Stroke Regional Outreach and Knowledge Exchange: Towards consistency and the sustainability of evidence-based stroke service delivery in regional Victoria

Abstract

Background: The activities of the Victorian Stroke Clinical Network (VSCN), including the placement of stroke clinical network facilitators at strategic regional health services has resulted in enhanced stroke service delivery across regional Victoria. With the tenure of the last facilitators about to conclude there is a perceived risk that recently enhanced stroke service delivery capacity may not be sustained. Aim(s): A sub-committee of the VSCN, the STroke Regional Outreach & Knowledge Exchange (STROKE) Project Team, was convened to develop an education delivery platform that would reduce this risk. Method(s): Experts in stroke management have been engaged to present case reviews on various aspects of evidence-based stroke care. Topics have covered points along the entire stroke care continuum. Regional clinicians have dialled into a teleconference facility to listen to the presenter deliver a pre-disseminated power point case review. Result(s): Nine STROKE sessions have been held since April 2012 engaging almost 700 participants from over 40 sites (average participation rate is 76). A broad range of clinicians involved in stroke care have participated. Feedback has been consistently positive with almost all sites revisiting the sessions each month. Conclusion(s): Indications are that the 'outreach and knowledge exchange' features of the STROKE Project may enhance the consistency and sustainability of evidence-based stroke service delivery in regional Victoria.