Simulation training at NYU Langone helps cut stroke times

Simulation training at NYU Langone helps cut stroke times

When it comes to stroke treatment, time to intervention is most critical. On average, about 1.9 million brain cells die for every minute that a major vascular stroke goes untreated. To improve detection of the early warning signs of a stroke, NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island is conducting a quality study with healthcare providers at its simulation center in Mineola. During the study, healthcare providers interact with a simulated patient experiencing a stroke.

“In our ongoing efforts to reduce the time stroke patients first enter our hospital when they are diagnosed and receive life-saving treatmentssaid Levi D. Dygert, MD, a vascular neurologist at NYU Langone who is leading the initiative.”Medical residents and physician assistants are participating in this project, and to date the results are very promising. “

Patients diagnosed with large vessel occlusion typically have two treatment options: receive an injection of clot-dissolving therapeutics, which can be used within the first 4.5 hours, or may undergo a neurointerventional procedure to remove the clot through a puncture in the artery.

All members of the NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island stroke team participated in the training. The study's most significant finding was a 12.5-minute (35.2 percent) door-to-activation time reduction for the neurointerventional radiology team. The study also found that door-to-artery time was reduced by 10 minutes (11.9 percent) and door-to-clot distance engagement was reduced by 6.5 minutes (6.2 percent).

“The simulation center training is always helpful as each case can be different. You can receive feedback from the medical team who observed how you reacted to a particular scenario, as well as from actors who may be playing the roles of patients or their familiessaid Syeda Fatima, MD, a second-year neurology resident who attended a training session that included a simulated stroke patient with a complex medical history and an actor playing the role of a family member.

Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and the leading cause of disability for adults. On average, someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. The results of this study will be presented to the American Heart Association next year.

The 5,000 square foot simulation center provides valuable clinical education and training to physicians, nurses, residents and medical students at NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, as well as other medical professionals and first responders. The facility provides a safe and engaging educational environment that promotes the knowledge, competence and performance of the individual learner and the interprofessional care team.

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