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Updated: Jun 2, 2026
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Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
Primary care office responses to a stroke scenario.
Brett Jarrell1, Stephen M Davis, John Coyner
1West Virginia University, USA.
The West Virginia Medical Journal
|April 12, 2011
Summary
Nearly one-third of primary care offices gave delayed treatment advice for stroke symptoms. This highlights a need for better stroke education for office staff to ensure timely emergency care.
Area of Science:
- Medical Practice
- Emergency Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Previous studies indicate neurology clinics may offer suboptimal stroke advice.
- Timely treatment is critical for stroke patients to prevent long-term disability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the emergency treatment advice given by U.S. primary care physician offices for a hypothetical stroke scenario.
- To compare stroke advice with advice given for a heart attack scenario.
Main Methods:
- A national random sample of primary care physician offices was surveyed.
- Respondents were presented with a scripted stroke scenario and asked for treatment recommendations.
- Four response options were provided: wait, schedule later, schedule within two days, or call 911.
Main Results:
- 29% of primary care offices recommended scheduling an appointment later if stroke symptoms did not resolve.
- The remaining respondents recommended calling 911 for stroke symptoms.
- 100% of offices recommended calling 911 for a hypothetical heart attack scenario.
Conclusions:
- A significant portion of primary care offices provided non-emergent advice for stroke.
- This contrasts with appropriate emergency recommendations for heart attack scenarios.
- Enhanced stroke education for primary care staff is recommended to improve patient outcomes.
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