IMPROVE Stroke Care- Developing and Optimizing Regional Systems of Stroke Care

The purpose of this program is to develop a regional integrated stroke system that identifies, classifies, and treats patients with acute ischemic stroke more rapidly and effectively with reperfusion therapy.

The design is based upon the implementation of best practice, that is, based on a comprehensive review of AHA guidelines regarding treatment of acute stroke, ICH (intracranial hemorrhage) and SAH(sub arachnoid hemorrhage). In the second phase, the project will be doing national and international surveys of best practices among comprehensive stroke centers and then combine evidence based guidelines and recommendation as well as expert consensus and guidelines when high level evidence is not available from the published literature. The aim to improve public stroke awareness, stroke symptom recognition within the time benefit window for treatment and calling 9-1-1, EMS transportation, and the proportion and speed of reperfusion therapy (fibrinolytic and in appropriate patients- endovascular treatment) in eligible patients. These improvements in acute stroke care delivery are expected to result in lower mortality, fewer recurrent strokes, and improved long term functional outcomes that we will measure.