EMS and Hospital Collaboration to Treat and Identify Stroke Patients [Podcast Episode]

How does your team detect a Large Vessel Occlusion (LVO) stroke? If you suspect a patient is having an LVO in the field, THEN what? Correctly identifying which patients should go to a PCI center could make a significant difference in their outcomes. Using the right tools to reach this critical decision is a key factor in LVO treatment success. 

A primary key when addressing the stroke patient includes standardizing a scale that both EMS and the receiving hospitals use. It's critically important that the findings of the stroke systems are accurately conveyed to the hospital in order for them to appropriately prepare for the patient in this time sensitive emergency. 

While there are a number of prehospital stroke scores, one is the modification of the RACE score called RACE+. On a recent episode of FOAMfrat, Flight Paramedic and RN, Brandon Means (also Pulsara's Clinical Specialist), joined host Tyler Christifulli to discuss the cortical signs and how the RACE+ score assists clinicians to assess 1) gaze deviation, 2) aphasia, and 3) agnosia. Tyler is a flight paramedic for LifeLink III in St Paul, Minnesota and the co-creator of FOAMfrat blog and podcast.

Listen to the full episode to hear details about each of these three signs and what specifically to look for when evaluating their presence.

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BONUS: You'll also get to hear Brandon's special impression of Ed Bassmaster's "Would ya just look at it". AND, you'll hear a clip from the song "Clots in Big Places" by Tyler. We bet you can't get that one out of your head once you hear it!

He said you're over a 5, so to keep you alive,
I'm flying you outta this plaaaace.
Cause you got clots in big vessels..."

And ... we hear there may be a live performance of this at FAST19, so get your tickets!