The Stroke Team training was supported by a research grant of Boehringer Ingelheim to WP.

1. Prenotification of the ED
<ol>
	<li>After the ED nurse hears an alarm, go to the computer screen immediately.</li>
	<li>Check the information above the incoming patient via the online platform (e.g., IVENA Ehealth)7. Find that the system announces a 66&#160;year-old male patient with the tentative diagnosis of a stroke within the time window (stroke &#60;6 hr) with the estimated time of arrival.</li>
	<li>Pre-notify the resident of the SU via phone call.</li>
	<li>As the SU resident hears the mob...

<ol>
	<li>Emberson, J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Stroke+Thrombolysis+Trialists'+Collaborative+Group.+Effect+of+treatment+delay,+age,+and+stroke+severity+on+the+effects+of+intravenous+thrombolysis+with+alteplase+for+acute+ischaemic+stroke:+a+meta-analysis+of+individual+patient+data+from+randomised+trials.">Stroke Thrombolysis Trialists' Collaborative Group. Effect of treatment delay, age, and stroke severity on the effects of intravenous thrombolysis with alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke: a meta-analysis of individual patient data from randomised trials.</a> Lancet. 384 (9958), 1929-1935 (1929).</li><li>Goyal, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=HERMES+collaborators.+Endovascular+thrombectomy+after+large-vessel+ischaemic+stroke:+a+meta-analysis+of+individual+patient+data+from+five+randomised+trials.">HERMES collaborators. Endovascular thrombectomy after large-vessel ischaemic stroke: a meta-analysis of individual patient data from five randomised trials.</a> Lancet. 387 (10029), 1723-1731 (2016).</li><li>Goyal, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=SWIFT+PRIME+investigators.+Analysis+of+Workflow+and+Time+to+Treatment+and+the+Effects+on+Outcome+in+Endovascular+Treatment+of+Acute+Ischemic+Stroke:+Results+from+the+SWIFT+PRIME+Randomized+Controlled+Trial.">SWIFT PRIME investigators. Analysis of Workflow and Time to Treatment and the Effects on Outcome in Endovascular Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke: Results from the SWIFT PRIME Randomized Controlled Trial.</a> Radiology. 279 (3), 888-897 (2016).</li><li>Flin, R., Maran, N. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Basic+concepts+for+crew+resource+management+and+non-technical+skills.">Basic concepts for crew resource management and non-technical skills.</a> Best Pract Res Clin Anaesthesiol. 29 (1), 27-39 (2015).</li><li>Flin, R., O'Connor, P., Crichton, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Safety+at+the+sharp+end.">Safety at the sharp end.</a> A guide to non-technical skills. , (2008).</li><li>American Heart Association. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Adavanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider Manual. ISBN 978-1-61669-010-6. , (2011).</li><li>Kothari, R. U., Pancioli, A., Liu, T., Brott, T., Broderick, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cincinnati+Prehospital+Stroke+Scale:+reproducibility+and+validity.">Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale: reproducibility and validity.</a> Ann Emerg Med. 33 (4), 373-378 (1999).</li><li>National Institute of Health. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> NIH Stroke Scale. , (2016).</li><li>National Institute of Health. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS). , (2016).</li><li>Jauch, E. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=American+Heart+Association+Stroke+Council;+Council+on+Cardiovascular+Nursing;+Council+on+Peripheral+Vascular+Disease;+Council+on+Clinical+Cardiology.+Guidelines+for+the+early+management+of+patients+with+acute+ischemic+stroke:+a+guideline+for+healthcare+professionals+from+the+American+Heart+Association/American+Stroke+Association.">American Heart Association Stroke Council; Council on Cardiovascular Nursing; Council on Peripheral Vascular Disease; Council on Clinical Cardiology. Guidelines for the early management of patients with acute ischemic stroke: a guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.</a> Stroke. 