• Timmy Li, Jeremy T Cushman, Manish N Shah, Adam G Kelly, David Q Rich, and Jones Courtney M C CMC Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY, United States of America; Department of Pu.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, NY, United States of America. Electronic address: TLi2@northwell.edu.
• Am J Emerg Med. 2021 Apr 1; 42: 127-131.

ObjectiveQuantify prehospital time intervals, describe prehospital stroke management, and estimate potential time saved if certain procedures were performed en route to the emergency department (ED).MethodsAcute ischemic stroke patients who arrived via emergency medical services (EMS) between 2012 and 2016 were identified. We determined the following prehospital time intervals: chute, response, on-scene, transport, and total prehospital times. Proportions of patients receiving the following were determined: Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) assessment, prenotification, glucose assessment, vascular access, and 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG). For glucose assessment, ECG acquisition, and vascular access, the location (on-scene vs. en route) in which they were performed was described. Difference in on-scene times among patients who had these three interventions performed on-scene vs. en route was assessed.ResultsData from 870 patients were analyzed. Median total prehospital time was 39 min and comprised the following: chute time: 1 min; response time: 9 min; on-scene time: 15 min; and transport time: 14 min. CPSS was assessed in 64.7% of patients and prenotification was provided for 52.0% of patients. Glucose assessment, vascular access initiation, and ECG acquisition was performed on 84.1%, 72.6%, and 67.2% of patients, respectively. 59.0% of glucose assessments, 51.2% of vascular access initiations, and 49.8% of ECGs were performed on-scene. On-scene time was 9 min shorter among patients who had glucose assessments, vascular access initiations, and ECG acquisitions all performed en route vs. on-scene.ConclusionsOn-scene time comprised 38.5% of total prehospital time. Limiting on-scene performance of glucose assessments, vascular access initiations, and ECG acquisitions may decrease prehospital time.Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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