This study aims to assess various disparities in access to acute neurological care across the state of Arizona, focusing on areas of prominent advanced care in rural vs urban areas of Arizona. By assessing these differences, key barriers were identified to acute care in rural Arizona and proposed strategies to improve timely access to life-saving interventions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment.

Acute neurological care is critical for patient outcomes during emergencies such as stroke, TBI, and transient ischemic attack (TIA). Access to comprehensive emergency rooms equipped with neurointensivists play a vital role in patient outcomes. Urban areas in Arizona such as Phoenix and Tucson offer a higher density of specialized neurological care, thus being the main source for triage of neurological cases. This study seeks to explore the geographical disparities in access to acute neurological care across the state.

A review of Arizona's acute neurological services, including stroke and trauma center locations, was conducted. Interviews with emergency room physicians from urban and rural areas provided insights into managing acute cases. Metrics related to resource availability, strategies, and patient outcomes were identified. Disclosure: Components of this abstract utilized AI solely for the correction of spelling and grammatical errors.

Preliminary findings from geographical analysis and interviewing revealed a significant gap in the availability of specialized neurological care between urban and rural regions of Arizona. Rural areas were found to have fewer neurointensivists and neurosurgeons, leading to reliance on patient transfers to urban centers such as Central Phoenix, which often delay critical interventions.

The study underscores the need for strategic planning to enhance acute neurological care in rural Arizona. Expanding patient transfer infrastructure, incentives for neurologists residing in rural areas, and increasing non-physician neuro-trained personnel, are vital to reducing disparities and improving patient outcomes in underserved areas.