44, 870-947 (2013).</li><li>Pexman, J. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Use+of+the+Alberta+Stroke+Program+Early+CT+Score+(ASPECTS)+for+assessing+CT+scans+in+patients+with+acute+stroke.">Use of the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) for assessing CT scans in patients with acute stroke.</a> AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 22, 1534-1542 (2001).</li><li>Tahtali, D., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Crew+resource+management+and+simulator+training+in+acute+stroke+therapy.">Crew resource management and simulator training in acute stroke therapy.</a> Nervenarzt. , (2016).</li><li>Meretoja, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Reducing+in-hospital+delay+to+20+minutes+in+stroke+thrombolysis.">Reducing in-hospital delay to 20 minutes in stroke thrombolysis.</a> Neurology. 79 (4), 306-313 (2012).</li><li>Meretoja, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Helsinki+model+cut+stroke+thrombolysis+delays+to+25+minutes+in+Melbourne+in+only+4+months.">Helsinki model cut stroke thrombolysis delays to 25 minutes in Melbourne in only 4 months.</a> Neurology. 81 (12), 1071-1076 (2013).</li><li>Ebinger, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effect+of+the+use+of+ambulance-based+thrombolysis+on+time+to+thrombolysis+in+acute+ischemic+stroke:+a+randomized+clinical+trial.">Effect of the use of ambulance-based thrombolysis on time to thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke: a randomized clinical trial.</a> JAMA. 311 (16), 1622-1631 (2014).</li><li>Ebinger, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prehospital+thrombolysis:+a+manual+from+Berlin.">Prehospital thrombolysis: a manual from Berlin.</a> J Vis Exp. 26 (81), e50534 (2013).</li><li>Itrat, A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cleveland+Pre-Hospital+Acute+Stroke+Treatment+Group.+Telemedicine+in+Prehospital+Stroke+Evaluation+and+Thrombolysis:+Taking+Stroke+Treatment+to+the+Doorstep.">Cleveland Pre-Hospital Acute Stroke Treatment Group. Telemedicine in Prehospital Stroke Evaluation and Thrombolysis: Taking Stroke Treatment to the Doorstep.</a> JAMA Neurol. 73 (2), 162-168 (2016).</li><li>Fletcher, G., Flin, R., McGeorge, P., Glavin, R., Maran, N., Patey, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anaesthetists'+Non-Technical+Skills+(ANTS):+evaluation+of+a+behavioural+marker+system.">Anaesthetists' Non-Technical Skills (ANTS): evaluation of a behavioural marker system.</a> Br J Anaesth. 90 (5), 580-588 (2012).</li><li>Youngson, G. G., Flin, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Patient+safety+in+surgery:+non-technical+aspects+of+safe+surgical+performance.">Patient safety in surgery: non-technical aspects of safe surgical performance.</a> Patient Saf Surg. 4 (1), (2010).</li><li>Barzallo Salazar, M. J., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Influence+of+surgeon+behavior+on+trainee+willingness+to+speak+up:+a+randomized+controlled+trial.">Influence of surgeon behavior on trainee willingness to speak up: a randomized controlled trial.</a> J Am Coll Surg. 219 (5), 1001-1007 (2014).</li><li>Mata, D. A., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Prevalence+of+Depression+and+Depressive+Symptoms+Among+Resident+Physicians:+A+Systematic+Review+and+Meta-analysis.">Prevalence of Depression and Depressive Symptoms Among Resident Physicians: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.</a> JAMA. 314 (22), 2373-2383 (2015).</li><li>Kleim, B., Bingisser, M. B., Westphal, M., Bingisser, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Frozen+moments:+flashback+memories+of+critical+incidents+in+emergency+personnel.">Frozen moments: flashback memories of critical incidents in emergency personnel.</a> Brain Behav. 5 (7), e00325 (2015).</li><li>Rushton, C. H., Batcheller, J., Schroeder, K., Donohue, P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Burnout+and+Resilience+Among+Nurses+Practicing+in+High-Intensity+Settings.">Burnout and Resilience Among Nurses Practicing in High-Intensity Settings.</a> Am J Crit Care. 24 (5), 412-420 (2015).</li></ol>

