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Practice Policy and Quality Initiatives

Decreasing Stroke Code to CT Time in Patients Presenting with Stroke Symptoms

Published Online:Aug 18 2017https://doi.org/10.1148/rg.2017160190

Abstract

This article describes how reductions in stroke code to CT time in non-prenotified stroke code patients may be achieved using quality improvement (QI) methods guided by a dedicated QI program.

Guided quality improvement (QI) programs present an effective means to streamline stroke code to computed tomography (CT) times in a comprehensive stroke center. Applying QI methods and a multidisciplinary team approach may decrease the stroke code to CT time in non-prenotified emergency department (ED) patients presenting with symptoms of stroke. The aim of this project was to decrease this time for non-prenotified stroke code patients from a baseline mean of 20 minutes to one less than 15 minutes during an 18-week period by applying QI methods in the context of a structured QI program. By reducing this time, it was expected that the door-to-CT time guideline of 25 minutes could be met more consistently. Through the structured QI program, we gained an understanding of the process that enabled us to effectively identify key drivers of performance to guide project interventions. As a result of these interventions, the stroke code to CT time for non-prenotified stroke code patients decreased to a mean of less than 14 minutes. This article reports these methods and results so that others can similarly improve the time it takes to perform nonenhanced CT studies in non-prenotified stroke code patients in the ED.

©RSNA, 2017

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Article History

Received: Sept 1 2016
Revision requested: Oct 25 2016
Revision received: Nov 13 2016
Accepted: Jan 1 2017
Published online: Aug 18 2017
Published in print: Sept 2017