Transportation Issues
EMS systems should have clearly defined protocols regarding the use of lights and sirens and the applicability to stroke care. Understand that remote or rural locations may require the use of aeromedical transportation to facilitate appropriate stroke care. By decreasing transit times, additional therapeutic options may remain viable at a higher-level stroke facility. [25] With rapid development of telemedicine and telestroke capabilities, remotely located facilities will be able to obtain expert consultation with stroke specialists. Specific interventions and therapies such as thrombolytic administration can be facilitated in consultation with a stroke specialist (neurologist).[50]
It remains important to understand that patients treated at a designated stroke center have lower mortality at days 1, 7, 30 and 1 year post-stroke, compared to patients treated at non-stroke centers. [21][25][26]
