Accuracy of Prehospital Identification of Stroke in a Large Stroke Belt Municipality

AbstractObjective: Strokes are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, especially in the “stroke belt” of the southeast. Up to 65% of stroke patients access care by calling 9–1-1. The primary objective of this study is to measure the accuracy of emergency medical dispatchers (EMD) and paramedics, in the prehospital identification of stroke.Methods: The study was based at Grady Emergency Medical Services, which is Atlanta, Georgia's public emergency medical services (EMS) provider. A retrospective analysis of all medically related 9–1-1 calls to Grady EMS classified as “stroke” between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2012 was performed. A database was created using deterministic linkage between records from Grady EMS, Grady Hospital Emergency Department (ED), and the Grady Hospital Stroke Registry. Patients excluded were less than 18 years of age, had previous or concurrent head injuries, were transferred from another inpatient facility, and/or had incomplete patient records in a...