Objective: To compare readiness of the stroke fast track system between Udon Thani Hospital and its node community hospitals in terms of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) treatment.

Materials and Methods: This study was a retrospective, descriptive study. We studied numbers of adult patients diagnosed as acute ischemic stroke and participated in stroke fast track with or without rtPA treatment. The study sites included Udon Thani Hospital and four node community hospitals. The outcomes of the study were onset to door time (minute), door to needle time (minute) and onset to needle time (minute).

Results: There were 8,796 acute ischemic stroke patients in Udon Thani province during the study period. There were significant differences in the three outcomes between both groups. The median onset to door and onset to needle times were shorter in the node community hospitals than Udon Thani Hospital (85 vs. 120 minutes and 147 vs. 175 minutes). But, the door to needle time was shorter in Udon Thani Hospital than noder community hospitals (50 vs. 58 minutes).

Conclusion: Node community hospital for stroke fast track is feasible in terms of rtPA treatment compared with the main referral hospital.

Keywords: Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, Stroke fast track, Community hospital