A quality improvement project to improve access to stroke clot retrieval from a regional stroke centre

Describes a quality improvement collaboration with a search and rescue services (SRSL) helicopter utilising the Taranaki model for stroke clot retrieval (SCR), which involves pre-hospital alert, notification to the stroke team, standardised imaging protocol and rapid image transfer, and activation of the helicopter transfer team once large vessel occlusion (LVO) is confirmed prior to acceptance by the SCR neurologist. Reports the tailored application of the Taranaki model at Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua, MidCentral, the cohort of patients referred for SCR to date, and ongoing challenges and opportunities. Source: National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, licensed by the Department of Internal Affairs for re-use under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand Licence.