Nursing implementation of a telestroke programme in a community hospital in the US

Abstract

Aim: To describe the nursing implementation of a telestroke programme including the development of a stroke care delivery model in a community hospital.

Background: Successful nursing implementation of a telestroke programme in a community hospital requires planning, education, and preparation. Telemedicine technology provides the bedside clinician with rapid, expert, neuroscience stroke consultation in order to optimize outcomes in patients with acute stroke.

Key issues: Nursing implementation of a telestroke programme includes the development of a practical, precise, evidence-based stroke care delivery model. Such a model requires delineation of specific roles and responsibilities, development of a detailed treatment timeline, provision of comprehensive education, preparation of policies and procedures, standardization of education and initiation of programme quality monitoring.

Conclusions: Nursing implementation of a telestroke programme can be accomplished by nurse leaders and the Stroke team with comprehensive planning and preparation. The stroke care delivery model must be designed specifically with the community hospital's resources and organizational capabilities in mind. IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT: Nurse leaders need to facilitate a vision, motivation, and a practice framework when implementing a telestroke programme. Multidisciplinary collaboration is key to a successful planning process. Allocation of nursing resources and the impact of the stroke care delivery model on nursing operations needs to be considered and evaluated by nurse leaders.