N=56] from preceding 2 years. Transfers from outside LC, private transport and inhospital cases were excluded and only patients brought via LC-EMS were included in the analysis. Basic demographics, risk factors, 911 call to treatment, and outcomes were compared. Results: Treatment times including 911 call to IV tPA treatment, groin puncture, and recanalization were all significantly faster in the RA cohort (see graphic). Overall RA patients achieved recanalization and favorable outcomes at higher rate, although the latter was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our experience indicates that RA protocol is highly effective in enhancing overall time efficiency for MT and may contribute to improved clinical outcomes. Further prospective studies are warranted.

Abstract WP68: Impact on ER Arrival & IV TPA Treatment Times Following Hospital Bypass Protocol Implementation: Northwest Ohio Experience

Background: There is concern regarding hospital bypass stroke protocols potentially compromising IVtPA treatment due to transit time delay. We compared our IV thrombolysis time efficiencies before and after Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation Alert (RACE) bypass protocol (RA) implementation in Lucas County (LC) Ohio. Methods: RA protocol whereby RACE score ≥5 patients are transferred directly to comprehensive stroke center (CSC) for potential mechanical thrombectomy (MT) was implemented in Jul 2015. All stroke alerts (SA) that required MT from July 2013 through June 2015 were compared to MT cases performed following RA protocol implementation. Transfers from other counties, private transport and in-hospital cases were excluded and only patients brought via LC-EMS were included in the analysis. Basic demographics, risk factors, 911 activation to treatment time, and outcomes were compared. Results: Between Jul 2015-Jun 2016, 37 RA patients underwent MT of which 21 (56.8%) were given IV tPA at the CSC. Whereas in the preceding 2 years from Jul 2013-Jun 2015, 56 SA patients underwent MT, of which 22 (39%) received IVtPA. Of these SA cases, 11 (50%) were drip and transfer from other LC ERs and the remaining 11 (50%) presented directly to CSC. The 911 activation to 1 st ER arrival remained unchanged (34 vs. 32 mins, p 0.4), whereas tPA administration was significantly faster (64 vs. 88 mins, p <0.05) in the RA cohort (see graphic). Conclusions: Within LC, the RA bypass protocol did not result in a significant delay to ER arrival and it significantly expedited IV tPA delivery to patients undergoing MT. Further prospective studies are warranted.

Stroke care: initial data from a county-based bypass protocol for patients with acute stroke

BackgroundEarly identification and transfer of patients with acute stroke to a primary or comprehensive stroke center results in favorable outcomes.ObjectiveTo describe implementation and results of an emergency medical service (EMS)-driven stroke protocol in Lucas County, Ohio.MethodAll county EMS personnel (N=464) underwent training in the Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation (RACE) score. The RACE Alert (RA) protocol, whereby patients with stroke and a RACE score ≥5 were taken to a facility that offered advanced therapy, was implemented in July 2015. During the 6-month study period, 109 RAs were activated. Time efficiencies, diagnostic accuracy, and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) outcomes were compared with standard ‘stroke-alert’ (N=142) patients from the preceding 6 months.ResultsAn increased treatment rate (25.6% vs 12.6%, p<0.05) and improved time efficiency (median door-to-CT 10 vs 28 min, p<0.05; door-to-needle 46 vs 75 min, p<0.05) of IV tissue plasminogen activator within the RA cohort was achieved. The rate of MT (20.1% vs 7.7%, p=0.06) increased and treatment times improved, including median arrival-to-puncture (68 vs 128 min, p=0.04) and arrival-to-recanalization times (101 vs 205 min, p=0.001) in favor of the RA cohort. A non-significant trend towards improved outcome (50% vs 36.4%, p=0.3) in the RA cohort was noted. The RA protocol also showed improved diagnostic specificity for ischemic stroke (52.3% vs 30.1%, p<0.05).ConclusionsOur results indicate that EMS adaptation of the RA protocol within Lucas County is feasible and effective for early triage and treatment of patients with stroke. Using this protocol, we can significantly improve treatment times for both systemic thrombolysis and MT.