EPISODE-PS-COVID: hEad Pulse for Ischemic StrOke DEtection Prehospital Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic ( EPISODEPSCOVID )

EPISODE-PS-COVID: hEad Pulse for Ischemic StrOke DEtection Prehospital Study During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Prehospital providers encounter patients with suspected stroke frequently. Stroke and COVID-19 are related potentially putting these healthcare workers at risk of COVID-19 infection. In addition, prehospital providers need tools to help triage large vessel stroke patients to comprehensive stroke centers.

This observational prospective study will document COVID-19 status on patients seen in the prehospital environment for suspected stroke. This will provide an estimate of how frequently stroke occurs in stroke and also the exposure risk to providers in this setting.

Additionally, patients will have a headset placed to record their headpulse during the encounter. These measurements will be used to further develop an analytic model used to predict the presence of large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke. This may help create a device that can be used in the prehospital environment to aid in the trade decision of destination hospital.

Inclusion Criteria:

• suspected stroke in the prehospital setting
• patient at risk for COVID-19

Exclusion Criteria:

• scalp laceration
• Patient refusal
• Prisoner, other vulnerable population
• Prehospital provider feels that the recording may interfere with care