Saving More Brain Cells by Reducing Time to Alteplase (tPA) on Eligible Stroke Patients

With current guidelines emphasizing delivery of intravenous treatment for stroke patients within 60 minutes of hospital arrival, Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin sought to reduce this arrival-to-treatment time to 30 minutes. A multidisciplinary team was established to analyze the process and steps needed from emergency department physician assessment, to activating the stroke team, to placing orders, obtaining CT scans and labs, to treatment. Froedtert used a tracking feedback tool for consistent timekeeping and to diagram a workable and efficient, streamlined process. As a result, Froedtert decreased the average door-to-needle time to less than 30 minutes, which may improve outcomes for stroke patients. Early delivery of intravenous alteplase saves brain cells. Up to 1.9 million brain cells are lost for each minute the brain is not perfused. By saving more neurons, function and recovery may also be facilitated.

View Froedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin’s poster detailing this project here: https://www.wha.org/QualitySpotlight-FroedtertMCW-stroke-pdf.