Scientific study

FAST aims to achieve a measurable improvement in the care of stroke patients in the Rhine-Neckar region with a reduction in death and disability through more frequent and faster adequate treatment. The network is intended to demonstrate paradigmatically how the consequences of a widespread disease can be reduced through structural regional improvements in the quality of care.

The main objective of this study is an evaluation of the stroke network, which includes a feasibility and effectiveness analysis as well as a further development and transferability of the stroke concept to other regions. To this end, the following central question is to be answered: What improvements in terms of clinical outcome, quality of care and patient and staff satisfaction do the care structures implemented as part of FAST contribute to?

Calling those affected

Have you suffered a stroke in the past? Are you interested in science and would you like to contribute to improving stroke care? Then get in touch with us. We are looking for so-called Patient Researchers (m/f) to support us in incorporating the patient perspective into our research. For example, you will help us to better understand patient experiences and wishes and to incorporate aspects of stroke care that are relevant to those affected.

For more information, please contact the care coordinator of the FAST Stroke Consortium:

Register study

In order to optimise the therapy of acute ischaemic stroke against the background of current treatment recommendations, all patients with ischaemic stroke who are treated in hospitals of the Rhine-Neckar Stroke Consortium will be recorded as part of a prospective register. The aim is to carry out a feasibility and efficiency analysis of FAST with regard to an optimised care infrastructure for the implementation of time-critical acute stroke therapy, as well as to document any side effects and the clinical success of the treatment in a standardised manner. The changes in the care parameters are to be compared retrospectively (baseline) with a comparable period before the implementation of FAST. With this analysis, optimisation potentials can be evaluated and it can be examined whether the FAST network is suitable as a model for national and international stroke care .

The data summarised in this registry study are all taken from the course of treatment adapted to the individual situation in accordance with the guidelines . In particular, the registry study pursues the following objectives:

1. Determination of care and treatment times starting with the onset of stroke symptoms through notification of the emergency medical services to the completion of acute stroke therapy, with special consideration of any recanalisation treatment that may have been carried out;
2. Feasibility analysis of this care network against the background of the aforementioned objectives;
3. Survey of the clinical situation by interviewing patients after approx. 3 months;
4. Survey of complications and side effects during treatment;
5. Hypothesis generation for the development of prospective studies as well as algorithms that optimise patient identification for different treatments.
6. optimisation of patient identification for different treatment concepts for acute ischaemic stroke, taking into account the local care structure.