• B Fuentes, M Alonso de Leciñana, P Calleja-Castaño, J Carneado-Ruiz, J Egido-Herrero, A Gil-Núñez, J Masjuán-Vallejo, J Vivancos-Mora, J Rodríguez-Pardo, N Riera-López, Á Ximénez-Carrillo, A Cruz-Culebras, C Gómez-Escalonilla, E Díez-Tejedor, and en representación de los hospitales del Plan Ictus Madrid.
• Servicio de Neurología y Centro de Ictus, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Instituto de Investigación IdiPAZ, Madrid, España. Electronic address: blanca.fuentes@salud.madrid.org.
• Neurologia. 2020 Jul 1; 35 (6): 363-371.

IntroductionThe overload of the healthcare system and the organisational changes made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic may be having an impact on acute stroke care in the Region of Madrid.MethodsWe conducted a survey with sections addressing hospital characteristics, changes in infrastructure and resources, code stroke clinical pathways, diagnostic testing, rehabilitation, and outpatient care. We performed a descriptive analysis of results according to the level of complexity of stroke care (availability of stroke units and mechanical thrombectomy).ResultsThe survey was completed by 22 of the 26 hospitals in the Madrid Regional Health System that attend adult emergencies, between 16 and 27 April 2020. Ninety-five percent of hospitals had reallocated neurologists to care for patients with COVID-19. The numbers of neurology ward beds were reduced in 89.4% of hospitals; emergency department stroke care pathways were modified in 81%, with specific pathways for suspected SARS-CoV2 infection established in 50% of hospitals; and SARS-CoV2-positive patients with acute stroke were not admitted to neurology wards in 42%. Twenty-four hour on-site availability of mechanical thrombectomy was improved in 10 hospitals, which resulted in a reduction in the number of secondary hospital transfers. The admission of patients with transient ischaemic attack or minor stroke was avoided in 45% of hospitals, and follow-up through telephone consultations was implemented in 100%.ConclusionsThe organisational changes made in response to the SARS-Co2 pandemic in hospitals in the Region of Madrid have modified the allocation of neurology department staff and infrastructure, stroke units and stroke care pathways, diagnostic testing, hospital admissions, and outpatient follow-up.Copyright © 2020 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

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