What is an important alert to document for Ischemic CVA cases?

In cases of ischemic cerebrovascular accident (CVA), or stroke, documenting the time of onset or the last known well time is crucial. This "time window" is critical for treatment decisions, particularly regarding thrombolytic therapy (such as tPA) which is most effective when administered within a certain timeframe from the onset of symptoms, usually within 3 to 4.5 hours. Knowing when the patient was last seen in a normal state allows healthcare professionals to determine the appropriateness of such interventions and thus significantly influences the patient's outcome.

Otherwise, details such as the time of the last medication taken, the patient's temperature, or daily activity level can provide useful information but are not as critical in the initial management of a stroke when compared to the onset timing. The urgency in treating strokes necessitates that clinicians prioritize the timing of symptom onset to make timely and effective therapeutic decisions.