The world of stroke assessment has been transformed thanks to a rapid, remote video assessment system at Watford General Hospital.
The stroke video triage system links ambulance crews to a hospital stroke specialist via a tablet so they can assess suspected stroke patients.
The remote nurse-led assessment ensures specialists can request imaging and tests before the patient’s arrival. Patients will immediately be taken to the right place for treatment, sidestepping assessment in A&E.
Since its launch, the initiative has gone from strength to strength, with more than 170 patients assessed. Ninety-nine per cent of stroke patients are now scanned within an hour of arrival, compared to 80 per cent before implementation. On average, they are seen 40 minutes more quickly than before.
Brittany Wells, clinical lead (stroke video triage) at the East of England Ambulance Service Trust, said: “The success of stroke video triage at Watford is testament to the dedication and hard work of the ambulance crews and in-hospital teams who have been so engaged with this new process.”
Photo credit: West Herts Hospital Charity
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