The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
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J Am Osteopath Assoc · Jan 2011
Implementation of a stroke alert protocol in the emergency department: a pilot study.
Although tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is an effective treatment for stroke patients, it typically must be administered within 3 hours of symptom onset to substantially reduce morbidity and mortality. Because of this limited treatment window, it is essential for healthcare professionals to properly identify and quickly triage stroke patients. ⋯ By coupling a formal stroke protocol with a limited education program, door-to-treatment time of stroke patients was reduced.