The authors have no conflict&#160;of interests.

A binding stroke team algorithm and regular simulation-based stroke team trainings can lead to a long-term reduction of the door-to-needle time as the key benchmark process time for acute stroke treatment. Excellent examples of a set of measures that improve the acute stroke work flow, which also inspired our algorithm, have been described by the Helsinki group14,15. Another very innovative approach to shorten the time interval from symptom onset to thrombolysis are mobile stroke units such as the pioneering S...

The efficacy of thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for acute ischemic stroke is highly time-dependent and decreases over time even in the therapeutic time window of 4.5 hr1. The same has been shown for endovascular stroke therapy2. The additional mechanical recanalization after thrombolysis has been shown to be highly effective in improving outcomes of patients with severe stroke due to Large Vessel Occlusion (LVO)3. This new therapy adds to the complexity and interdisciplinarity of acute stroke care since endovascular therapies require a neurointerventionalist, an anesthetist or neurointensivist and in many cases even the acute onward referral of the patient to a specialized center.
Therefore, concepts are needed to minimize the time to treatment without putting patient safety at risk. Since acute stroke care is delivered by interdisciplinary teams, a standardized algorithm and simulation-based training of technical and nontechnical skills appear to be a straightforward approach. In this context, not only &#34;time is brain&#34; but also &#34;team is brain&#34;, since precious min and safety-relevant information can be lost by inefficient communication among team members. In nonmedical high-fidelity situations such as aviation, a concept called Crew Resource Management (CRM) has proven to be highly effective4.
A large share of fatal errors is not due to a lack of knowledge or technical skills, but to deficits in communication, interaction and decision-making. CRM emphasizes the importance of &#34;nontechnical skills&#34; and defines them as cognitive, social and personal resources that complement technical skills. The six key domains comprise clear communication, teamwork, situation awareness, decision-making, leadership and the management of stress5.
This concept has already been successfully implemented in professional cardiovascular life support6. A binding algorithm, a basic education in CRM for all Stroke Team members and regular simulation-based trainings for all new members of the high-fidelity Stroke Team offer ways to improve acute stroke care.
A dedicated Stroke Team of 7 persons who are notified by a collective call via speed dial and have precise tasks within a defined stroke algorithm was established to treat patients within the therapeutic time window. These are the 7 mandatory team members that are summoned to each stroke alarm:
1 resident in neurology from the Stroke Unit (SU) 
1 resident in neurology from the Emergency Department (ED) 
1 nurse from the ED 
1 laboratory technician 
1 resident specializing in neuroradiology 
1 radiology technician 
1 specialist in neurology (senior neurologist of the stroke unit)
Thus, a simulation-based Stroke Team training was conceived, which is conducted at monthly intervals for all new Stroke Team&#160;members and as a refresher for permanent staff. The simulation-based training transports the values of CRM and emphasizes the importance of nontechnical skills in an interdisciplinary multiprofessional team. To monitor the effects of this Stroke Team&#160;intervention consisting of the algorithm and the regular training, door-to-needle times, thrombolysis-associated complications, staff satisfaction and perceived safety in the emergency room (ER) are recorded continuously.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="1228">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:209px;">Drug</td>
			<td style="width:363px;"></td>
			<td style="width:135px;"></td>
			<td style="width:523px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Alteplase (rtPA)</td>
			<td>Boehringer Ingelheim, Ingelheim am Rhein, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Licensed drug, which has proven effectiveness for acute ischemic stroke</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Urapidil 50 mg/10 ml</td>
			<td>Takeda Pharma, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Licensed drug, antihypertensive</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Granisetron 3 mg/3 ml</td>
			<td>Hameln Pharma, Hameln, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Licensed drug, antiemetic</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Lorazepam 2 mg/1 ml</td>
			<td>Pfizer, Berlin, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Licensed drug, sedative</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Iopromid 300 mg/ml</td>
			<td>Bayer Vital GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Licensed drug, non-ionic contrast agent for computed tomography</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Name</td>
			<td>Company</td>
			<td>Catalog Number</td>
			<td>Comments</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Device</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">S-Monovette citrate 3 ml</td>
			<td>Sarstedt, N&#252;rnbrecht, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>to collect blood for coagulation assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">S-Monovette EDTA 1.6 ml</td>
			<td>Sarstedt, N&#252;rnbrecht, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>to collect blood for hematology assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">S-Monovette lithium heparinate 7.5 ml</td>
			<td>Sarstedt, N&#252;rnbrecht, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>to collect blood for clinical chemistry assays</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">ACL Top 500&#160;</td>
			<td>Instrumentation Laboratory, Kirchheim, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Automated hemostasis analyzer</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Sysmex XE 2100</td>
			<td>Sysmex Corporation, Norderstedt, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Automated hematology analyzser</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Cobas 6000</td>
			<td>Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Automated clinical chemistry analyzser</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Resusci Anne Skillreporter</td>
			<td>Laerdal, Stavanger, Norway</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>remote-controlled manikin</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ingenuity 128</td>
			<td>Philips, Hamburg, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>CT-scanner</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MEDRAD Stellant</td>
			<td>Bayer Radiology, Leverkusen Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Contrast agent delivery system</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Universal 320 R</td>
			<td>Hettich, Tuttlingen, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Centrifuge</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Perfusor fm</td>
			<td>Braun, Melsungen, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Infusion pump</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Infinity Gamma</td>
			<td>Dr&#228;ger, Hamburg, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Monitor</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ivena ehealth</td>
			<td>mainis IT-Service GmbH, Offenbach, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>online prenotification platform</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Braun ThermoScan PRO 4000</td>
			<td>Welch Allyn, Hechingen, Germany</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>ear thermometer</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

setting up a stroke team algorithm and conducting simulation-based training in the emergency department - a practical guide

