Pre-hospital stroke triage is a critical component of the stroke care pathway and has several important purposes:
Early Identification and Rapid Treatment: Stroke is a time-sensitive condition, and early identification and rapid treatment can significantly improve patient outcomes. In fact, the phrase "time is brain" is often used in stroke care, highlighting that every minute of delay can lead to more extensive brain damage.
Appropriate Hospital Selection: Pre-hospital triage helps identify the severity and type of stroke so patients can be taken to the most appropriate hospital for their needs. For instance, patients with a suspected large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke may need endovascular treatment, which is not available at all hospitals. In such cases, the triage process can inform the decision to transport the patient to a Comprehensive Stroke Center where this treatment is available.
Advance Notification to Hospital: Pre-hospital triage can provide advance notice to the receiving hospital, allowing them to prepare resources and personnel in anticipation of the patient's arrival. This can significantly speed up the treatment process once the patient arrives at the hospital.
Optimize Resource Utilization: By triaging patients and sending them to the most appropriate center for their specific needs, resources can be used more effectively, leading to more efficient care overall.
Reduce Secondary Transfers: If patients are initially taken to a hospital that doesn't have the necessary facilities to treat their type of stroke, they may need to be transferred to another hospital, which can cause significant delays in treatment. Pre-hospital triage helps to reduce the need for such secondary transfers.
In essence, pre-hospital stroke triage is crucial for providing rapid, efficient, and appropriate care to patients, which can ultimately improve their outcomes and survival.