


In many cases patients need the capabilities of a comprehensive stroke facility with resources like neurointerventionalists, interventional radiology and mechanical retrievers. Not all stroke centers have the same capabilities, so choosing the appropriate destination facility is critical. In addition to being able to begin stroke treatment in the field, the CT angiogram capabilities of the MSU allow for more accurate destination triaging because prehospital providers are able to determine the exact type of stroke occurring. When a patient is losing millions of neurons every second, 25 minutes is a very long time. These units have proven their value in reducing time to treatment, with one study showing an average time to treatment savings of 25 minutes. Stroke patients can be immediately evaluated in the unit and treated with tPA if appropriate. When a 911 call is placed to the dispatch center and triaged as a possible stroke, the mobile stroke unit, along with other EMS resources, is dispatched. produced the country’s first mobile stroke unit, developed in partnership with stroke specialists at the Texas Medical Center, to help fill those gaps. Stroke care networks in the United States are still evolving, and many people live in areas where transport decisions can mean the difference between life, death, or debilitating injury.
