What Organization Type Should a Stroke Service Unit Have?
Different types of stroke unit organization can be identified. Several models have been described and few have been evaluated. Stroke units are far from being homogeneous. On the one hand, there are acute stroke units [Levine, 1989] or stroke intensive care units [Langhorne et al., 1995] to provide care for patients in the acute phase and not focusing on rehabilitation. Their aim is to avoid systemic complications and to rapidly detect deteriorating stroke, as in the early hours after stroke onset the patient’s condition often changes. On the other hand, there are nonintensive stroke units, also called stroke rehabilitation units, concentrating on rehabilitation. These units are usually discrete stroke wards. Furthermore, there are stroke wards taking care of patients in the acute phase until full rehabilitation. Another approach is to create mobile stroke teams in acute care hospital as well as in rehabilitation hospitals with the aim of providing skilled treatment at every stage of t
