1. Patient flow analysis with fast-track MRI for suspected stroke in the emergency department and associated non-comprehensive stroke center
- Author
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Malini Vendela Sagar, Karen Lind Gandrup, Diane Jensen, Christian Hedeager Krag, Mikael Ploug Boesen, Henriette Raaschou, Helle Collatz Christensen, and Christina Kruuse
- Subjects
Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system ,RC346-429 - Abstract
Background: Good outcomes in stroke care require swift diagnostics, for which magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as first-line brain imaging is superior to computed tomography scans. Reduced length of stay (LOS) in hospital and emergency departments (ED) may optimize resource use. Fast-track stroke MRI was implemented as the primary imaging technique for suspected stroke, in the ED at Copenhagen University Hospital—Herlev and Gentofte in 2020. Objectives: We aimed to describe and compare LOS, MRI utilization, and the rate of strokes versus stroke-mimicking conditions on the stroke ward, before and after the implementation of fast-track MRI. Design and method: In this cross-sectional study, we used data from admissions to the neurologic ED and associated non-comprehensive stroke unit. We compared two time periods, that is, January 1–December 31, 2019, and January 1–December 31, 2020, before and after the implementation of fast-track stroke MRI. Results: There were 6650 admissions before and 7201 after implementation of fast-track stroke MRI. After implementation, we observed reductions in average LOS in hospitals from 56.0 to 38.6 h ( p
- Published
- 2024
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