Implementing Patient-Specific Stroke Discharge Instructions: Marian LaMonte, MD, MSN, FAAN

“We try to provide, in writing, to a patient and their family, the specific risk factors that we have uncovered while they've been in the hospital that we think are associated with their stroke. We advise how you can treat them and which medicines they should be on for these risk factors—your medication list and what each medicine is used for to combat your risk factors for stroke. And what they can do just generally, to have a healthier lifestyle to reduce their risk of stroke.”

Physician compliance with providing patient-specific stroke discharge instructions (DCI) was improved through the implementation of simple educational and decision support interventions in a study conducted at Ascension Saint Agnes Hospital. These findings were presented virtually at the 2021 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting, April 17-22 by Marian LaMonte, MD, MSN, FAAN, chief of neurology, Ascension Saint Agnes.

LaMonte and colleagues increased compliance in providing stroke specific DCI by 38.6%, from 51.9% pre-intervention to 90.5% within 4 months of implementing an intervention bundle in the hospital’s electronic medical records system that consisted of simple educational activities, reminders, and decision support tools. Improvements in compliance were seen in the teaching service from 60.0% to 90.5% and non-teaching service from 25.0% to 87.5%. 

NeurologyLive spoke to LaMonte to learn more about how patient-specific stroke-dedicated DCI can improve poststroke patient care. She detailed how patient understanding of their risk factors and how to mitigate them can reduce their risk of recurrent stroke.

For more coverage of AAN 2021, click here.

REFERENCE

Asfaw M, LaMonte M. Improving stroke patient discharge instructions use. Presented at 2021 American Academy of Neurology Annual Meeting; April 17-22. Abstract P5 119