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Consultant physicians working with patients - Royal College of ...

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2 Specialties Stroke medicineThe role <strong>of</strong> the carerA stroke in one person <strong>of</strong>ten affects the whole family,and relatives need information and support. 6 Familiesprovide much <strong>of</strong> the long-term care, <strong>of</strong>ten finding theirown lives radically altered. The needs <strong>of</strong> carers must beconsidered at each stage. Family support workers helpto reduce carer distress. 6Patient support groupsThe Stroke Association (www.stroke.org) plays a majorrole in developing, delivering and monitoring strokeservices. Different Strokes (www.differentstrokes.co.uk), Connect (www.ukconnect.org)andSpeakability (www.speakability.org.uk)alsoprovidewritten, web-based and telephone advice. Most areashave local support groups.Access to informationPatients <strong>with</strong> stroke and TIA report that one <strong>of</strong> theirmain needs is for information. This must be provided atappropriate times and in suitable formats includingthose suitable for people who do not speak English, andthose <strong>with</strong> stroke-related impairments such as visualand language difficulties.Availability <strong>of</strong> clinical records/resultsAvailability <strong>of</strong> clinical records, including results <strong>of</strong> brainimaging, is particularly important when the patientmoves from one part <strong>of</strong> the service to another.Role <strong>of</strong> the expert patientStroke <strong>patients</strong> should be routinely involved in serviceplanning and evaluation, 6 and may participate ineducation for staff and service users.4 Interspecialty and interdisciplinaryliaisonMultidisciplinary team <strong>working</strong>The specialist stroke team includes specialist strokenurses, therapists from all pr<strong>of</strong>essions and psychologists.Other pr<strong>of</strong>essions include orthotics and seating services,orthoptics and ophthalmology, podiatry, and hospitaland community social work services. The World HealthOrganization international classification <strong>of</strong> functioning,disability and health (WHO ICF) 8 provides a usefulframework for shared <strong>working</strong>. Documentation andtransfer <strong>of</strong> information are particularly important; astroke pr<strong>of</strong>orma and integrated record (shared by allmembers <strong>of</strong> the MDT) are good practice.Working <strong>with</strong> other specialistsPriority access to appropriate and specialised imaging is<strong>of</strong> fundamental importance. Stroke <strong>physicians</strong> alsowork closely <strong>with</strong> <strong>physicians</strong>, geriatricians, neurologists,vascular surgeons, neurosurgeons and accident andemergency (A&E) departments. Liaison <strong>with</strong> psychiatry(cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression),gastroenterology and nutrition (complex feedingissues), and <strong>with</strong> palliative care and pain managementteams, is expected.Working <strong>with</strong> GPs and GPs <strong>with</strong> aspecial interestStroke <strong>physicians</strong> work <strong>with</strong> the primary care team at allstages <strong>of</strong> the stroke pathway, including primary andsecondary prevention, acute care <strong>of</strong> people <strong>with</strong>stroke/TIA and long-term support <strong>of</strong> stroke <strong>patients</strong><strong>with</strong> residual disability.5 Delivering a high-quality servicePeoplewhohaveastrokearemorelikelytosurviveandrecover more function if admitted promptly to ahospital-based stroke unit <strong>with</strong> care provided by aspecialist team <strong>with</strong>in an integrated service. 7Maintaining and improving the quality<strong>of</strong> careService developments to improve the quality<strong>of</strong> careStroke care has been a focus for the Department <strong>of</strong>Health (DH) for over 10 years and a UK leader in theNational Sentinel Audit Programme (100%participation since 2004). The National sentinel strokeaudit 9 was developed by the RCP Stroke Programme(Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation Unit, RCP,through the Intercollegiate Stroke Working Party,ICSWP). The National stroke strategy 7 was implementedby the Stroke Improvement Programme (DH) until 2012.Services for stroke <strong>patients</strong> have been transformedunder the influence <strong>of</strong> these and other key drivers (seeBox 2). BASP and the RCP have developed a Joint PeerReview Programme. Stroke is now a key component <strong>of</strong>the General Medical Services (GMS) contract forprimary care; there are seven key indicators for stroke inthe 2012–13 quality and outcomes framework (QOF). 10Stroke is also represented in the NHS outcomesframework 11 and the Clinical Commissioning GroupsOutcomes Indicator Set 2013–14. 12C○ <strong>Royal</strong> <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> Physicians 2013 257

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