Available on the Learning Hub
This programme is available on the NHS Learning Hub. We recommend you read the information on this webpage to find out more about the programme before you access the learning (https://learninghub.nhs.uk/catalogue/clinical-video-assessment-for-stroke).
More information about the Learning Hub and the migration of elfh programmes can be found here.
About the Clinical Video Assessment for Stroke (CVAS) programme
The pre-hospital CVAS improves diagnosis of a stroke and reduces treatment times for time-critical interventions such as thrombolysis and thrombectomy when stroke patients are brought to specialist stroke units. CVAS also offers a new pathway for resolved vascular events, known as transient ischaemic attacks (TIAs), to be referred directly to specialist stroke assessment clinics.
CVAS depends on effective communication between remote stroke specialists and the on-scene ambulance crews to allow for rapid evaluation and shared decision making on the best transfer pathway.
This training programme is designed to introduce the priorities of the CVAS service and equip stroke clinicians to confidently perform CVAS assessments, recognise important presentation patterns and avoid common pitfalls.
The training should take no longer than 20 minutes per session. There will be a short assessment at the end which must be passed to allow the training to be completed.
More information
CVAS is a new service model for pre-hospital shared assessment between a hospital-based specialist and on scene ambulance crews. Its purpose is to choose the correct emergency pathway in order to reduce treatment times for time-critical stroke conditions and to ensure that patients are transferred to the right destination for their presentation.
There is now evidence from the CVAS service in London and from other regions in the UK on the effectiveness of pre-hospital assessment and from UCL showing that the system is valued by staff.
Information describing the effectiveness of CVAS and from independent evaluation can be found on the UCL website: PHOTONIC: Prehospital triage for suspected stroke patients
The challenge of the CVAS assessment is to make an accurate assessment in order to make the best pathway decision, whilst ensuring that time is not lost in transferring patients to treatment centres. The training programme is designed to allow CVAS assessments to be focused, accurate and time efficient.
The service starts with a video call from the ambulance crew on scene assessing a patient with possible stroke to a remote stroke physician who can assess and triage the patient.
Following a joint assessment, the stroke physician and ambulance crew then determine the most appropriate transfer destination which might be to a hyperacute stroke unit (HASU), a local emergency department, a TIA clinic or referral to primary care.
Primary and secondary audiences
Primary audience: stroke specialists (medics or specialist nurses)
Secondary audience: ambulance crews, clinicians working in linked fields such as Emergency Medicine
Acknowledgments
The London Urgent and Emergency Care Network
The London Stroke Network and Integrated Stroke Delivery Network
The CVAS Oversight Group chaired by Mr Gary McAllister
Meet the team
Dr. Robert Simister
Stroke Neurologist, Clinical Lead, UCLH
Dr. Salman Haider
Stroke Neurologist, UCLH
Dr. Erla Jonsdottir
Stroke SpR, Geriatric and GIM Registrar, GSTT
Patrick Hunter
Senior Sector Clinical Lead (Paramedic) London Ambulance Service
Tiffany Wishart
Senior Sector Clinical Lead North East London, London Ambulance Service NHS Foundation trust, Paramedic, LAS Clinical Lead
Dr. Chak Ip
Clinical Research Fellow, UCLH
Technology Enhanced Learning, NHS England team members
Charlotte Devereaux
Programme Manager, NHSE elearning for healthcare
Essi Niittymaki
Senior Project Manager, NHSE elearning for healthcare
Tracy Watkins
Lead Learning Designer, NHSE elearning for healthcare
Catriona Ramsay
Learning Designer, NHSE elearning for healthcare
Steven Thompson
Film Recording and Editing, NHSE elearning for healthcare
Rashmi Chavda
Graphic Designer, NHSE elearning for healthcare
Nicola Kipling
Marketing and Communications Officer, NHSE elearning for healthcare
How to access
To access this elfh programme, you will require a Learning Hub account. If you do not have one, then you can register by selecting the Register button below. Note that if you hold a full elfh account, you can sign into the Learning Hub using your existing login credentials.
To view the CVAS programme, select the View button below. If you already have a Learning Hub account, you will also be able to login and access the resources within the programme.
NHS healthcare staff in England – ESR
The CVAS programme is also available to NHS healthcare staff via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). Accessing this elearning via ESR means that your completions will transfer with you throughout your NHS career.
Not an NHS organisation?
If you are not an NHS health or care organisation and therefore do not qualify for free access to the Learning Hub, you may be able to access the service if you have an existing OpenAthens account. Please go to Learning Hub and sign in with your existing credentials.
If you do not have an existing OpenAthens account, please contact elfh directly to check whether you may be eligible for access.
Registering large numbers of users
If you are an HR, IT or Practice Manager and would like to register and enrol large numbers of staff within your organisation for access onto the CVAS programme, please contact elfh directly.
Organisations wishing to use their own LMS
For HR departments wanting to know more about gaining access to courses using an existing Learning Management System please contact elfh directly to express interest.
More information
Please select the following link for more information on how to use the Learning Hub.