An Giang improves stroke treatment capacity

According to the World Stroke Organization, the “Green Zone in emergency and stroke treatment” meets 4 requirements: Implement a campaign to raise public awareness; win the Gold award in out-of-hospital emergency; have enough hospitals ready for emergency and stroke treatment; all units win the Gold award in stroke treatment. Recently, An Giang has established new stroke treatment units to meet the network development and build a plan to establish stroke units in provincial hospitals; requiring hospitals to send doctors for training. The training process lasts 3 - 6 months, during this period, with the advice of stroke emergency network specialists (also known as Angels), hospitals write projects, approved by all levels. In June 2018, three stroke treatment units were established at An Giang Central General Hospital (now An Giang General Hospital), the Provincial Regional General Hospital (now Chau Doc General Hospital) and the Cardiovascular Hospital. By the end of 2024, the province will have four public hospitals and one private hospital receiving and treating stroke patients.

We also improve treatment capacity and optimize processes such as: Hospitals combine the Stroke Emergency Network Program (Angels Program) to train stroke doctors, emergency departments and practice procedures. At the same time, connecting the pre-hospital network includes: When the in-hospital process ensures quality, we conduct activities to connect the EMS network (out-of-hospital emergency). An Giang has a very developed volunteer EMS system, the Department of Health coordinates with provincial hospitals to train and instruct volunteers on the signs of stroke and how to connect with stroke units.

- Reporter: An Giang has many breakthroughs in improving the quality of stroke treatment to save patients' lives. Could you please share more details?

- Comrade Tran Quang Hien: With the efforts of hospitals, the Angels Program, and the support of leading expert hospitals, the An Giang health sector has increased the number of stroke units such as: Starting at the end of 2017, there was only 1 private unit, by mid-2018, there were 3 more public hospitals receiving and treating strokes, and increasing to 4 units in 2022 and 2023, 4 public hospitals and 1 private hospital. In particular, the initial phase of optimizing the process and shortening the needle door time (the time from admission to the injection of thrombolytic drugs) for stroke treatment is still quite long and more than 60 minutes in the units. When closely directed by the Board of Directors of the Hospital and the Department of Health, the Angels Program consulted and applied tools, optimizing the process and shortening the needle door time to 45 minutes.

With the efforts of the health sector, the rate of patients arriving during the golden hour has increased from 3% in 2018 to 20%, higher than the national average of 5%. The rate of patients receiving recanalization treatment has increased: 3 provincial hospitals have more than 15% of patients receiving recanalization treatment with rtPA (1 hospital deploys thrombectomy technique using conventional instruments). The average rate of recanalization treatment in stroke units is from 7 - 8%, exceeding the rate of 1% at the end of 2017 and early 2018.

In particular, when the in-hospital process has been standardized, with the question "How to maintain and improve the quality of stroke treatment and care at the units?", the units actively participate in quality management and up to now, An Giang province has only 6 hospitals that have won the World Stroke Association award for the quality of stroke treatment. Of which, An Giang province (old) has 4 hospitals including: Chau Doc General Hospital and An Giang Cardiovascular Hospital won the Diamond award; An Giang General Hospital won the Platinum award and is the only hospital in the province to win this award in the 4 quarters of 2024; Tan Chau General Hospital is the only hospital in the Mekong Delta region to win the Gold award. Kien Giang province (old) has 2 hospitals including: Kien Giang General Hospital won the Platinum award, Vinmec Phu Quoc International Hospital won the Gold award (out of a total of 3 hospitals implementing emergency and stroke treatment).

- Reporter: What is the province's orientation to improve treatment effectiveness and quality of life for stroke patients, sir?

- Comrade Tran Quang Hien: An Giang health sector will strengthen communication campaigns to prevent and combat stroke. Along with a widespread network of volunteer ambulances, the health sector will train drivers, helping them identify stroke patients, notify hospitals in advance and immediately transfer them to the right hospital for treatment. An Giang is honored to be selected as one of the provinces to implement the Ministry of Health's Outpatient Emergency Project in Phu Quoc, which will then be expanded throughout the province. The coordination of EMS teams will enrich the opportunities for patient emergency care.

In 2026, we will invest and expand the stroke emergency and treatment network to medical centers such as Tinh Bien, Phu Tan, Thoai Son, Vinh Thuan, Ha Tien, Kien Luong. Establish the Phu Quoc Stroke Center and 115 Emergency Center, managed by Vinmec Phu Quoc. The Department of Health will continue to direct and improve the treatment quality of rehabilitation hospitals to provide comprehensive care for stroke patients; connect neighboring provinces and upper levels, develop a regional stroke treatment network and system.

- Reporter: Thank you, comrade!

Performed by HANH CHAU

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/an-giang-nang-tam-nang-luc-dieu-tri-dot-quy-a427190.html