Stroke services better than ever in the Territory
Learn more about recent developments in stroke care in Central Australia and the Top End.
Stroke services are better than ever in the Northern Territory.
The Alice Springs Hospital (ASH) stroke team (pictured) are delighted that ASH is now an accredited stroke capable regional hospital, joining eight other hospitals across Australia as part of a new certification program designed to improve stroke care.
Working with the Stroke Society of Australasia, the Stroke Foundation introduced the pilot accreditation program to reflect that a hospital meets a set of national stroke care criteria, which includes caring for all stroke patients on a single dedicated ward with specialist staffing, regular training, data monitoring and improvement, as well as patient involvement in decision making.
Key to achieving the certification was the creation of a stroke clinical care nurse coordinator, a role which is now in place to provide specialist care for patients and their families.
This is the culmination of four years of work to improve stroke capability at ASH, which began with joining the South Australia (SA) Telestroke Service.
And speaking of the SA Telestroke Service, Top End residents can now access additional specialised stroke care, with Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) joining the service after-hours.
The service allows neurologists based in Adelaide to provide fast consultation for patients with suspected stroke using videoconferencing technology, delivered in partnership with SA’s Rural Support Service (RSS).
RDH already provides 24/7 care for stroke, and joining the SA Telestroke network enables all patients with acute stroke needs to receive additional support through highly specialised care and expertise after-hours – helping to save lives and improve health outcomes!
