DSG calls for optimization of aftercare for strokes
04.05.2022 12:33
Around 260,000 people in this country suffer a stroke every year - for many, this means a drastic change in their lives due to serious consequences such as paralysis or speech disorders. Although Germany is a pioneer across Europe in acute care with numerous stroke units, there is a need for optimization in aftercare. Experts from the German Stroke Society (DSG) are drawing attention to this on the occasion of the nationwide day of action against stroke on May 10th.
They are calling for the rapid implementation of a project from the new coalition agreement, which aims to improve aftercare in many areas of health. Accordingly, stroke controllers should be used more frequently in the future.
“The new federal government has recognized that aftercare needs to be improved in many areas of health – including stroke care,” explains the first chairman of the DSG, Professor Dr. med. Darius Nabavi, head of neurology at the Vivantes Klinikum Neukölln in Berlin. The plan is to optimize outpatient and inpatient healthcare. “The government wants to provide structures so that successful projects, such as the patient guide, can then be taken over by health insurance companies and incorporated into standard care.”
The DSG strongly supports this project - and is actively committed to optimizing stroke aftercare. This is so important so that a gap in care can be avoided after the end of inpatient treatment. Those affected should achieve a higher quality of life and suffer fewer vascular complications. Together with the German Stroke Aid Foundation and other European organizations, the specialist society wants to improve and standardize aftercare as part of the European Stroke Action Plan by 2030. In order to consistently pursue this goal, the DSG has set up an aftercare commission,” explains the first chairman of the aftercare commission, Professor Dr. med. Andreas Meisel, director of the Berlin Center for Stroke Research and senior physician at the Neurology Clinic at the Charité Berlin. The focus here is on developing a comprehensive care approach based on closer neurological monitoring in order to effectively avoid complications, including further strokes, and to better treat complex functional limitations - such as paralysis and speech disorders.
The central components of improved aftercare are supplementary structures, such as stroke guides, which act as a link between the various actors. These have been operating successfully in East Westphalia-Lippe, for example, since 2017. They have a therapeutic or nursing background and accompany patients intensively after their illness. For example, they document treatments and provide support when applying for aids. “If the federal government actually implements the projects planned in the coalition agreement and the successful stroke care project is included in the standard health insurance coverage, an incredible amount would be gained,” said Nabavi. “We fully support this project and demand rapid implementation.” A first major goal is to set up a nationwide network of carer functions.
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