White Paper

Executive Summary

STROK3 is an innovative platform designed to revolutionize stroke care. It empowers first responders—such as EMS personnel and firefighters—to quickly and securely collect and transmit critical patient data, including video and audio recordings of stroke assessments, demographic details, a thrombolytic treatment contraindication checklist, and next-of-kin contact information, to receiving hospitals before patient arrival. This pre-arrival assessment enables hospital staff to make informed decisions faster. For instance, patients with positive stroke exams can be directed immediately to the CT scanner, and next-of-kin can be contacted for treatment consent without delay. By addressing delays in diagnosis and treatment, STROK3 aims to save lives and reduce long-term disabilities associated with stroke.

Key Benefits:

• Reduced Time to Treatment: Enables faster door-to-needle times through pre-arrival review.
• Improved Patient Outcomes: Accelerates diagnosis and treatment, enhancing recovery prospects.
• Streamlined Stroke Care: Standardizes and simplifies stroke assessment workflows.
• Recorded Exams for Review: Provides a database of recorded exams for both acute and retrospective analysis.
• No Additional Hardware Costs: Fully HIPAA-compliant web application works on any smart device.
• Fewer False Alarms: Differentiates between strokes and mimicking conditions like Bell’s palsy or migraines.
• Cost Efficiency: Offers lower implementation costs compared to alternatives like mobile stroke units.

Introduction

Background Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Timely diagnosis and treatment are critical, as interventions such as thrombolytic therapy lose effectiveness rapidly with time. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 15 million people suffer from strokes annually, with 5 million deaths and 5 million cases of permanent disability.

Current Challenges

• Delays in Diagnosis: Variability in diagnosis times leads to treatment delays.
• Inconsistent Clinical Exams: Differences in how providers conduct and interpret assessments can result in uneven care.
• Difficulty Reaching Decision-Makers: Stroke patients are often unable to make decisions, making rapid access to next-of-kin information essential.
• Unstandardized Treatment: Without a uniform approach, treatment applications vary widely, affecting outcomes.

Understanding the Stroke Examination

Stroke Scales: The Brain's Equivalent of an EKG Just as an EKG evaluates the heart during a heart attack, stroke scales assess brain function during a stroke. Tools like the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS) and the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) are critical for stroke evaluation.

What is the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPSS)?

• Rapid Assessment: The CPSS is a quick and simple tool used by EMS to identify potential strokes in the field.
• Key Components: It evaluates facial droop, arm drift, and speech abnormalities.
• Importance: Enables early recognition of stroke and rapid transport to appropriate facilities for treatment.

What is the NIHSS?

• Gold Standard: The NIHSS systematically evaluates neurological function.
• Severity Assessment: Scores range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater disability.
• Importance: Guides diagnosis, measures stroke impact, and aids treatment decisions.

The STROK3 Solution

Platform Description STROK3 is a web-based platform accessible on any smart device. It guides first responders through standardized stroke assessments using CPSS and NIHSS protocols. Collected data—including recorded assessments, demographic details, and contraindication checklists—is securely transmitted to hospital teams for pre-arrival review.

How It Works:

1. EMS Recording: First responders record stroke exams via the STROK3 web app.
2. Demographics and Checklists: Key patient information is collected during transit.
3. Secure Transmission: Data is encrypted and sent to receiving hospitals.
4. Pre-Arrival Review: Hospital teams review assessments and prepare for immediate intervention.
5. Informed Decision-Making: Next-of-kin can be contacted, and treatment plans can be initiated before patient arrival.

Technology and Innovation

• Guided Exams: Intuitive interface ensures even first-time users can complete accurate assessments.
• Telemedicine Integration: Remote neurologist input supports real-time decision-making.
• Rapid Review: Exams are segmented into short clips for quick hospital review.
• Comparison Over Time: New exams can be compared to previous ones for tracking patient progress.
• AI Capabilities (Future): Planned integration for automated scoring and ongoing monitoring.
• Data Security: Fully encrypted, HIPAA-compliant transmissions with SOC 2 compliance in progress.

Clinical Impact

Improving Diagnosis and Treatment Times STROK3 significantly reduces door-to-needle times, enabling faster administration of thrombolytic therapy and other interventions.

Standardizing Stroke Assessments By recording and scoring CPSS and NIHSS assessments, STROK3 ensures consistency and objectivity in stroke evaluations, enhancing decision-making and treatment reliability.

Market Analysis

Target Customers:

• Rural Hospitals: Addresses lack of specialized stroke care in remote areas.
• Urban Hospitals: Enhances efficiency in high-volume settings.
• EMS Providers: Equips first responders with advanced stroke assessment tools.
• Thrombolytic Manufacturers: Offers potential partnerships to improve treatment delivery.

Competitive Landscape: While competitors like Twiage and Pulsara exist, STROK3’s integration of video/audio recording, standardized assessments, and pre-arrival review distinguishes it as a comprehensive stroke care solution.

Implementation and Deployment

Adoption Strategy:

1. Pilot Programs: Conduct trials in select hospitals to refine the platform.
2. Training: Provide quick, comprehensive training for EMS and hospital staff.
3. Feedback Loops: Iterate based on user insights for continuous improvement.

Current Progress: Initial pilot programs are underway, with promising feedback expected to drive further development.

Future Directions

Planned Updates:

• AI Integration: Automated scoring and passive monitoring.
• Enhanced Telemedicine: Expanded remote support capabilities.
• UI Improvements: Streamlined workflows for greater efficiency.

Expansion Opportunities: STROK3’s framework can be adapted for other emergencies, including heart attacks and traumatic injuries.

Conclusion

Summary of Benefits: STROK3 revolutionizes stroke care by reducing treatment times, standardizing assessments, and improving patient outcomes. Its innovative use of technology ensures consistent and accurate evaluations, setting a new standard in emergency medicine.

Call to Action: Join us in transforming stroke care. Partner with STROK3 to save lives, reduce costs, and set a new benchmark in healthcare innovation.