Stroke Program
Program Overview
Hoag’s comprehensive Stroke Program is led by full- time, in-house
physicians who specialize in advanced stroke management and intervention,
and have developed best practice care pathways for optimal outcomes. As
a founding member of the designated Comprehensive Stroke Neurology Receiving
Centers in Orange County, Hoag helped pioneer many of the specialized
processes and methods to reverse stroke when possible, and to optimize
care for stroke patients. The ultimate outcome metric is the patient’s
ability to return to a self-sufficient life, an outcome we measure in
every patient with a 90-day survey.
Our stroke rescue process starts immediately on arrival with assessment
of the patient by our experts, and triage for the most advanced treatment
appropriate to the patient’s condition. As part of the stroke team,
Hoag’s Emergency Department physicians and staff start the stroke protocol.
In place since January 2008 but continuously updated, the so-called Code
20 process is like a NASCAR pit crew. Upon a stroke patient’s arrival
at the ED, neurological assessment, lab testing, and neuro imaging are
done within 20 minutes, versus the national benchmark of 30 minutes. Evidence-
based use of clot-busting drug treatments, as well as endovascular mechanical
intervention when needed, optimizes the chances for stroke reversal.
Patients are then cared for in the hospital’s Neurosurgical Intensive
Care Unit and/or the 30- bed Advanced Brain and Spine Unit. All stages
of care are staffed with nurses experienced in the diagnosis, treatment,
and complications of stroke patients. Hemorrhagic strokes, including aneurysmal
rupture, have a distinct care pathway, led by our neurosurgeons, neuro-interventional
radiologists and neurologists together with our intensive care physicians.
Preventative aneurysm treatment using image-guided micro-interventional
techniques is a component of the Stroke Program’s portfolio.
Program highlights include a ranking in the top 5% in the nation for stroke
care by Healthgrades. Hoag has been awarded the Stroke Gold PLUS Performance
Achievement Award by the American Stroke Association for eight years in
a row. Hoag has dramatically increased the rate at which IV tPA is administered
to all acute ischemic stroke patients—up from 2% a decade ago to
15.5% currently. This rate triples the national average of 5%. Of the
patients arriving in the Emergency Department meeting the criteria for
the drug, 100% of patients received treatment. At 90 days, 66% of Hoag’s
stroke patients return to a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Hoag’s Stroke Program is led by David Brown, M.D., a neurologist
with a specialty in stroke and cerebro- vascular disease and a neurohospitalist.
Dr Brown leads the dedicated, multi-disciplinary acute stroke response
team that provides immediate care to stroke patients throughout the hospital,
and meets regularly for process improvement.
The nurse navigator for the program is Deb Mastrolia, R.N. Deb is certified
with the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing for both Neuroscience
nursing CNRN and Stroke nursing – SCRN along with the American Association
of Critical Care nursing – CCRN specialty. She has worked with Dr.
Brown to help develop and certify a multidisciplinary stroke team. She
also consults as a program reviewer for Stroke certifying agencies. Our
Physical Rehabilitation team is also key to our superior outcomes.
Functional Outcomes
All stroke survivors are called at 30 days and 90 days post discharge by
a neurosciences research nurse. A telephone interview is performed to
assess functional status of the survivor. Valuable teaching is reinforced
regarding neurology follow-up appointments, medication teaching, risk
factor modification, stroke symptom identification and the need to call
911 for any recurring signs of stroke.
Support & Education
A stroke support group meets monthly in the Hoag Conference Center, as
does a brain aneurysm & AVM support group. There is an educational
presentation at each, along with Q&A facilitated by the stroke nurse
navigator. The meetings are attended by survivors and their families and friends.
Community outreach is provided through educational presentations by Dr.
Brown and Deb Mastrolia at both Hoag Hospital Newport Beach and Hoag Hospital
Irvine. They teach the signs and symptoms of a stroke, stroke prevention
and treatments. The Stroke Program also attends employee health fairs,
senior centers and events, and performs blood pressure checks, while reviewing
stroke risks and prevention.
Victoria Tomczak serves as the Neuroscience Data Coordinator. Victoria’s
role has been instrumental in assisting with data compilation for the
Stroke Program.
Clinical Research
Thromboaspiration of Downstream and New Territory Emboli Using the 3Max
catheter after Mechanical Thrombectomy of Large Vessel Occlusions”
Retrospective Study, PI: Fabio Settecase
Techfields TF-TF0023-21: A PHASE 2, MULTICENTER, RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND
(WITHIN DOSE), PLACEBO-CONTROLLED, PARALLEL-GROUP, DOSE-RANGE-FINDING
STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TF0023 SPRAY VERSUS PLACEBO
IN FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC STROKES” Prosepective
Study, PI: David Brown
Astra Zeneca SOCRATES: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Multinational Study
to Prevent Major Vascular Events with Ticagrelor Compared to Aspirin (ASA)
in Patients with Acute Ischaemic Stroke or TIA (D5134C00001) 2013
To learn more, visit the
Stroke Program section or call 949-764-6066.