organisation of stroke care
Last reviewed 01/2018
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:
role of the stroke rehabilitation unit
evidence for specialist stroke units
NICE guidance - stroke rehabilitation - long-term rehabilitation after stroke