The Impact of Stroke Nurse Navigation on Patient Compliance Postdischarge

The purpose of this study was to describe the impact a stroke nurse navigation program has on concurrent chart reviews and patient compliance postdischarge.Phase I: Concurrent chart review of The Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center core measures for ischemic stroke patients. Phase II: Longitudinal study of 100 ischemic stroke patients discharged to home.Telephone surveys were conducted at prescribed intervals posthospital discharge (Phase II). Surveys focused on medication compliance, follow-up medical appointment compliance, and neurovascular emergency department (ED) visits/readmissions.Phase I trends included increased stroke performance measures compliance. Phase II favorable trends included increased medication compliance (>98%), increased follow-up appointments (100%), decreased rate of neurovascular ED visits/rehospitalizations (3%), and improvement in activities of daily living and quality of life measures through 12 months postdischarge.Stroke nurse navigation increased conformity of stroke performance measures and stroke patient discharge compliance through 12 months postdischarge.