Normal? Who Decides “Normal?”
When was the last time you were normal? -STROKE, STROKE, STROKE: Great improvements have been in the area of stroke treatment. Most of it is based on how they are treated in the field, by us. We will review national protocols and explore ways to enhance our treatment to minimize brain damage.
Objectives:
- Learners will identify the clinical indicators of stroke using tools like the FAST (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) assessment and other prehospital stroke scales (e.g., Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale) to ensure rapid and accurate identification in the field.
- Learners will apply evidence-based EMS protocols for stroke management, including rapid patient assessment, stabilization, and prioritization of transport to a stroke-certified facility within the critical time window for interventions like thrombolytic therapy.
- Understand Stroke Treatment Options and EMS Role in facilitating acute stroke treatments, such as thrombolytics (e.g., tPA) and endovascular therapy, by ensuring timely prehospital interventions, accurate documentation, and effective communication with receiving hospitals.
- Enhance Coordination with Stroke Care Systems and will evaluate strategies for seamless integration with regional stroke care networks, including pre-notification of hospitals, use of stroke destination protocols, and collaboration with stroke teams to optimize patient outcomes.