Abstract 140: Impact of Stroke Nurse Education on Stroke Team Activations and Reperfusion Treatments in a Large Regional Stroke Care Network

Abstract

Introduction: Nurse Education is an important component of successful acute stroke treatment networks. We sought to describe the impact of educational events on the number of acute stroke activations and acute stroke reperfusion therapies, as well as the sustainability of any effects seen within our large network. Methods: In 2016, 40 educational events were performed at 14 hospitals within the Greater Cincinnati Stroke Network. Nurses from every unit were encouraged to attend with a focus on the Emergency Department. A one hour presentation titled “Overview and Acute Management of Stroke” was given at each event, which included when to activate the stroke team, identifying the effects of time on the brain during stroke, and strategies for treating patients faster. The number of calls and treatments in the network within the stroke team call log during 2016 were analyzed, partial years before and after 2016 were also analyzed to evaluate 6-months before and after each education event. A segmented Poisson regression model was used to estimate the change in weekly number of calls and treatments immediately after the first education event and the change in the trend over time. Results: In 2016, the network received 4273 stroke calls from 39 hospitals, with 457 reperfusion treatments. Among the 14 hospitals that held an education event, we found that the number of calls went up by 40% immediately after the event (p<0.01). Although we also saw a jump in the number of treatments by 46% after, this was not statistically significant (p=0.16). At 6-months, the number of calls was 8% higher than the projected rate without the education (Figure). Discussion: Network wide Nurse Education was associated with a significant and profound increase in stroke activations, with a concomitant non-significant increase in reperfusion treatments. This effect was sustained out to 6 months after the educational event. Nurse Education is critical in maintaining networks and improving stroke care delivery.