Keywords

acute stroke therapy, intervention, reperfusion, therapy, tPA, treatment

Authors

1. Olson, DaiWai M.
2. Cox, Margueritte
3. Constable, Mark
4. Britz, Gavin W.
5. Lin, Cheryl B.
6. Zimmer, Louise O.
7. Fonarow, Gregg C.
8. Schwamm, Lee H.
9. Peterson, Eric D.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: No instruments are currently available to help health systems identify target areas for reducing door-to-needle times for the administration of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator to eligible patients with ischemic stroke. A 67-item Likert-scale survey was administered by telephone to stroke personnel at 252 U.S. hospitals participating in the "Get With The Guidelines-Stroke" quality improvement program. Factor analysis was used to refine the instrument to a four-factor 29-item instrument that can be used by hospitals to assess their readiness to administer intravenous tissue plasminogen activator within 60 minutes of patient hospital arrival.