Description
Diagnose, manage, and treat cerebrovascular disorders—including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke and transient ischemic attack—with a nonsurgical focus. Lead acute stroke care, interpret vascular neuroimaging, coordinate endovascular therapies, and direct secondary prevention and rehabilitation with multidisciplinary teams.
- • Lead acute stroke evaluations and code stroke activations in emergency and inpatient settings.
- • Perform and document NIH Stroke Scale assessments and serial neurologic exams.
- • Interpret CT, CTA, CTP, MRI, and MRA for acute and chronic cerebrovascular disease.
- • Determine eligibility for IV thrombolysis and obtain informed consent when appropriate.
- • Initiate and monitor IV alteplase or tenecteplase and manage post-thrombolysis care.
- • Coordinate emergent endovascular thrombectomy with neurointerventional teams.
- • Manage intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage with neurosurgery and critical care, including BP targets and anticoagulation reversal.
- • Diagnose and treat TIA, cerebral venous thrombosis, carotid and vertebral disease, and small-vessel ischemic disease.
- • Order and interpret carotid duplex ultrasound and transcranial Doppler studies.
- • Direct secondary stroke prevention, including antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy, lipid lowering, risk-factor control, and lifestyle counseling.
- • Evaluate cryptogenic stroke with cardiac monitoring, echocardiography, and hypercoagulable testing, and coordinate PFO evaluation.
- • Counsel patients and families on stroke mechanisms, prognosis, and risk-factor modification.
- • Prescribe and adjust medications and monitor for hemorrhagic and ischemic complications and drug interactions.
- • Develop individualized acute and longitudinal care plans and rehabilitation goals.
- • Refer patients to neurosurgery, interventional neuroradiology, cardiology, vascular surgery, or hematology as needed.
- • Coordinate multidisciplinary stroke unit care, including nursing, PT/OT/SLP, nutrition, and social work.
- • Provide telestroke consultations and remote decision support across network hospitals.
- • Perform or interpret diagnostic procedures, such as lumbar puncture for suspected subarachnoid hemorrhage and bedside TCD emboli monitoring.
- • Prepare, maintain, and review stroke documentation, timelines, orders, and outcomes, including modified Rankin Scale at follow-up.
- • Educate residents, fellows, nurses, EMS, and other clinicians on stroke recognition and protocols.
- • Participate in stroke research, clinical trials, registries, and quality-improvement initiatives.
- • Track and improve stroke program metrics, such as door-to-needle and door-to-groin times, and guideline adherence.
- • Communicate and coordinate care transitions with primary care and rehabilitation services after discharge.
- • Participate in continuing education to maintain vascular neurology competence and certifications.
- • Determine brain death using accepted tests and procedures when applicable.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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Last reviewed: Jan 2026
