Transforming Stroke Care through Evidence-Based Screening

Early identification of dysphagia in stroke patients is essential to prevent complications and improve outcomes. This publication, "Implementation of Stroke Dysphagia Screening in the Emergency Department," explores a pilot study conducted at a large VA medical center. It evaluates the feasibility of emergency department (ED) nurses administering a standardized swallowing screening tool (SST) that includes a water swallow component. The study offers insights into process improvement using real-world data, structured training, and a multidisciplinary care model to enhance early stroke management.

Why This Resource Matters for Healthcare Professionals

This resource provides practical knowledge and clinical tools that can be applied immediately in your setting. Healthcare professionals will gain:

• A step-by-step guide to implementing an evidence-based SST with both observational and water swallow components.

• An understanding of how Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles drive sustainable practice change in busy ED environments.

• Strategies to overcome barriers such as time constraints, documentation challenges, and variability in clinical practice.

• Insights into creating interdisciplinary care bundles and tailored education methods to enhance care quality and team adherence.

This resource is helpful for nurses, speech-language pathologists, emergency physicians, and stroke care coordinators seeking to align with AHA/ASA guidelines and improve quality performance measures in acute stroke care.

Access the Full Study for Practical Tools and Training Support

Explore the full publication now to understand how structured implementation of dysphagia screening can dramatically improve screening rates and care outcomes in acute stroke. Click the orange "View Content" button to download the article directly from a trusted academic source. The document includes detailed protocols, workflow templates, educational resources, and outcome data to support ongoing learning and implementation.