Convincing quality of acute stroke care in TeleStroke Units

Abstract

Summary Background and purpose Implementation of TeleStroke Units is one way to organize acute stroke care in underserved, mostly rural, areas. The Telemedical Project for Integrative Stroke Care (TEMPiS) is a TeleStroke Unit network in Bavaria, Germany. We aimed to determine quality of acute stroke care in TEMPiS TeleStroke Units. Methods All TEMPiS TeleStroke Units report quality data to the Bavarian Stroke Registry. Predefined national quality indicators are analyzed. Results for the year 2013 are reported. Results of quality indicators of TEMPiS TeleStroke Units were looked at regarding fulfillment of predefined national targets and compared to statewide and national results. Results In 2013, 15 TEMPiS TeleStroke Units treated 7386 patients with stroke and TIA (hospital range 240 to 892; mean 492; median 452). Documentation rate was 99.3%. In 12 of 13 indicators predefined targets were fulfilled. In comparison to all 154 hospitals participating in the Bavarian Stroke Registry, TeleStroke Units had better percentage levels in 14, worse levels in three and equal levels in one quality indicator. Conclusion Registry data of the TeleStroke network TEMPiS suggest a convincing acute care quality in TeleStroke Units.