No statistically significant difference in the variables recorded was observed for patients treated at community hospitals compared to those who received TPA at the larger medical centers. TPA Problems Wang notes that rural hospitals generally have faster examination times in their favor. Fewer patients allow for quicker laboratory and CT scan procedures. With stroke, early treatment can make a big difference in outcome. So small hospitals are sometimes able to give stroke treatments faster than busier hospitals.
Small hospitals are sometimes able to give stroke treatments faster than busier hospitals.
Wang says some hospitals in the OSF network in rural settings with small populations have as few as 82 beds. The OSF Stroke Network hub in Peoria provides support to the smaller hospitals in the form of telephone contact and telemedicine. Romney says that stroke treatment in rural areas is a particular challenge. The CT scan nearest his facility is an hour and a half away by ambulance, at a hospital that doesn't use thrombolytics for stroke because it has no neurosurgeon on staff. We have to catch it right at the beginning if there's a hope of getting a scan and thrombolytic started in time.