Working with the Hospital Team

Stroke care involves a team of specialists. Understanding who does what and how to communicate effectively with the hospital team makes discharge smoother and recovery better.

Section 01

The Stroke Care Team

🧠

Neurologist / Stroke specialist

Diagnoses stroke type, directs acute treatment, manages secondary prevention medications. Medical lead for stroke care.

🏃

Physical therapist (PT)

Evaluates and treats movement, balance, and mobility deficits. Creates the exercise program for motor recovery. Your care must align with their protocols.

🖐️

Occupational therapist (OT)

Focuses on daily living skills — dressing, bathing, cooking, cognitive tasks. Provides adaptive equipment recommendations. Extremely relevant to home caregiving.

💬

Speech-language pathologist (SLP)

Addresses communication (aphasia, dysarthria) and swallowing (dysphagia). Dietary texture and liquid orders must be followed exactly — they are clinical safety orders.

👥

Social worker / Case manager

Coordinates discharge planning, connects to community resources, and helps families navigate insurance and home care placement.

Section 02

The Discharge Summary Is Your Care Bible

💡 What the discharge summary contains

The discharge summary contains: stroke type and affected region, current deficits and recovery trajectory, all medications and purposes, therapy recommendations and home exercise programs, dietary restrictions (texture, liquid consistency), activity restrictions, warning signs for second stroke, and follow-up appointments. Request a copy through the supervising nurse. This document shapes every care decision you make.

Section 03

Communicating Your Observations

Document functional performance: How did transfers go? Did they eat independently? How many steps before fatigue? This data informs therapy planning.
Report barriers: Home environment challenges the hospital team couldn't anticipate — stairs, bathroom layout, family dynamics. Report through the supervising nurse.
Flag concerning changes: Any new neurological symptom, medication reaction, or significant decline must be reported promptly.

Section 04

You Are the Most Frequent Therapist

✓ Therapy carryover — your most impactful role

A stroke survivor may see a PT 3 times per week for 45 minutes. They may have a caregiver for 4–8 hours per day. The majority of practice that drives neurological recovery happens during your shift — not in formal therapy. Know the home exercise program and encourage its practice during daily activities. Ask the supervising nurse for the therapy carryover program.

Section 05

Module 2 Complete

✓ Module 2: BEFAST and Emergency Response complete

You now know BEFAST by heart, can make an effective 911 call, understand the first 72 hours, and know how to work within the hospital care team. Module 3 addresses physical recovery — transfers, mobility, fall prevention, and exercise.