Study: Texting better than paging for speedy stroke treatment

When someone has an acute ischemic stroke, every minute counts. The sooner the patient can receive an injection of crucial blood clot-dissolving medication, the better the chances are of recovery.

A recent study conducted at the University of Canifornia–San Francisco found that using real-time text messaging systems could bring help to acute ischemic stroke victims in the emergency room faster than overhead paging systems, according to MedPage Today. When a texting system was used, caregivers were able to reduce the time between arrival in the emergency room to the injection of the blood thinner medication—or the “door-to-needle” time—by 21 minutes. The texting system also allowed caregivers to treat significantly more patients within the 60-minute “golden window” recommended by the American Stroke Association.

The California study results were presented last week at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting in San Diego.

Pamela Tabar

Pamela Tabar was editor-in-chief of I Advance Senior Care from 2013-2018. She has worked as a writer and editor for healthcare business media since 1998, including as News Editor of Healthcare Informatics. She has a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University and a master’s degree in English from the University of York, England.