Introduction: Analyses from early- and late-window thrombectomy trials for acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke have consistently demonstrated a strong time-dependent treatment effect for best outcomes. The utilization of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based care coordination platform to support LVO diagnosis and treatment has the potential to assist in reducing door to puncture times and improve outcomes. Hypothesis: Utilization of an AI-based care platform in the management of LVO patients may significantly decrease door to Neurointerventionalist (NIR) notification time. Methods: Acute stroke consultations seen by TeleSpecialists, LLC physicians in the emergency department in 166 facilities (17 states) that utilized VIZ.AI software or did not have an AI software from December 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022 were extracted from the Telecare TM database. Facilities that neurology does not initiate contact with NIR were excluded. The encounters were analyzed by age, ethnicity, last known normal, arrival time, initial telemedicine stroke code activation time (TCA), candidacy for thrombolytics, door to needle time (DTN), advanced imaging, presence of LVO, time NIR accepted, premorbid modified Rankin Score, and NIHSS score. Patients were divided into two groups (utilization and non-utilization of the AI platform) and median door to NIR notification times were compared. There was a 4 minute shorter time to TCA at AI hospitals. Results: A total of 14,116 patients (8,557 AI and 5,559 non-AI) were included. The median door to NIR notification time for AI was 50 minutes (40, 82) and non-AI was 89.5 minutes (59.3, 122), p <0.001. There was a small but significantly shorter time (3 minutes) from door to TCA at AI hospitals. Median DTN times for thrombolytics was also lower with AI, 40 minutes (30, 52) vs 44 minutes (32, 57.5) for non-AI, p=0.018. The AI group had more advanced imaging performed, a higher percentage of LVOs identified, and a higher percentage accepted by NIR. Conclusion: Hospital utilization of an AI-based care coordination platform was associated with a significant decrease of 39.5 minutes in the time to NIR contact, increase in patients taken for intervention, and lower DTN times for thrombolytics.

Introduction: Multiple clinical trials support an extended treatment window for thrombectomy for large vessel occlusions (LVO) and the treatment of distal occlusions, leading to increased numbers of patients requiring advanced imaging during acute stroke evaluation. Across hospital systems, there is great variation in advanced imaging protocols for acute stroke patients. The goal of this study is to provide a descriptive analysis of the real-world practices in facilities across the United States. Methods: Acute stroke consultations seen by TeleSpecialists, LLC physicians in the emergency department in 227 facilities (27 states) from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 were extracted from the TeleCare TM database. The encounters were reviewed for age, ethnicity, stroke risk factors, last known normal (LKN), arrival time, thrombolytics candidate, door to needle (DTN) time, advanced imaging, LVO, if Neurointerventionalist (NIR) accepted case, premorbid modified Rankin Score (p-mRS), and NIHSS score. Comparison of baseline characteristics and time benchmarks between advanced imaging group (computed tomography angiography (CTA) with optional CT perfusion (CTP)) vs no advanced imaging group (CT only) was performed. Analysis of the location of the occlusion and of the specific vessels being accepted for intervention was performed. Results: There were 29,187 acute stroke consultations seen with 12,641 (43.3%) receiving advanced imaging. The median DTN time for advanced imaging group was 44 minutes (33, 59) vs 41 minutes (30.5, 54) with no advanced imaging group, p = 0.158. There was a higher NIHSS score and lower p-mRS in the advanced imaging group. Analysis of patients with LVO showed lower DTN times, higher NIHSS scores, lower p-mRS, and shorter LKN to arrival times in the patients accepted for thrombectomy. Majority of cases accepted for thrombectomy were left M1 (31.4%) or right M1 (26.6%) occlusions. A significantly lower percentage of patients accepted for intervention had left M2 (10%) and right M2 (6%) occlusions. Conclusion: Advanced imaging in a large real-world data set of acute stroke patients did not significantly delay DTN times. The ability to maintain DTN times is likely related to thrombolytics being prioritized and a parallel process.