Nurses are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team caring for a patient eligible for endov... more Nurses are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team caring for a patient eligible for endovascular thrombectomy. Their care includes obtaining health history, performing clinical assessments, using critical thinking to anticipate the care path, and communicating findings to other team members. The prehospital and emergency department nurses utilize stroke severity scales to identify a possible thrombectomy candidate and help expedite intervention. In the interventional laboratory, nursing collaborates with radiology technologists and interventionalists to ensure patient safety and monitor for intraprocedural complications. Post-procedure, the intensive care nurse delivers complex care to ensure optimal neurological outcome and assess for postprocedural complications. Nursing is essential in every phase of care along with collaboration with other disciplines.
P183 Background T-PA is an effective treatment of acute ischemic stroke within 3 hours. However, ... more P183 Background T-PA is an effective treatment of acute ischemic stroke within 3 hours. However, the success of t-PA on reducing disability is dependent on it being accessible to more patients. We identified the reasons why patients with ischemic stroke did not receive intravenous t-PA and assessed the community impact of the therapy in a large North American city. Methods Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke were identified in a prospective stroke registry at a teaching hospital between October 1996 and December 1999. Additional patients with ischemic stroke admitted to one of three other hospitals during the study period were identified. The Oxford Community Stroke Program Classification was used to record stroke type. Results Of 2165 stroke patients presenting to the emergency department 1179 (54.5%) were diagnosed with ischemic stroke, 31.7% with intracranial hemorrhage, and 13.8 % with transient ischemic attack. 84/339 (29%) patients were admitted within 3 hours of s...
Background and Purpose: Improving door-to-needle times (DNTs) for thrombolysis of acute ischemic ... more Background and Purpose: Improving door-to-needle times (DNTs) for thrombolysis of acute ischemic stroke patients improves outcomes, but participation in DNT improvement initiatives has been mostly limited to larger, academic medical centers with an existing interest in stroke quality improvement. It is not known whether quality improvement initiatives can improve DNT at a population level, including smaller community hospitals. This study aims to determine the effect of a provincial improvement collaborative intervention on improvement of DNT and patient outcomes. Methods: A pre post cohort study was conducted over 10 years in the Canadian province of Alberta with 17 designated stroke centers. All ischemic stroke patients who received thrombolysis in the Canadian province of Alberta were included in the study. The quality improvement intervention was an improvement collaborative that involved creation of interdisciplinary teams from each stroke center, participation in 3 workshops a...
Background Risk of a subsequent stroke following an acute transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mino... more Background Risk of a subsequent stroke following an acute transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke is high. The ABCD2 tool was proposed as a method to triage these patients using five clinical factors. Modern imaging of the brain was not included. The present study quantified the added value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) factors to the ABCD2 tool. Methods Patients with TIA or minor stroke were examined within 12 h and had a brain MRI within 24 h of symptom onset. Primary outcomes were recurrent stroke and functional impairment at 90 days. A new tool, ABCD2+ MRI, was created by adding diffusion-weighted imaging lesion and vessel occlusion status to the ABCD2 tool. The predictive accuracy of both tools was quantified by the area under the curve (AUC). Results One hundred and eighty patients were enrolled and 11·1% had a recurrent stroke within 90 days. The predictive accuracy of the ABCD2+MRI was significantly higher than ABCD2 (AUC of 0·88 vs. 0·78, P = 0·01). Those with...
Background and Purpose— Randomized trials have demonstrated reduced morbidity and mortality with ... more Background and Purpose— Randomized trials have demonstrated reduced morbidity and mortality with stroke unit care; however, the effect on length of stay, and hence the economic benefit, is less well-defined. In 2001, a multidisciplinary stroke unit was opened at our institution. We observed whether a stroke unit reduces length of stay and in-hospital case fatality when compared to admission to a general neurology/medical ward. Methods— A retrospective study of 2 cohorts in the Foothills Medical Center in Calgary was conducted using administrative databases. We compared a cohort of stroke patients managed on general neurology/medical wards before 2001, with a similar cohort of stroke patients managed on a stroke unit after 2003. The length of stay was dichotomized after being centered to 7 days and the Charlson Index was dichotomized for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the length of stay and case fatality in 2 cohorts, adjusted for age, gender, and pat...
Every year, approximately 62 000 people with stroke and transient ischemic attack are treated in ... more Every year, approximately 62 000 people with stroke and transient ischemic attack are treated in Canadian hospitals. The 2014 update of the Canadian Secondary Prevention of Stroke guideline is a comprehensive summary of current evidence-based recommendations for clinicians in a range of settings, who provide care to patients following stroke. Notable changes in this 5th edition include an emphasis on treating the highest risk patients who present within 48 h of symptom onset with transient or persistent motor or speech symptoms, who need to be transported to the closest emergency department with capacity for advanced stroke care; a recommendation for brain and vascular imaging (of the intra- and extracranial vessels) to be completed urgently using computed tomography/computed tomography angiography; prolonged cardiac monitoring for patients with suspective cardioembolic stroke but without evidence for atrial fibrillation on electrocardiogram or holter monitoring; and de-emphasizing ...
