A hyperacute neurology team – transforming emergency neurological care

We present the results of an 18-month study of a new model of how to care for emergency neurological admissions. We have established a hyperacute neurology team at a single district general hospital. Key features are a senior acute neurology nurse coordinator, an exclusively consultant-delivered ser...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical medicine (London, England) England), 2017-08, Vol.17 (4), p.298-302
Main Authors: Nitkunan, Arani, MacDonald, Bridget K, Boodhoo, Ajay, Tomkins, Andrew, Smyth, Caitlin, Southam, Medina, Schon, Fred
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Clinics
Consultants
Emergency care
Emergency medical care
Epilepsy
Hospitals
hyperacute
Medical imaging
Medical referrals
Neurology
neurology specialist nurse
Nurses
Original Research
Patients
Physicians
Stroke
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Summary:We present the results of an 18-month study of a new model of how to care for emergency neurological admissions. We have established a hyperacute neurology team at a single district general hospital. Key features are a senior acute neurology nurse coordinator, an exclusively consultant-delivered service, acute epilepsy nurses, an acute neurophysiology service supported by neuroradiology and acute physicians and based within the acute medical admissions unit. Key improvements are a major increase in the number of patients seen, the speed with which they are seen and the percentage seen on acute medical unit before going to the general wards. We have shown a reduced length of stay and readmission rates for patients with epilepsy. Epilepsy accounted for 30% of all referrals. The cost implications of running this service are modest. We feel that this model is worthy of widespread consideration.
ISSN:1470-2118
1473-4893
DOI:10.7861/clinmedicine.17-4-298