With LAMC treating nearly 1,000 stroke patients each year, providing critical treatment within minutes of a patient’s arrival is essential. In partnership with physicians and quality, LAMC’s clinical nurses designated as stroke champions, nurse leaders, educators, and our clinical nurse specialist, collaborated to create a robust stroke program. This work was done primarily because it was the right thing to do for the members and the community that we serve.

As a nursing team our goal was to improve the clinical competence of our nurses with regard to stroke care and to cultivate a collaborative working relationship across the units and disciplines that cared for the stroke patient population.

PURPOSE CONCLUSION

FUTURE PLANS

• Socialized why it was important to create a culture of stroke care excellence and work towards achieving Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC) designation.

• Created a training program that followed the journey of a patient from stroke “Onset to Recovery”.

• Selected frontline clinical nurses that had a passion for stroke to be a designated “Stroke Champion” for their unit.

• Stroke Champion workshops and training

• Weekly meetings with the Stroke Champions to discuss learnings, opportunities for improvement, and policy or process updates.

PROCESS

Excellence in Stroke Nursing Care: Los Angeles Medical Center’s Journey to Comprehensive Stroke Center Designation

As the LAMC stroke program continues to evolve and we begin to place a

larger focus on the continuum of care post hospital stay. The stroke

champions will be placing 7 day and 90 day post discharge phone calls to

connect with our members. They will be talking to our members about how they are managing their risk factors, medication, follow up appointments,

and their overall well-being during their recovery. The idea that the very nurses that cared for a member while

they are in the hospital are now following up with them on how they

are doing at home we feel is the epitome of individualized patient-

centered care excellence.

Marilen Castanon, BSN, RN,CCRNMary Diane Co-Solana, BSN, RNTracey Easterling, MSN, RNP-CKatie Lapsys, BSN, RNJoyce Leido, MS, RN, PCCN-KAlvina Mktruyam, MSN, RN, CCRNLorina Punsalang, MSN, APRN-AGCNS, RN-BC, SCRN, PHN

(So. California/Los Angeles)

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center (LAMC) earned

designation by the Joint Commission as a Comprehensive Stroke Center

(CSC), the highest level of stroke care certification offered by the

independent accrediting and certification agency. The designation

distinguishes LAMC as one of 125 Comprehensive Stroke Centers, out of more than 5,000 hospitals nationally.

RESULTS

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Improved door to needle time Improved stroke signs and symptoms recognition Improved patient satisfaction and education Improved collaboration between physicians, nurses, case management, physical

therapy, and diagnostic imaging departments. “Save the Penumbra” button to raise stroke awareness was created by an ICU

nurse and is worn by physicians, clinical nurses, and nurse leaders throughout LAMC.