[Improvement in stroke care in a non-urban community hospital--quality of procedures before and after participating in a telemedical stroke network].

BACKGROUND

Although treatment in a stroke unit has been proven to be effective, most stroke patients in rural areas have no access to it. The community hospital of Ebersberg (Bavaria/Germany) joined the Telemedic Project for Integrative Stroke Care (TEMPiS) in order to optimize the quality of stroke care. This analysis focuses on changes in stroke management using generally accepted indicators for quality of acute stroke treatment.

METHODS

The core elements consisted of the setting up of a stroke ward in the community hospital, continual stroke education and a 24-hour telemedical consultation service offered by stroke centers. Treatment of stroke patients was documented during two 12-months periods before the project was started start (i.e. retrospectively) and during the course of the project (prospectively). In addition, data on fatal outcome and institutionalization of patients who had lived at home before the qualifying event were collected 12 months after stroke onset.

RESULTS

There were 299 admissions for stroke or transient ischemic attacks between 1 Nov 2001 and 31 Oct 2002, and 305 between 7 July 2003 and 6 June 2004. Length of in-hospital stay decreased from 12.1 to 9.2 days. More patients (10.3 vs. 1.3%) were transferred to other acute hospitals during the later period. Indicators for stroke care quality improved: numbers of cerebral imaging rose from 56.5% to 96.4%, of duplex sonography of cervical arteries from 43.5 to 72.8 %, of speech therapy from 0% to 50.8% and of occupational therapy from 0 to 33.4%. One year after admission, 18.9% and 17.2%, respectively, of the patients had died, while 10.2% and 6.1% were living in institutions.

CONCLUSION

Participation in the TEMPiS network substantially improved stroke care quality according to national and international guidelines. These improvements may lead to a better prognosis after a stroke.