Health Management for Older Adults III - Emergency Response to Stroke -- Treatment Issues

< i > Emergency Response to Stroke -- Treatment Issues

With well-trained personnel, it is possible to have a neurologist or other adequately trained specialist evaluate the patient, obtain suitable blood studies and a CT scan of the head without contrast, prepare and administer the rTPA within 45 minutes of a patient's entry into the ER.

The most critical component of this process is the specialist, who must obtain the history, perform a neurologic examination, review the CT scan and laboratory studies, discuss the data with patient and family members, elicit informed consent, and make the decision to treat or not to treat.