[Structured care for stroke patients: stroke units and transmural stroke services].

Following the successful introduction of Coronary Care Units for patients after a myocardial infarction, Stroke Units were designed where the specialized care for patients who had suffered a stroke might be concentrated. A meta-analysis in 1993 indicated that patients indeed benefited from treatment in such a unit. Stroke is the third cause of death in the Netherlands, with a prevalence in people aged 55 and more of 3.5% in men and of 1.9% in women. A Stroke Unit is part of a hospital; a Transmural Stroke Service in which neurologists and general practitioners participate, may deliver the appropriate care in the appropriate setting: patients may quickly be admitted to the hospital, an outpatient clinic can limit unnecessary hospitalization, and the general practitioner supervises chronic home treatment. The possibilities are there, now they have to be implemented.