JAMA neurology
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Implementation of prehospital stroke triage is a public policy intervention that can have an immediate impact on acute stroke care in a region. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact that a citywide policy recommending prehospital triage of patients with suspected stroke to the nearest primary stroke center had on intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) use in Chicago, Illinois. ⋯ Implementation of a prehospital stroke triage policy in Chicago resulted in significant improvements in emergency medical services use and prenotification and more than doubled intravenous tPA use at primary stroke centers.