Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States and a major cause of adult disability. In California, heart disease and stroke are the third leading causes of death and they continue to be an enormous economic burden in the state. Tissue-type plasminogen activator is a proven intervention for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. The benefit of intravenous t-PA is time-dependent and the national guidelines advocate hospitals complete the clinical and imaging evaluation of AIS patients and start intravenous t-PA therapy within 60 minutes of patient arrival in those without contraindication.
