HMC’s stroke service - one of the leading services of its kind in the region - Qatar

Absolutely nothing here tells me if you are ANY GOOD AT ALL. You tell us nothing on results, these three points are key.  But you do use the word 'care' 6 times, which tells us nothing.  

Three measurements will tell me if your stroke hospital is possibly not completely incompetent; DO YOU MEASURE ANYTHING?

1. tPA full recovery? Better than 12%?
2. 30 day deaths? Better than competitors?
3. rehab full recovery? Better than 10%?

HMC’s stroke service - one of the leading services of its kind in the region - Qatar

Hamad Medical Corporations (HMC)’s stroke service has undergone an enormous transformation in recent years and is now one of the leading services of its kind in the region.
The fast and effective treatment of stroke patients has been achieved despite an increase in the number of stroke patients seen at HMC each year, said Dr Naveed Akhtar, Head of Stroke Services at HMC.
“We have a standard of care, acute stroke treatment in the country, which only a few hospitals have in the region. We are seeing increasing numbers of stroke patients and we have worked hard to ensure we provide them with the very best care possible,” he told The Peninsula.
“HMC established the Stroke Program few years ago, and it first introduced the Acute Stroke Service,” he added.
Launch of the Stroke Program, recruitment of specialist nurses and consultants, the opening of dedicated facilities and introduction of advanced technology - including a dedicated stroke ward with 12 beds, a Neuroangiograhy Suite – as well as the redesign of care processes, have delivered improved outcomes for stroke patients.
HMC’s Stroke Program is the first of its kind in the Middle East to be recertified by the Joint Commission International (JCI), endorsing the quality and safety of the care it provides to patients. The HMC Stroke Program operates under Hamad General Hospital (HGH).
About 200 new patients are seen every month at HGH for suspected stroke. Hence any person who suffers from sudden onset neurologic symptoms should seek immediate help, as 30-35 percent present with hyper-acute stroke which require immediate interventional care, said Dr Akhtar.
Dr Akhtar highlighted the need for prompt treatment of stroke patients. “The speed at which treatment can be given to stroke patients is of the highest importance. A stroke leads to the complete or partial restriction of blood flow in the brain and damages brain cells so they can no longer work properly. The more time that passes between the onset and medical therapy and intervention, the greater the damage that can be done. The term ‘time is brain’ is frequently used to emphasize the need for fast intervention, as the faster treatment can be given following a stroke, the better the chances of recovery,” he said. The treatment methods included giving thrombolysis, a medication injected within four and a half hours of the onset of an acute stroke. This clot breaking drug can open the artery and restore the blood flow to the brain.
Known as ‘door to needle time’, the international benchmark of treating 50 to 60 percent of patients within 60 minutes from arrival at hospital relates specifically to the use of thrombolysis, a clot-busting medication.
In addition to the efficient use of thrombolysis to treat stroke patients, HMC’s Stroke Service is increasingly utilising interventional thrombectomy, the retrieval of blocked vessel clots through a catheter. This intervention has significantly enhanced the outcome of specific group of patients who need such treatment.
HGH also has a Stroke Prevention Clinic and Rapid Assessment Stroke Unit (RASU).
According to Dr Akhtar, the Stroke Prevention Clinic sees and follows up on people who are at the high risk of getting recurrent stroke. The clinic helps in identifying and modifying their risk factors and advices on life style.
“A major stroke can be prevented if patients with transient symptoms or minor stroke are treated as early as possible, according to studies. At RASU any patient who has a minor stroke or reversible symptoms of stroke will be seen within 12 hours. We do appropriate and urgent follow-ups and make sure that none of the patients get missed out,” said Dr Akhtar. “Some of the signs of a minor stroke include mild facial or limb weakness or numbness on one side, speech difficulty, sensory problems and visual problems. These symptoms can progress to a major stroke,” he added.
“The team meets every day including weekends to discuss the management and plan treatment and disposition of stroke patients. After recovery from the initial stage about 20 to 25 percent of patients get transferred to the Qatar Rehabilitation Institute where they get planned rehabilitation and care,” said Dr Akhtar.