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Prehospital Ischemic Stroke Education for Glendale Fire Department

Dr. Tigran Khachatryan (third from left) with members of the Glendale Fire Department
Dr. Tigran Khachatryan (third from left) with members of the Glendale Fire Department, during a spring training session on prehospital care for acute ischemic stroke.

This spring, Tigran Khachatryan, MD, PhD, provided focused training for Glendale Fire Department personnel on prehospital care of acute ischemic stroke, emphasizing rapid identification, LVO recognition, destination decision-making, and effective communication with receiving stroke centers.

Content included use of validated prehospital screening tools (mLAPSS/LAMS/VAN), the importance of establishing last known well time and key contraindication history and aligning transport with Los Angeles County stroke destination protocols to reduce time-to-therapy.

Dr. Khachatryan emphasized that work begins long before a patient reaches the hospital:

“Sharing knowledge with our first responders about prehospital stroke care is critically important because they are the frontline link in the stroke chain of survival, where every minute directly affects survival of a stroke victim and long-term outcomes Well-trained first responders can recognize stroke symptoms rapidly using validated screening tools, triage based on the likelihood of large vessel occlusion, establish last-known-well times, and initiate pre-notification so hospital teams are ready on arrival. Their decisions in the field - especially transporting a patient promptly to the most appropriate stroke center - can directly affect eligibility for time-sensitive therapies such as thrombolysis or thrombectomy. Strengthening education of our first responders in stroke care not only increases the chance of patient survival but also reduces the possibility of lifelong disability, making it one of the highest-impact investments we can make for our community.”

— Tigran Khachatryan, MD, PhD, Vascular and Interventional Neurology

As the region’s Comprehensive Stroke Center, Adventist Health Glendale delivers advanced stroke care without transfer out, supported by neurointerventional capabilities, advanced imaging (CTA as a primary tool for LVO evaluation), and a comprehensive continuum from cath lab through neuro critical care and rehabilitation.

For more information, please call the Adventist Health Glendale information and referral line at 818-409-8100.