To reduce door-to-needle times in acute stroke treatment. Using an organizational behaviour intervention (a large stopwatch), we will post a visual cue to remind all parties that "time is brain". We hypothesize that this simple visual cue will improve door-to-CT scan times and door-to-needle treatment times, and thus improve treatment response, and reduce adverse events.
We will construct a large, "in-your-face" red LED stopwatch-clock that is the intervention. The clock will be attached to the stretcher of patients presenting for hyperacute stroke treatment (consideration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) treatment at the moment of their Emergency department arrival. This will act as a constant visual reminder to all team members (physicians, RN's, CT technologists) of the urgency of the situation. The study will be a block randomization, by week of presentation. All patients presenting during "on" weeks will have a stopwatch timer with them during the hyperacute stroke workup. During "off" weeks, the clocks will not be used.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
3,452
We will attach a large, "in-your-face" red LED stopwatch-clock timers to the patient's stretcher at the moment of ED arrival to act as a constant visual reminder to all team members (physicians, RN's, CT technologists) of the urgency of the situation.
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
St. Michael's Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
University Health Network - Toronto Western Hospital
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Improved door-to-CT and door-to-needle times.
Improved door-to-CT scan times and door-to-needle treatment times with tPA, with potentially improved response to treatment and reduction in adverse events.
Time frame: 18 months
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.