James Grotta, MD: The Impact of COVID-19 on Stroke Care

"COVID-19 has been a pretty big stress for them. Just like many other spheres in our economy and society that have taken a hit, it remains to be seen what impact it will have on these first responders.”

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created concern around stroke care on 2 fronts: an elevated risk for stroke associated with the virus coupled with fear of seeking care for stroke in hospital settings due to potential virus exposure. Both of these have had a substantial impact beyond the patient, with a considerable toll evident among emergency medical services (EMS) providers and those working in the critical care setting.

With timeliness being a pillar of care in stroke, it is very troubling to see the long-term effects of the pandemic, including clinician burnout and a dwindling EMS pool,

In an interview with NeurologyLive, James Grotta, MD, a vascular neurologist at Memorial Hermann Medical Group, provides context on some of the major ways that the virus has impacted stroke care.