Improving Door-to-Needle Time: A Key Performance Indicator for Timely and Effective Stroke Care
Door to needle time (DTN) is a measure of the time it takes for a stroke patient to receive a clot-busting medication (also known as thrombolytic therapy) after arriving at the hospital. This is an important metric in the treatment of stroke patients, as timely treatment with thrombolytic therapy can improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of long-term disability.
DTN is typically measured from the time the patient arrives at the hospital (either through the emergency department or through direct transport) to the time the patient receives the first dose of thrombolytic therapy. The recommended DTN for stroke patients is within 60 minutes of arrival at the hospital, as this has been shown to be the most effective time frame for improving patient outcomes.
Hospitals can track and monitor DTN as a quality improvement measure to ensure that stroke patients are receiving timely treatment. By reducing DTN, hospitals can improve patient outcomes and support the overall goal of providing high-quality care to stroke patients.
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