Stroke remains the leading cause of disability
Globally, one in four adults over the age of 25 will suffer a stroke in their lifetime [1]. Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide [2]. According to the U.S. National Stroke Association, 40% of stroke victims experience moderate to severe impairments that require special needs for the rest of their lives, with another 25% continuing to suffer minor impairments [3].
The key to reducing the risk of death or disability is to get stroke patients treated as quickly as possible. Physicians in an emergency stroke setting are fighting the clock and are under intense pressure to make optimal treatment decisions. Despite the imperative for speed, care teams currently lose valuable time due to gaps in communication, information, and access to stroke expertise.
“The biggest gain for faster treatment for stroke patients is in the workflow,” said Professor Dr. Wim van Zwam, Interventional Radiologist at Maastricht University Medical Center. “Reducing the throughput time of patients requires faster exchange of critical patient information, such as high-quality medical images, between hospitals and departments, in order to decide on the best patient treatment.”