Administered Treatment to More than 260 Patients with Limited Access to Stroke Care
ST. LOUIS – May 1, 2012 – As one of the nation’s largest stroke care systems, the MidAmerica Stroke Network continues to bring advanced, timely stroke treatment to numerous patients across the region. Since its inception in July 2008, the MidAmerica Stroke Network has collaborated with member hospitals to initiate tPA administration for more than 260 ischemic stroke patients.
Through the Network, these patients were initially evaluated, diagnosed and treated on-site at the member hospitals before being transferred to Saint Louis University (SLU) Hospital for further stroke treatment. The overall goal is to help patients recover quickly and completely, reducing the risk of permanent brain damage, and improving patient outcomes.
“We couldn’t be happier with the success of the program thus far,” says Salvador Cruz-Flores, M.D., F.C.C.M., director of Souers Stroke Institute and the MidAmerica Stroke Network. “As our numbers indicate, this unique approach is improving the lives of stroke patients who may not have received this highly specialized care otherwise. Additionally, the resources and education we provide are helping our member hospitals become certified to administer tPA.”
The need for broader access to stroke care continues to be a major challenge today. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), stroke patients who receive tPA within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms are at least 30 percent more likely to recover with little or no disability after three months. However, only a small percentage of stroke patients in the U.S. receive tPA according to these guidelines.
Helping to fulfill this need, the MidAmerica Stroke Network provides education, treatment and unprecedented access to stroke care throughout the region. In honor of National Stroke Awareness Month, the Network created a special tool kit for its member hospitals. This tool kit included various visuals and information – posters, flyers, articles and table tents – that the hospitals are using to educate patients about stroke, including risks and tips for prevention.
“Ultimately, the Network’s goal is to increase the percentage of stroke patients treated with tPA within the 180-minute window from 1.5 percent to 15 percent or greater,” says Dr. Cruz. “We’ve grown from only a few member hospitals in 2008 to nearly 50 hospitals in 2012
The Network continues to grow today. With a total of 46 member hospitals – 18 in Missouri and 28 in Illinois – the Network has become one of the largest and fastest growing stroke care systems in the country.
About the MidAmerica Stroke Network
In July 2008, Saint Louis University Hospital launched the MidAmerica Stroke Network, a collaborative system of hospitals that shares knowledge, educational opportunities and technologies to provide high level stroke care to patients. Via the Network, members are committed to providing current and clinically-effective stroke care to the patients they serve in their communities. The first and only one of its kind in the region, this advanced Network helps the emergency medical team on-site effectively treat stroke patients in a timely manner, which may improve patient outcomes and possibly identify those patients who may benefit from a higher level of care. Ultimately, the goal of the MidAmerica Stroke Network’s presence is to help stroke patients recover quickly and completely, reducing the risk of permanent brain damage. For more information about the MidAmerica Stroke Network and upcoming events, please visit www.midamericastrokenetwork.com.