An Overview of Stroke Infrastructure, Network, and Nursing Services in Contemporary Greece

Abstract

This article describes the provision of stroke services in Greece and addresses the possible effects of the hospital rotation system. Unique to Greece is a centrally administered rotation system for hospital 24-hour on-call systems in the major cities. This means that a hospital may admit new patients only during specific 24-hour periods every 3 to 5 days. All Greek city hospitals must conform to this rotation basis for emergency and scheduled admissions. Patients with stroke arrive to designated rotation on-call hospital via ambulance or taxi or by private means and are first seen in the accident and emergency department where they are given priority attention accordingly and allocated to a neurology ward, medical ward, or stroke bay if the hospital has one. Occasionally, a neurosurgical consultation is sought; the patient may be admitted directly to a neurosurgery ward. Some attempts have been made to reach a degree of specialization in stroke bays, but with only a few of these, situated only in major cities, the vast majority of patients are still admitted to neurology or medical wards. Nurses and physicians in Greece continue to strive to improve outcomes for their patients with stroke despite adverse circumstances.

The Emergency Medical System in Greece: Opening Aeolus’ Bag of Winds

“…Likewise, the incidence of stroke in Greece is among the highest in the western world, with a very low proportion of surviving patients [ 34 ]. Stroke deaths in Greece reached 20,662 or 21.86% of total deaths [ 35 ].…”

“…These data rank Greece as 101th (highest mortality per capita) globally. Stroke mortality is as high as 130 per 100,000 in the general population [ 34 , 35 ]. According to data from the ViewCronos database, mortality for stroke in Greece is 50% higher than the mean mortality rates of the EU [ 34 , 35 ].…”

“…Stroke mortality is as high as 130 per 100,000 in the general population [ 34 , 35 ]. According to data from the ViewCronos database, mortality for stroke in Greece is 50% higher than the mean mortality rates of the EU [ 34 , 35 ]. There are 3 different types of settings where a patient with stroke can be admitted to a Greek state hospital [ 34 , 35 ].…”

“…According to data from the ViewCronos database, mortality for stroke in Greece is 50% higher than the mean mortality rates of the EU [ 34 , 35 ]. There are 3 different types of settings where a patient with stroke can be admitted to a Greek state hospital [ 34 , 35 ]. These include a medical ward (MW), a neurology ward (NW), and a specialised stroke bay (SB).…”

Stroke units in the world and Ukraine: requirements, realities and prospects

“…Если больному не могут оказать адекватную помощь в дежурной больнице, то его переводят в другое медицинское учреждение. В удаленных от крупных центров городах и селах большинство пациентов по-прежнему госпитализируют в неврологические отделения [19].…”