The DHB’s Comprehensive Stroke Team, a team of stroke professionals, is now able to provide patient dedicated continuous care to a person after experiencing a stroke.
The team follows the patient’s journey from hospital admission and acute care, to rehabilitation and discharge. Before this a patient was cared for in a multi-step process involving two teams - acute and rehabilitation. Now one team, made up of a stroke specialist physician and stroke nurse specialist, work directly with rehabilitation professionals to provide care for the patient.
Dr Marianne Falconer, Senior Medical Officer for Hutt Valley DHB says that experiencing a stroke is a very traumatic time for the patient and their family. “It can mean adjustment to a new disability.”
She says that research shows there are better outcomes for patients with a continuous model of care. “Having a single team to provide care helps the patient and their family feel more secure and confident. It avoids duplication and improves the experience for both patients and their families. Staff also experience greater work satisfaction from getting to see a person’s full recovery process.”
About 240 patients a year come through the DHB’s stroke unit. Around 85% of these people will be cared for by the new unit.
