Nationally, approximately 739,000 strokes occur, annually. North Carolina is in the “stroke buckle” with South Carolina and Georgia where stroke death rate is two times greater than the national average. Among the “stroke buckle” states, North Carolina follows South Carolina and precedes Georgia in stroke death rate.Stroke disables more than it kills and it is the leading cause of serious long-term adult disability. Nationally, there are approximately 4.8 million stroke survivors of whom two-thirds are moderately or severely disabled. The single most important fact, in the face of these statistics, is that stroke is largely preventable.The North Carolina Stroke Association’s goal for the Beyond the Hospital Program is to provide stroke survivors with crucial secondary stroke education and to furnish hospitals with patient outcome measurements. This program also targets stroke prevention, but in the case of the hospitalized patient, it targets prevention of another stroke through patient education. The program targets specific elements that are evidenced based in stroke prevention, and it is measurable, standardized, and community-focused.The program’s objective is to serve stroke survivors throughout all 100 North Carolina counties. The program is available to all hospitals that seek to improve performance outcomes, and to demonstrate results.In June 2004, the North Carolina Stroke Association launched its first bi-annual stroke education publication, Stroke Notes. Stroke Notes is sent to all Beyond the Hospital Program participants, and to the community at large.
Stanly Regional Medical Center Press Release
NC Hospital Administrators Newsletter
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