Impact of CT scanner location on door to imaging time for emergency department stroke evaluation

Background and objectives: Stroke is a potentially serious condition commonly diagnosed in the ED. Time to diagnosis can be crucial to maximizing outcome in a majority of ischemic stroke cases amenable to thrombolytic therapy. Methods: An analysis of 148 consecutive adults transported by EMS to an urban emergency department with a diagnosis of cerebro-vascular accident during a 12 month period was performed to determine the impact of CT scanner location on door-to-head CT [DTCT] scan time. The CT scanner was relocated from an upper floor of the hospital to within the ER department midway through the study period. Results: The rate of DTCT scan time ≤20 min increased significantly from 47% [pre-relocation] to 74% [post-relocation]; and the rate of DTCT ultra-rapid scan time ≤10 min more than doubled. Conclusions: Hospitals providing ED care for stroke patients can expedite management by ensuring CT scanner location is in closest possible proximity to the ED.