VISIION-L: Viz.ai implementation of stroke augmented intelligence and communications platform to improve indicators and outcomes for a comprehensive stroke center and network – Life Flight. A pilot experience

BACKGROUND: Improving Life Flight transfer processes is critical. Our telestroke program utilizes the Viz.ai (AI platform) for hyperacute stroke patients with potential vessel occlusions who could benefit from hyperacute transfer. We hypothesized that early incorporation of Life Flight into the multi-team Viz.ai discussion thread would improve communications and streamline transfer times. METHODS: We deployed the Viz-Life Flight software module, enabling Life Flight dispatch and helicopter teams access to specific hyperacute transfer cases. Life Flight dispatch and teams were trained on the module use. Variables of interest were collected from stroke databases and Life Flight run-sheets. Likert scale questions were deployed by survey comparing satisfaction. RESULTS: For this pilot experience, the last 5 pre-period patients were compared to the first 5 post-period cases. Median age was 64yrs vs. 65yrs (p = 0.83). Males were 60% vs. 100% (p = 0.18). Time metrics showed: 'SpokeArrival to SpokeDoorOut (DIDO)'(146 min,146 min; 0.75), 'SpokeDoorOut to AdjHubIn (DODI)'(19 min,23 min; 0.21), 'HubDoorIn to GroinPuncture (DTG)'(38 min,33 min; 0.85), 'NIR Contact to Life Flight Activation'(15 min,8 min;p = 0.99), 'SpokeLand to SpokeLift (SpokeDoorOut)'(26 min,24 min; 0.92), and 'SpokeLand to AdjHubLand (aka: 'SpokeLand to HubDoorIn')(45 min,50 min;p = 0.69). In the Post- period, 'Dispatch Notification to Helicopter Notification via Viz' was 3 min, and 'Dispatch Notification via Viz to SpokeLand' was 17 min. Providers rated the Viz-Life Flight communications process higher for satisfaction (30%,89%;p < 0.001), efficiency (26%,91%;p < 0.001), efficacy (30%,93%;p < 0.001), enthusiasm (27%,93%;p < 0.001), and in total (33%,92%;p < 0.001). DISCUSSION: This VISIION-L initiative, adding the Viz-Life Flight module into the process to enable Life Flight teams to actively participate in hyperacute care discussions early on, resulted in preserved time metrics, and significantly improved satisfaction by approximately 60%. Our aim was to show that the novel deployment of this Viz-Life Flight process into the Life Flight hyperacute transfer process can immediately result in improved multi-team communications with a high degree of satisfaction benefit. Assessing improvement in time-based KPIs will require longer term assessments.