Time is of the essence when caring for an acute stroke patient. The ultimate goal is to restore blood flow to the ischemic brain. This can be&#160;achieved by either&#160;thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-plasminogen activator (rt-PA), the standard therapy for stroke patients who present within the first hours of symptom onset without contraindications, or by an endovascular approach, if a proximal brain vessel occlusion is detected. As the efficacy of both therapies declines over time, every minute saved along the way will improve the patient&#39;s outcome.
This critical situation requires thorough work and precise communication with the patient, the family and colleagues from different professions to acquire all relevant information and reach the right decision while carefully monitoring the patient. This is a high fidelity situation. In nonmedical high-fidelity environments such as aviation, Crew Resource Management (CRM) is used to enhance safety and team efficiency.
This guide shows how a Stroke Team algorithm, which is transferable to other hospital settings, was established and how regular simulation-based trainings were performed. It requires determination and endurance to maintain these time-consuming simulation trainings on a regular basis over the course of time. However, the resulting improvement of team spirit and excellent door-to-needle times will benefit both the patients and the work environment in any hospital.
A dedicated Stroke Team of 7 persons who are notified 24/7 by a collective call via speed dial and run a binding algorithm that takes approximately 20 min, was established. To train everybody involved in this algorithm, a simulation-based team training for all new Stroke Team members was conceived and conducted at monthly intervals. This led to a relevant and sustained reduction of the mean door-to-needle time to 25 min, and enhanced the feeling of stroke readiness especially in junior doctors and nurses.

Effect on the door-to-needle times and thrombolysis rate
The implementation of the Stroke Team algorithm in 2012 accompanied by regular simulation-based Stroke Team trainings led to a relevant increase in the patients treated with a door-to-needle time below 30 and 60 min and to an increase in our thrombolysis rate.
<img alt="Figure 1" src="/files/ftp_upload/55138/55138fig1.jpg" /> 
Figure 1:&#160;Stroke Team Algorithm of t...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide at JoVE.com

Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide

Every min counts in acute stroke care. This guide shows how to establish a Stroke Team algorithm and enhance its performance with regular simulation training. The principles of Crew Resource Management (CRM) facilitate a straight workflow, reduce door-to-needle times and increase staff satisfaction.

Time is of the essence when caring for an acute stroke patient. The ultimate goal is to restore blood flow to the ischemic brain. This can ...