The aim of this narrative review of the literature was to examine the current state of knowledge ... more The aim of this narrative review of the literature was to examine the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of aggressive surgical interventions for severe stroke on patient and caregiver quality of life and caregiver outcomes. Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) is a surgical therapeutic option for treatment of massive middle cerebral artery infarction (MCA), lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and severe aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Decompressive hemicraniectomy has been shown to be effective in reducing mortality in these three life-threatening conditions. Significant functional impairment is an experience common to many severe stroke survivors worldwide and close relatives experience decision-making difficulty when confronted with making life or death choices related to surgical intervention for severe stroke. Academic Search Premier, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, and PsychInfo. A narrative review methodolog...
The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques, 2008
In the emergency department, portable point-of-care testing (POCT) coagulation devices may facili... more In the emergency department, portable point-of-care testing (POCT) coagulation devices may facilitate stroke patient care by providing rapid International Normalized Ratio (INR) measurement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability, validity, and impact on clinical decision-making of a POCT device for INR testing in the setting of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A total of 150 patients (50 healthy volunteers, 51 anticoagulated patients, 49 AIS patients) were assessed in a tertiary care facility. The INR's were measured using the Roche Coaguchek S and the standard laboratory technique. The interclass correlation coefficient and 95% confidence interval between overall POCT device and standard laboratory value INRs was high (0.932 (0.69 - 0.78). In the AIS group alone, the correlation coefficient and 95% CI was also high 0.937 (0.59 - 0.74) and diagnostic accuracy of the POCT device was 94%. When used by a trained health professional in the emergency department to a...
The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, 2006
Both patient and staff satisfaction with the SNP role has been high as it relates to quality of c... more Both patient and staff satisfaction with the SNP role has been high as it relates to quality of care delivery and accessibility of care and service. In particular, patients express satisfaction with the continuity of care experienced throughout the stroke care continuum, from acute in-hospital care to postdischarge follow-up. Improvements have been realized in systems and processes of care with the implementation of the SNP role. These include reductions in door-to-needle times in the administration of tPA (from 90 minutes to 60 minutes), rapid assessment and diagnostic interventions through coordination of are activities (e.g., door-to-CT scan times reduced from 60 minutes to 30 minutes), and faster consultation responses within the organization. Instituting the nurse practitioner role early in the development of the Calgary Stroke Program enhanced patient care while advancing the nursing discipline. The SNP has created a role that extends beyond that of physician helper to an auto...
Nurses are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team caring for a patient eligible for endov... more Nurses are an integral part of the multidisciplinary team caring for a patient eligible for endovascular thrombectomy. Their care includes obtaining health history, performing clinical assessments, using critical thinking to anticipate the care path, and communicating findings to other team members. The prehospital and emergency department nurses utilize stroke severity scales to identify a possible thrombectomy candidate and help expedite intervention. In the interventional laboratory, nursing collaborates with radiology technologists and interventionalists to ensure patient safety and monitor for intraprocedural complications. Post-procedure, the intensive care nurse delivers complex care to ensure optimal neurological outcome and assess for postprocedural complications. Nursing is essential in every phase of care along with collaboration with other disciplines.
P183 Background T-PA is an effective treatment of acute ischemic stroke within 3 hours. However, ... more P183 Background T-PA is an effective treatment of acute ischemic stroke within 3 hours. However, the success of t-PA on reducing disability is dependent on it being accessible to more patients. We identified the reasons why patients with ischemic stroke did not receive intravenous t-PA and assessed the community impact of the therapy in a large North American city. Methods Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke were identified in a prospective stroke registry at a teaching hospital between October 1996 and December 1999. Additional patients with ischemic stroke admitted to one of three other hospitals during the study period were identified. The Oxford Community Stroke Program Classification was used to record stroke type. Results Of 2165 stroke patients presenting to the emergency department 1179 (54.5%) were diagnosed with ischemic stroke, 31.7% with intracranial hemorrhage, and 13.8 % with transient ischemic attack. 84/339 (29%) patients were admitted within 3 hours of s...
Background and Purpose: Improving door-to-needle times (DNTs) for thrombolysis of acute ischemic ... more Background and Purpose: Improving door-to-needle times (DNTs) for thrombolysis of acute ischemic stroke patients improves outcomes, but participation in DNT improvement initiatives has been mostly limited to larger, academic medical centers with an existing interest in stroke quality improvement. It is not known whether quality improvement initiatives can improve DNT at a population level, including smaller community hospitals. This study aims to determine the effect of a provincial improvement collaborative intervention on improvement of DNT and patient outcomes. Methods: A pre post cohort study was conducted over 10 years in the Canadian province of Alberta with 17 designated stroke centers. All ischemic stroke patients who received thrombolysis in the Canadian province of Alberta were included in the study. The quality improvement intervention was an improvement collaborative that involved creation of interdisciplinary teams from each stroke center, participation in 3 workshops a...
