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Paramedics, EMTs and other first responders are often the first healthcare provider to assess and treat a stroke patient. The primary goal of prehospital stroke care is to provide rapid assessment and delivery of the patient to the appropriate facility to minimize brain injury and maximize the potential for intervention and recovery. This includes a rapid on-scene assessment and initiate transport to an appropriate facility without hesitation.
EMS providers need to obtain the last known well time from bystanders if possible and begin transport, this is just part of the triaging of stroke cases in the field.
A 2009 study revealed a substantial percentage of patients with ischemic stroke arrive 3 hours after symptom onset. On an average EMS call, the on-scene time can range from 15-30 minutes (many varying factors). EMS should focus on getting the patient safely to the hospital. American Stroke Association guidelines recommend that for suspected stroke cases, emergency medical services (EMS) personnel spend less than 15 minutes (min) on-scene at least 90% of the time. [73]
AHA Prehospital EMS Resources:
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