Innovative use of artificial intelligence and digital communication in acute stroke pathway in response to COVID-19

Acute stroke care demands real-time, specialist-led treatment decisions, including thrombolysis and referral for mechanical thrombectomy. Pathways designed to deliver time-critical interventions for stroke patients have come under significant pressure due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing stroke clinicians to reconfigure existing clinical pathways both within and between hospitals.

Incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) and digital communication support into clinical pathways offers an opportunity to mitigate the disruption to acute stroke care. In this case study, the authors describe how Royal Berkshire Hospital, in collaboration with Brainomix, adopted technological innovation and integrated it into the hyperacute stroke pathway, presenting a case demonstrating how this innovation can support patient care and deliver successful outcomes.

This model is proposed as one that can be adopted in other hospitals and networks to deliver safe and efficient hyperacute stroke care, ultimately improving patient outcomes while reducing the strain on overstretched services.