Reality of acute stroke patient care in the metropolitan Ruhr area : Status quo and perspectives of a stroke-specific network.
Summary of "Reality of acute stroke patient care in the metropolitan Ruhr area : Status quo and perspectives of a stroke-specific network."
BACKGROUND:
Networking structures are constructed to improve daily care of acute stroke patients, in the Ruhr area by the association of 26 neurological departments. Quality of care can be measured by the rate of stroke unit treatment and of thrombolysis. Epidemiological data are mainly derived from registers resulting in sparse insight into incidence and rate of specialized care in daily practice.
METHODS:
The study involved data analysis of diagnosis-related groups (DRG) statistics and structured quality reports for 2008 and 2010 for depiction of the quality of routine treatment. Aggregation of the number of cases for incidence, rate of stroke unit treatment and thrombolysis district, province, and nation wide were analyzed.
RESULTS:
In 5.2 million inhabitants, the incidence of ischemic stroke (ICD I63) was 296/100,000 in 2010 (district-wise range 244-364) and 56% of patients were treated on a stroke unit (range 18-80%; 2008: 43%, range10-72%). The rate of thrombolysis (ICD I63) was 6.4% and 9.1% in 2008 and 2010 (2008 range 0-11.2%, 2010 range 3.9-18.0%), respectively, which was significantly above the provincial average in 10 out of 15 districts.
DISCUSSION:
Ischemic stroke is a common disease in the area and the quality of care (e.g. stroke unit treatment and thrombolysis rate) is above average. The heterogeneous character of the region allows an exemplary networking aiming for the improvement of routine patient care, e.g. by the implementation of homogeneous standards and structural measures for the implementation of novel therapies. The current analysis allows the identification of the potential for optimization and monitoring of any changes.
Affiliation
Klinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, In der Schornau 23-25, 44892, Bochum, Deutschland, eyding@web.de.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Der Nervenarzt
ISSN: 1433-0407
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22801667
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00115-012-3613-7
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Progressive Patient Care
Organization of medical and nursing care according to the degree of illness and care requirements in the hospital. The elements are intensive care, intermediate care, self-care, long-term care, and organized home care.
Continuity Of Patient Care
Health care provided on a continuing basis from the initial contact, following the patient through all phases of medical care.
Advance Care Planning
Discussions with patients and/or their representatives about the goals and desired direction of the patient's care, particularly end-of-life care, in the event that the patient is or becomes incompetent to make decisions.
Case Management
A traditional term for all the activities which a physician or other health care professional normally performs to insure the coordination of the medical services required by a patient. It also, when used in connection with managed care, covers all the activities of evaluating the patient, planning treatment, referral, and follow-up so that care is continuous and comprehensive and payment for the care is obtained. (From Slee & Slee, Health Care Terms, 2nd ed)
Patient Care Planning
Usually a written medical and nursing care program designed for a particular patient.
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