In acute stroke care, faster treatment directly leads to better patient outcomes. This team based stroke algorithm helps to deliver thrombolysis as fast and safely as possible to rapidly evaluate patient eligibility for a thrombectomy. Since the effect of acute stroke therapies is highly time dependent, every minute counts.Therefore, strategies are needed to shorten the time to treatment without putting the patient's safety at risk. The combination of a team based algorithm and regular training with the entire interdisciplinary team shortened the time to treatment in our center. We developed this algorithm when we noted that a large share of fatal errors were not due to a lack of knowledge, but due to deficits in communication, interaction and decision making.Acute stroke is a high fidelity situation which requires dedicated teamwork. Clear communication, cooperation, decision making and management of stress. Our composite intervention focuses on the importance of interdisciplinary teamwork and it's easily transferrable to other hospital settings.Joining us in this demonstration will be Ana Lawa, a newer radiology resident, and Tanya Herzinger, a radiology technician. When the alarm is heard, the ED nurse goes directly to the computer to check the information on the incoming patient. Hypothetically, the system announces a male patient with a tentative diagnosis of a stroke within at least six hours, arriving soon by ambulance.When the paramedics enter the ED with a patient on a stretcher, they immediately report to the stroke nurse and SU resident. Next, the resident performs an initial check that includes the fast test. The resident then asks about the characteristics and evolution of the symptoms, in order to exclude very obvious stroke mimics, and exclude patients that present beyond a therapeutic time window.The nurse must now trigger the stroke team alert using a speed dial collective call, which simultaneously informs all members of the stroke team via their institutional mobile phones. When the stroke team members answer their phones, they get an automated message indicating that there is stroke within time window. Now, the ED resident, SU resident and senior neurologist, all meet at the ED.The laboratory technician should got to the laboratory and prepare to analyze the stroke patient's blood sample.And the radiology resident and technician should meet at the CT scanner. Next, the ED resident should take blood samples by using an adaptor or a butterfly cannula. Three milliliter citrate plasma sample is needed to determine the coagulation parameters, including the prothrombin time and international normalized ratio, the activated prothrombin time, and the thrombin time.If possible, the resident now informs the patient of the suspected acute stroke, and then collects information on symptom onset, symptom evaluation, prior disabilities, and current medication, with a focus on blood thinners, allergies, and any preexisting conditions. The resident must then perform a focused neurological exam, on the basis of the NIH stroke scale. Next, the senior neurologist reviews the case and decides on an imaging modality.CT scanning is a strong choice for patients with unequivocal stroke systems, and stroke onset that is clearly within the therapeutic time window, because of speed and easy access. Also, it allows select patients for mechanical recanalization. At the lab, the analyses are performed on an automated hemostasis analyzer, an automated hematology system, and an automated analyzer for clinical chemistry.This requires 15 to 20 minutes. Meanwhile, bring the patient on the ambulance stretcher to the CT scanner. With the patient are the paramedics, the residents from the ED, the stroke unit residents and the senior neurologist.At the CT scanner, the team is joined by a neuroradiology resident and a radiology technician. The patient is then moved to the CT and connected to an infusion line to deliver the contrast agent. The paramedics are relieved.Meanwhile, the ED nurse arrives with a new stretcher, a thrombosis kit, monitoring equipment and portable oxygen. Now, the technician performs a cranial CT to exclude intercranial hemorrhage. The scanning is unenhanced with a slice thickness of five millimeters.Once taken, the scans are immediately reviewed by the neuroradiologist. Then, the senior neurologist decides if intravenous RTPA should be administered. If the patient confirm no use of blood thinners or other hemostasis issues, do not wait for the blood lab values and directly proceed with administering the RTPA bolus.Consulting a table of body mass to dose, the nurse prepares the RTPA bolus, then calls colleagues in the ED to prepare the remaining 90 percent of the dose. The stroke unit resident then administers the bolus of RTPA over one minute. Now, a CT angiography is performed to screen for LVO.Both the neuroradiologist and senior neurologist examine the stand. If LVO is present, the department of anesthesiology is immediately notified. After scanning, the stroke team takes the patient back to the ED, or directly to the angiography suite, in case of LVO.Around this time, the laboratory phones the stroke unit resident and discloses the coagulation data. When the patient is back at the ER or suite, the remaining 90 percent of the RTPA is set up to infuse over one hour. Then, the patient's blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation are put up on a monitor.Every 15 minutes, the patient's neurological function is assessed on the NIHSS. For a training session, first conduct an oral presentation covering the most frequent stroke symptoms in your hospital's acute stroke workflow. Then practice the stroke team algorithm on a mannequin while one of the stroke team trainers notes the procedural times and positive and negative elements of the performance.Following the simulation, have a feedback session with an active dialogue. Start the discussion with the door to needle time recorded during the training session. Then conduct three rounds of feedback, including every team member in each round.The implementation of the stroke team algorithm in 2012, accompanied by regular simulation based stroke team trainings, led to a relevant increase in the patients treated with a door to needle time below 30 minutes and an increase in thrombolysis rate. The course was evaluated by questionnaires. 16 physicians, 11 ED nurses and radiology technicians, and 18 medical students responded.Regarding their ability to safely treat acute stroke patients, the participants reported significantly greater confidence after the course. A binding stroke team algorithm and regular simulation based stroke team trainings can lead to a long term reduction of the door to needle time. This is the key benchmark process time for acute stroke treatment.This algorithm starts at the doorstep of the hospital and is easily transferrable to other hospitals without specific infrastructural prerequisites. It emphasizes the role of teamwork and is straightened to teach non technical skills. Recognizing errors early, communicating them and correcting them have a tremendous effect on patient safety.Therefore, it is important to create a sense of shared responsibility and a flat hierarchical structure to allow open communication. Bring this to practice during simulator based team training sessions. In non medical high fidelity situations such as aviation, concept called crew resource management, CRM, has proven to be highly effective.CRM emphasizes the importance of non technical skills, such as clear communication, teamwork, situation awareness, decision making, leadership, and the management of stress. As similar concepts have already been successfully implemented in cardiovascular life support, anesthesiology or surgery, we believe that a basic education in CRM and regular simulation based trainings offer ways to improve acute stroke care in high fidelity situations.

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17.0K vues.  University Hospital, Frankfurt. In acute stroke care, faster treatment directly leads to better patient outcomes. This team based stroke algorithm helps to deliver thrombolysis as fast and safely as possible to rapidly evaluate patient eligibility for a thrombectomy. Since the effect of acute stroke therapies is highly time dependent, every minute counts.Therefore, strategies are needed to shorten the time to treatment without putting the patient's safety at risk. The combination of a team based algorithm and regular...