Analysis of a Coordinated Stroke Center and Regional Stroke Network on Access to Acute Therapy and Clinical Outcomes

Background and Purpose— Compare access and outcomes in a tertiary care community hospital (Saint Luke’s Neuroscience Institute) and its stroke network to hospitals in 3 national databases. Methods— Retrospective analysis of ischemic stroke patients (2005, 2007, 2010) in Saint Luke’s (n=1576), Get With The Guidelines-Stroke (n=423 809), Premier (n=91 598), and Merci Registry (n=966). Study measures were use of computed tomography scans and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, discharge disposition, discharge National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores, and 90-day modified Rankin Scores. Results— Saint Luke’s increased access to care with higher tPA use than other hospitals (17.2% received intravenous tPA therapy compared with 5.8% at Get With The Guidelines–Stroke hospitals, P P P =0.001). Saint Luke’s patients also were more likely than those in other hospitals to receive computed tomography scans (99.4% vs 58.6% at Premier hospitals). Embolectomy at Saint Luke’s was associated with better outcomes than peer hospitals, and treatment at Saint Luke’s was independently associated with more discharges to home (odds ratio, 3.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.84–8.32). In 2010, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhages after tPA therapy was similar for Saint Luke’s patients and Premier patients (2.2% vs 1.5%; P =0.590). Conclusions— Regionally coordinated stroke programs can substantially improve access and patient outcomes.