01/03/2019
Collaborative partnership recognised for changing clinical practice for the prevention of VTE in the acute stroke pathway.
A partnership between industry and University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust has been awarded the prestigious Medilink 2019 NHS Acute Care Award for changing clinical practice for the prevention of VTE in the acute stroke pathway.
The award recognises the UHNM’s collaborative work with UK-based medical devices company, Sky Medical Technology. In partnership they explored use of the geko™ device for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis, in the acute stroke pathway, when other VTE prevention strategies are contraindicated or impractical.
The results of a 1,000 patient prospective clinical audit resulted in a very low VTE rate, with no VTE reported in the patients treated with the geko™ device. Well tolerated, the use of the geko™ device has facilitated a significant change to nursing practice, and provides an alternative VTE prevention strategy for high risk acute stroke patients.
Commenting on the win, Andrew Thelwell, CCO Sky Medical Technology said: “We are delighted to win the Medilink Acute Care Award, alongside our partners at the Royal Stoke University Hospital. The 1000 patient data set built by the Royal Stoke has already impacted Stroke guidance in the UK, has led to changes to clinical practice across Europe and is now extending into the USA. Without committed and passionate clinical partners, willing to embrace innovation, none of this would have been possible.
Dr. Indira Natarajan, Consultant Stroke Physician and Clinical Director Neurosciences, at the Royal Stoke University Hospital said: “VTE is a very serious post-Stroke complication and I am extremely proud of the collaborative partnership to embed the geko™ device into the acute stroke pathway. Now in routine use at the Royal Stoke, the geko™ marks a significant change to our nursing practice. We use the geko™ device to provide a continuous anti-stasis intervention, when other modalities are contraindicated or cannot be tolerated. The outcome is a very low rate of VTE in our total patient population.
