The French stroke program.
The French healthcare system is organised according to a political, geographical and demographic framework. In France today, less than 20 hospitals have dedicated intensive care units for acute stroke patients. In the 1999 national survey, 94% of stroke patients were admitted to public hospitals, 35% were treated in neurological wards and 4% had access to an intensive care stroke unit. To improve the quality of care and resource utilisation, a national plan for stroke will be implemented at regional level during the next five-year plan. After a long period of status quo, many positive actions for stroke care have been initiated within a couple of years, based on the evidence of more effective stroke treatments, such as thrombolysis and the specialist care provided by stroke units.
Hommel
Marc
M
Stroke Unit, University Hospital, Grenoble, France. Marc.Hommel@ujf-grenoble.fr
Deblasi
Alain
A
Garambois
Katia
K
Jaillard
Assia
A
D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000706:statistics & numerical data