Abstract WP206: Characterizing Prehospital Emergency Medical Services Dispatch Diagnostics in Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke Detection

Introduction: Stroke requires early recognition and dispatch of adequate Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Traditional EMS dispatch systems are not geared toward the utilization of Mobile Stroke Treatment Units (MSTUs). We evaluated the initial dispatched complaint for patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes and evaluated if the time of MSTU dispatch impact stroke patient outcomes. Methods: We reviewed all patients with LVO ischemic strokes evaluated in the MSTU between 7/25/23 to 6/30/25. All patients who initiated their 911 calls in Alachua County were included in the study. We reviewed EMS dispatch records to determine the time of call, initial complaint, and whether the MSTU was dispatched at the time of the call (early dispatch) or at a later time (late dispatch). Stroke metrics such as time to CT and time to needle, and time to puncture were calculated from the initial 911 call. We also evaluated discharge NIHSS and modified Rankin Score (mRS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate differences between patients with early vs late MSTU dispatch. Results: In this study, 48 patients with LVO were treated on the MSTU (mean age of 72 years and 50% male); in 24 cases the MSTU was dispatched early. The most common reasons for late dispatch were unconscious/fainting (29%), fall (29%) and other (34%). Initial NIHSS was higher for late-dispatch patients. The early MSTU dispatch group arrived faster to scene (15.5 vs. 26.3 min., p