FAST (stroke) FAST (stroke) FAST is an acronym used as a mnemonic to help detect and enhance responsiveness to the needs of a person having a stroke. The acronym stands for Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time to call emergency services. The FAST was developed in the UK in 1998 by a group of stroke physicians, ambulance personnel, and an emergency department physician and was designed to be an integral part of a training package for ambulance staff. The FAST was created to expedite administration of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator to patients within 3 hours of acute stroke symptom onset.
Emergency Medical Care of its kind in Canada, a Clinical Support Desk (CSD) will handle these low-acuity calls. Paramedics and nurses, with active clinical experience, are recruited, trained and in place at the CSD to make clinical decisions in offering alternative pathways to non-emergency care, conducting follow up calls to high-risk patients not transported and providing clinical support to field staff. The role of the CSD will always be developing and supported by the EHS Provincial Medical Director. Emergency Medical Care All ground ambulance, medical communications, air ambulance service in Nova Scotia, Canada, is contracted by EHS to Emergency Medical Care Inc. (EMC),