Creating Virtual Stroke Networks

Acute ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of morbidity worldwide and requires time-sensitive treatment. Over nearly 3 decades, evolving standards for the delivery of stroke care have guided hospital infrastructure, resources, clinical expertise, and emergency medical services across health systems in the United States. Management of patients across stroke networks has traditionally focused on the communication, coordination, triage, and transfer between and across physical health care spaces. Organization of care teams led to consensus requirements for Stroke Center designation in 2003, with efforts to further coordinate care across facilities, agencies, and professionals, leading to recommendations for the establishment of stroke systems of care in 2005 and 2019.  However, barriers to integration remain.

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