Stroke: transport directly to a level I or II stroke center if the additional transport time does not exceed ___ minutes?

• A. 15 minutes
• B. 10 minutes
• C. 20 minutes
• D. 25 minutes

Answer: (A)

Time matters in stroke care, and the goal is to get the patient to a facility with robust stroke imaging and treatment capabilities as quickly as possible. The principle being tested is that bypassing a closer hospital to go directly to a Level I or II stroke center is appropriate only if the extra transport time is limited to a short, practical window. This keeps the overall door-to-needle or door-to-puncture time as short as possible, maximizing the chance for rapid reperfusion therapy. If adding time to reach the specialized center would cause a significant delay, it’s better to take the patient to the nearest capable facility to avoid delaying definitive treatment.