Background Risk of a subsequent stroke following an acute transient ischemic attack (TIA) or mino... more Background Risk of a subsequent stroke following an acute transient ischemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke is high. The ABCD2 tool was proposed as a method to triage these patients using five clinical factors. Modern imaging of the brain was not included. The present study quantified the added value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) factors to the ABCD2 tool. Methods Patients with TIA or minor stroke were examined within 12 h and had a brain MRI within 24 h of symptom onset. Primary outcomes were recurrent stroke and functional impairment at 90 days. A new tool, ABCD2+ MRI, was created by adding diffusion-weighted imaging lesion and vessel occlusion status to the ABCD2 tool. The predictive accuracy of both tools was quantified by the area under the curve (AUC). Results One hundred and eighty patients were enrolled and 11·1% had a recurrent stroke within 90 days. The predictive accuracy of the ABCD2+MRI was significantly higher than ABCD2 (AUC of 0·88 vs. 0·78, P = 0·01). Those with...
Background and Purpose— Randomized trials have demonstrated reduced morbidity and mortality with ... more Background and Purpose— Randomized trials have demonstrated reduced morbidity and mortality with stroke unit care; however, the effect on length of stay, and hence the economic benefit, is less well-defined. In 2001, a multidisciplinary stroke unit was opened at our institution. We observed whether a stroke unit reduces length of stay and in-hospital case fatality when compared to admission to a general neurology/medical ward. Methods— A retrospective study of 2 cohorts in the Foothills Medical Center in Calgary was conducted using administrative databases. We compared a cohort of stroke patients managed on general neurology/medical wards before 2001, with a similar cohort of stroke patients managed on a stroke unit after 2003. The length of stay was dichotomized after being centered to 7 days and the Charlson Index was dichotomized for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare the length of stay and case fatality in 2 cohorts, adjusted for age, gender, and pat...
Every year, approximately 62 000 people with stroke and transient ischemic attack are treated in ... more Every year, approximately 62 000 people with stroke and transient ischemic attack are treated in Canadian hospitals. The 2014 update of the Canadian Secondary Prevention of Stroke guideline is a comprehensive summary of current evidence-based recommendations for clinicians in a range of settings, who provide care to patients following stroke. Notable changes in this 5th edition include an emphasis on treating the highest risk patients who present within 48 h of symptom onset with transient or persistent motor or speech symptoms, who need to be transported to the closest emergency department with capacity for advanced stroke care; a recommendation for brain and vascular imaging (of the intra- and extracranial vessels) to be completed urgently using computed tomography/computed tomography angiography; prolonged cardiac monitoring for patients with suspective cardioembolic stroke but without evidence for atrial fibrillation on electrocardiogram or holter monitoring; and de-emphasizing ...
The aim of this narrative review of the literature was to examine the current state of knowledge ... more The aim of this narrative review of the literature was to examine the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of aggressive surgical interventions for severe stroke on patient and caregiver quality of life and caregiver outcomes. Decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC) is a surgical therapeutic option for treatment of massive middle cerebral artery infarction (MCA), lobar intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and severe aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Decompressive hemicraniectomy has been shown to be effective in reducing mortality in these three life-threatening conditions. Significant functional impairment is an experience common to many severe stroke survivors worldwide and close relatives experience decision-making difficulty when confronted with making life or death choices related to surgical intervention for severe stroke. Academic Search Premier, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, and PsychInfo. A narrative review methodolog...
The Canadian journal of neurological sciences. Le journal canadien des sciences neurologiques, 2008
In the emergency department, portable point-of-care testing (POCT) coagulation devices may facili... more In the emergency department, portable point-of-care testing (POCT) coagulation devices may facilitate stroke patient care by providing rapid International Normalized Ratio (INR) measurement. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability, validity, and impact on clinical decision-making of a POCT device for INR testing in the setting of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). A total of 150 patients (50 healthy volunteers, 51 anticoagulated patients, 49 AIS patients) were assessed in a tertiary care facility. The INR's were measured using the Roche Coaguchek S and the standard laboratory technique. The interclass correlation coefficient and 95% confidence interval between overall POCT device and standard laboratory value INRs was high (0.932 (0.69 - 0.78). In the AIS group alone, the correlation coefficient and 95% CI was also high 0.937 (0.59 - 0.74) and diagnostic accuracy of the POCT device was 94%. When used by a trained health professional in the emergency department to a...
The Journal of neuroscience nursing : journal of the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, 2006
Both patient and staff satisfaction with the SNP role has been high as it relates to quality of c... more Both patient and staff satisfaction with the SNP role has been high as it relates to quality of care delivery and accessibility of care and service. In particular, patients express satisfaction with the continuity of care experienced throughout the stroke care continuum, from acute in-hospital care to postdischarge follow-up. Improvements have been realized in systems and processes of care with the implementation of the SNP role. These include reductions in door-to-needle times in the administration of tPA (from 90 minutes to 60 minutes), rapid assessment and diagnostic interventions through coordination of are activities (e.g., door-to-CT scan times reduced from 60 minutes to 30 minutes), and faster consultation responses within the organization. Instituting the nurse practitioner role early in the development of the Calgary Stroke Program enhanced patient care while advancing the nursing discipline. The SNP has created a role that extends beyond that of physician helper to an auto...
Uploads
Papers by Nancy Newcommon