Get Ahead of Stroke Campaign Debuts App to Help EMS Assess Stroke Severity

Fairfax, Va. — The Get Ahead of Stroke campaign has debuted an app to help EMS first responders transport and triage patients quickly to stroke centers equipped to treat severe strokes.
Called Stroke Scales for EMS, the app is designed to assist first responders in assessing stroke severity in emergency situations and, in cases of severe stroke, transport patients to neuroendovascular-ready stroke facilities.
“Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability nationwide. This app will help first responders quickly and accurately identify cases of severe stroke so they can transport patients to appropriate treatment right away,” said Dr. Blaise Baxter, a neurointerventional radiologist and the President of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery.
To determine how to properly triage a patient experiencing a stroke, first responders and emergency personnel can use the app to assess the severity of the stroke through one of several “stroke scales.” These scales measure certain physical indicators that can point to a patient having a large vessel occlusion, including the ability to squeeze and release a hand, control eye movement, make facial expressions, feel a pin prick and more. Based on results from the stroke scale, the app recommends the type of facility where a stroke patient can receive appropriate treatment.
The app is available for download on the iOS App Store and Google Play.

Source: JEMS: Journal of Emergency Medical Services News - October 13, 2017 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Get Ahead of Stroke Campaign Tags: Cardiac & Resuscitation Patient Care Communications Dispatch Industry News Source Type: news