The team also found several factors that were significantly correlated with shorter wait times. For example, white patients faced significantly shorter wait times than Black patients. “We not only have the opportunity to improve overall survival for brain hemorrhages, but also for attenuating health disparities,” says Sheth.
The study is evidence that brain hemorrhages are a time-sensitive emergency in which every minute counts. “Before, we didn’t know time was important, so clinicians weren’t making the same mad rush that they were for clotting strokes,” says Sheth. “Now, we can begin driving quality improvement efforts for treating brain hemorrhages more quickly.”
Sheth’s team is continuing to work with the American Heart Association to conduct further analyses. They hope to learn more about the factors underlying why some patients wait longer for treatment, and also develop and roll out initiatives for helping patients get the care they need more rapidly.
