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5.1. Stroke Units
COR LOE
Recommendation
1 B-R
1. In patients with AIS of all ages, treatment within an
organized inpatient stroke care unit supported by a specialty
trained, interdisciplinary care team (ie, acute stroke units,
rehabilitation stroke units, comprehensive stroke units, and
mixed rehabilitation units) that incorporates standardized
stroke care order sets and protocols is recommended to
reduce the odds of poor outcomes and death.
Figure 5. Characteristics of an Organized Specialized
Inpatient Care Unit: Flow Diagram
• Assessment of stroke diagnosis/mechanism by
specialized stroke provider
• Assessment and monitoring by nurses with continuous
specialized training in stroke
• Stroke mechanism treatment plan
• Early goal setting and onset of rehabilitation by physical,
occupational, and speech therapy
• Integration with specialized rehabilitation nursing care
and caregivers
• Collaborative planning with interdisciplinary clinical team
• Early assessment of discharge needs
• Integration of patient and caregivers with a focus on
continued educational support
• Coordination of follow-up care
• Standardized acute stroke care order sets utilization
• Physical and medical complications management
guided by clinical practice guidelines/protocols
• Early rehabilitation assessment and mobilization by the
stroke team
• Multidisciplinary team care to include nursing and
caregivers with weekly meetings
Assessment and
Monitoring
Rehabilitation
Discharge
Planning
Clinical
Management
(First 5 days)
In-Hospital Management of AIS:
General Supportive Care
