Practical Status and Social Background of Current Mobile Stroke Units Worldwide: A Survey and Investigation
Background: We aimed to clarify the current challenges involved in introducing and operating mobile stroke units (MSU) in new regions, considering the social background of regions with MSUs. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey on the operational and financial status of all active MSU progra...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/39x4b5sp |
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| author | Masahiko Hiroki Mototsugu Kohno Yutaka Kohno Masaki Misawa |
| author_facet | Masahiko Hiroki Mototsugu Kohno Yutaka Kohno Masaki Misawa |
| author_sort | Masahiko Hiroki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: We aimed to clarify the current challenges involved in introducing and operating mobile stroke units (MSU) in new regions, considering the social background of regions with MSUs. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey on the operational and financial status of all active MSU programs worldwide as of March 2023, and investigated the demographic, economic, and healthcare backgrounds of areas with and without active MSUs. We compared the data for the two groups at the country, state, or city level. We then correlated data gathered from the survey and the investigation. Results: Of the 33 MSU programs contacted, 19 (59%) responded. The responding programs treated a range of 52–1,663 (median 781) patients at an MSU per year. The most commonly reported hours of operation were eight hours every weekday (5, 26%). The majority had four staff on board (11, 58%). No physicians were on board in six MSUs (32%). The catchment area radius ranged from 5–250 (median 22) kilometers. The start-up costs and subsequent annual operation costs of an MSU ranged from $0.7–1.8 million (median 1.0) and $0.7–1.7 (median 1.0) million US dollars, respectively. Reimbursement was obtained by eight (47%), with full reimbursement by two (12%). A negative gross financial balance was reported in eight MSUs (53%, of 15), and a financial challenge was reported in 17 (94%, of 18). Compared to the non-MSU group at the country level, active MSU groups had a significantly higher population, nominal gross domestic product, healthcare access and quality index, and physician density. They also had significantly lower age-standardized stroke incidence rates and age-standardized stroke disability-adjusted life year rate. The MSU operation time was significantly positively correlated with age-standardized stroke incidence rate and negatively with physician density. Conclusion: Despite facing serious financial problems, mobile stroke units currently operate around the world. However, the social context of MSUs appears relatively advanced. For future implementation of MSUs, cost-saving strategies and reimbursements should be addressed, and national or regional social backgrounds should be considered. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-da9fa561008449ae8a4f2b2f7ba20351 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1936-900X 1936-9018 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-da9fa561008449ae8a4f2b2f7ba203512025-08-20T03:27:18ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-900X1936-90182025-05-0126370071110.5811/westjem.21267wjem-26-700Practical Status and Social Background of Current Mobile Stroke Units Worldwide: A Survey and InvestigationMasahiko Hiroki0Mototsugu Kohno1Yutaka Kohno2Masaki Misawa3Tsukuba Medical Center Hospital, Department of Neurology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JapanTsukuba Medical Center Hospital, Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JapanIbaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, Department of Neurology, Center for Medical Sciences, Ami, Ibaraki, JapanIbaraki Mobile Healthcare Corporation, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JapanBackground: We aimed to clarify the current challenges involved in introducing and operating mobile stroke units (MSU) in new regions, considering the social background of regions with MSUs. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey on the operational and financial status of all active MSU programs worldwide as of March 2023, and investigated the demographic, economic, and healthcare backgrounds of areas with and without active MSUs. We compared the data for the two groups at the country, state, or city level. We then correlated data gathered from the survey and the investigation. Results: Of the 33 MSU programs contacted, 19 (59%) responded. The responding programs treated a range of 52–1,663 (median 781) patients at an MSU per year. The most commonly reported hours of operation were eight hours every weekday (5, 26%). The majority had four staff on board (11, 58%). No physicians were on board in six MSUs (32%). The catchment area radius ranged from 5–250 (median 22) kilometers. The start-up costs and subsequent annual operation costs of an MSU ranged from $0.7–1.8 million (median 1.0) and $0.7–1.7 (median 1.0) million US dollars, respectively. Reimbursement was obtained by eight (47%), with full reimbursement by two (12%). A negative gross financial balance was reported in eight MSUs (53%, of 15), and a financial challenge was reported in 17 (94%, of 18). Compared to the non-MSU group at the country level, active MSU groups had a significantly higher population, nominal gross domestic product, healthcare access and quality index, and physician density. They also had significantly lower age-standardized stroke incidence rates and age-standardized stroke disability-adjusted life year rate. The MSU operation time was significantly positively correlated with age-standardized stroke incidence rate and negatively with physician density. Conclusion: Despite facing serious financial problems, mobile stroke units currently operate around the world. However, the social context of MSUs appears relatively advanced. For future implementation of MSUs, cost-saving strategies and reimbursements should be addressed, and national or regional social backgrounds should be considered.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/39x4b5sp |
| spellingShingle | Masahiko Hiroki Mototsugu Kohno Yutaka Kohno Masaki Misawa Practical Status and Social Background of Current Mobile Stroke Units Worldwide: A Survey and Investigation Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| title | Practical Status and Social Background of Current Mobile Stroke Units Worldwide: A Survey and Investigation |
| title_full | Practical Status and Social Background of Current Mobile Stroke Units Worldwide: A Survey and Investigation |
| title_fullStr | Practical Status and Social Background of Current Mobile Stroke Units Worldwide: A Survey and Investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Practical Status and Social Background of Current Mobile Stroke Units Worldwide: A Survey and Investigation |
| title_short | Practical Status and Social Background of Current Mobile Stroke Units Worldwide: A Survey and Investigation |
| title_sort | practical status and social background of current mobile stroke units worldwide a survey and investigation |
| url | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/39x4b5sp |
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