Staffing the mobile stroke unit: Nurse practitioners measure up to physician-led care
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Alexandro, Anne W.; Dusenbury, Wendy L.; Swatzell, Victoria; Tsivgoulis, Georgis; Alexandrov, Andrei, V. 2017. Staffing the mobile stroke unit: Nurse practitioners measure up to physician-led care. International Journal of Stroke, vol. 12:no. 2 suppl,:pp. 3 - 29, First published date: July-25-2017
Abstract
Background: Mobile Stroke Units (MSU) are growing worldwide, with numerous staffing configurations, including telemedicine support. We aimed to test a novel nurse practitioner (NP) MSU team. Methods: We hired stroke fellowship trained NPs with ANVP board certification to lead MSU field medical diagnosis and order/initiate treatment. Consecutive patients were evaluated; NP and Vascular Neurologist (VN) differences were assessed between diagnostic accuracy and IVtPA decisions. Safety was measured by sICH. Efficiency measures were time to treatment.