Acute Stroke: It's All About Process and Team Improving Patient Outcomes in the Emergency Department

•Stroke care is time sensitive.•Emergency department stroke care process from prehospital to disposition is discussed.•Interdisciplinary stroke teams improve the care of stroke patients.•Team work in health care is an effective strategy to improve stroke patient outcomes.

Earlier focused care from prehospital has demonstrated that stroke teams from prehospital to rehabilitation improve the care of stroke patients. Time is brain is the impetus for identifying patients quickly with stroke symptoms and initiating neuroprotective treatments. This article will discuss how effective team process: the merging of multidisciplinary care teams is the foundation of safe stroke care for patients in both the community and the hospital.