Trauma Alert/Stroke Alert: Dual Activation

 VBMC TRAUMA CARE SERVICES GUIDELINE

Trauma Alert/Stroke Alert-DUAL Activation

Patients with acute stroke who then fall or otherwise become injured may arrive at the trauma center as a trauma team activation. Though many of these patients are minimally injured and require no sophisticated trauma care, the timely evaluation and management of the acute stroke can have enormous impact on clinical outcome. In order to assure the timely performance of head CT and activation of the stroke team, following guideline should be considered:

1. IF the trauma alert patient shows NO or MINIMAL external signs of injury, AND

2. Radiology WET READ of CT head is negative for hemorrhage, THEN

3. CALL STROKE ALERT

4. Follow up final imaging ASAP (Stroke Team will review head CT/CTA imaging at the time of response)

If the patient is deemed to have had a stroke and is not injured, the trauma activation charge will be cancelled, and the patient will not be entered into the trauma registry.