organisation of stroke care
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The care of a stroke patient is usually initiated on a general medical ward. Transfer of acute stroke patients to a specialised unit is possible in some hospitals.
The concepts of an acute stroke unit and a stroke rehabilitation unit have become important recently because of trial evidence that such wards improve the outcome for stroke patients.
A systematic review revealed that (1):
- stroke patients who receive organised inpatient care in a stroke unit are
more likely to be alive, independent, and living at home one year after the
stroke
- benefits were most apparent in units based in a discrete ward
- no systematic increase was observed in the length of inpatient stay
Reference:
Last reviewed 01/2018
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