title: Impact of Prehospital Intervention on Delay Time to Thrombolytic Therapy in a Stroke Center with a Systemized Stroke Code Program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of emergency medical services (EMS) and notification to hospitals by paramedics for patients with suspected stroke are crucial determinants in reducing delay time to acute stroke treatment. The aim of this study is to investigate whether EMS use and prehospital notification (PN) can shorten the time to thrombolytic therapy in a stroke center with a systemized stroke code program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Beginning in January 2012, stroke experts in our stroke center received direct calls via mobile phone from paramedics prenotifying the transport of patients with suspected stroke. We compared baseline characteristics and prehospital/in-hospital delay time in stroke patients treated with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for 44 months with and without EMS use and/or PN.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intravenous thrombolytic therapy was performed on 274 patients. Of those patients, 215 (78.5%) were transported to the hospital via EMS and 59 (21.5%) were admitted via private modes of transportation. The patients who used EMS had shorter median onset-to-arrival times (62 minutes versus 116 minutes, P < .001). There was no difference in in-hospital delay time between the 2 groups. In 28 cases (13%) of EMS transport, EMS personnel called the clinical staff to notify the incoming patient. Prenotification by EMS was associated with shorter median door-to-imaging time (9 minutes versus 12 minutes, P = .045) and door-to-needle time (20 minutes versus 29 minutes, P = .011).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that EMS use reduces prehospital delay time. However, EMS use without prenotification does not shorten in-hospital processing time in a stroke center with a systemized stroke code program.
authors.affiliation: Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea; Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kdh6542@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Dae-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea; Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Wook
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Nah
authors.affiliation: Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Hyung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Myong-Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Taeck
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Huh
authors.affiliation: Busan-Ulsan Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Dong-A University Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea; Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Kwan
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Cha
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000552:Ambulances; D040421:Cell Phone; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator
keywords: Stroke; door-to-needle time; emergency medicine; prenotification; thrombolysis