STROKE PATIENT CRITERIA

Patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of a stroke (CVA):
1. Utilize the modified Cincinnati Pre-Hospital Stroke Scale (PSS):

a. Assess for facial droop: have the patient show teeth or smile,
b. Assess for arm drift: have the patient close eyes and hold both arms straight out for 10 seconds,
c. Assess for abnormal speech: have the patient say a simple sentence, for example: “you can't teach an old dog new tricks.”

2. If any one of the findings of the modified Cincinnati Pre-Hospital Stroke Scale are positive, establish onset of signs and symptoms by asking the following :

a. To patient – “When was the last time you remember before you became weak, paralyzed, or unable to speak clearly?”
b. To family or bystander – “When was the last time you remember before the patient became weak, paralyzed, or unable to speak clearly?”
c. If the patient woke with the deficit, the time of onset is the time patient went to sleep.

3. Transport the patient to the closest New York State Department of Health designated Stroke Center if the total time from when the patient's symptoms and/or signs first began to when the patient is first assessed by EMS is less than two (2) hours.