Background and Objective: To determine the effectiveness of stroke unit care in a remote hospital in eastern India
Methods: This study was carried out at the Baptist Christian Mission Hospital in Tezpur, Assam from January 2015 till December 2017. Before the implementation of stroke unit care basic demography, risk factors, type of stroke, stroke severity (NIHSS), swallow screening, length of hospital stay, complications, drugs prescribed and 1 month outcome was documented using Modified Rankin scale (mRS) (0-2 good outcome). Then staff were trained regarding stroke unit care for 1 month and the same information was collected. There were 125 patients in both the groups. 
Results: Intracerebral hemorrhage rates were high in both the groups (pre-stroke unit 74 (59.7%) vs post stroke unit care 63 (50.4%), p>0.227. The median NIHSS at admission in pre-stroke unit care group was 15 (10-22) vs 10 (5-15) in post stroke unit group, p=<0.001; hypertension was more common in the post-stroke unit cohort 122 (97.6%), as compared to post stroke unit cohort 77 (74%), p=<0.001. Complications were more in pre-stroke unit subjects 56 (44.8%) vs 35 (28.0%), p=0.006. Swallow assessment was greater in post stroke unit care 46 (36.8%) vs 0, p=<0.001. Length of hospital stay was longer in pre-stroke 5±2.68 days vs 4±2.16, p=0.026). Good outcome was seen in 40 (32%) patients in post-stroke unit cohort vs 25 (20%), p=0.031, after adjusting for severity there was no difference. 
Conclusions: This physician-based stroke unit care model in a remote hospital in India shows improved quality measures.

Effectiveness of Stroke Unit Care in a Remote Hospital in Eastern India