Grant awarded to UK HealthCare and partners for enhancing stroke care in Kentucky, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a significant move to combat the high stroke mortality rate in Kentucky, particularly in the Appalachian region, a consortium of health partners has been awarded a $1.8 million Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program Grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Kentucky Stroke Improvement Cooperative (KSIC) will be created to provide leadership for improving the quality of stroke care in the state. The project aims to reduce stroke disparities and deaths over the long term and improve outcomes throughout Kentucky, with a focus on Appalachia and underserved communities at highest risk.
The KSIC will increase public awareness of stroke and related issues, identify and eliminate disparities affecting health outcomes, provide education about stroke and its management, serve as a link between the community and stroke care and supportive resources, and utilize data to prioritize coalition goals and activities.
The University of Kentucky, UofL Health, the Kentucky Department for Public Health's Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, and other state partners will collaborate to achieve these goals. The program will expand participation to encompass the community, primary care clinics, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), rehabilitation centers, and long-term care facilities.
The project will also increase access and participation in the statewide Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force from 38 hospitals, helping to close the gap in stroke care for high-burden populations. The program will expand coordination between existing programs such as the Kentucky Stroke Encounter Quality Improvement Project, the statewide UK/Norton Healthcare Stroke Care Network, and the 36 certified Stroke Centers in Kentucky.
The grant will allow for the coordination and expansion of existing efforts to improve stroke-related health outcomes. The program will increase the dissemination of evidence-based guidelines for improvement of hypertension, obesity, and diabetes control, which are leading risk factors for stroke.
The KSIC will also work towards increasing access, understanding, utilization, and compliance with evidence-based performance measures of the American Heart Association's Get With the Guidelines Stroke Program. The project will expand existing systems of care to coordinate and extend access to rural and underserved populations.
The University of Kentucky, a recognised leader in diversity and inclusion, is at the forefront of this initiative. The institution has been named among the best employers for diversity, a Diversity Champion, and a top campus for LGBTQ+ inclusion and safety. UK HealthCare has been named the state's top hospital for five straight years.
The grant aims to optimize stroke prevention and improve care and outcomes for stroke patients throughout Kentucky over a three-year period. Kentucky health care systems and community providers will work together to implement comprehensive stroke systems for those at high risk for stroke and those who have had a stroke.
This collaborative effort is a significant step towards improving stroke care and reducing disparities in Kentucky, particularly in the Appalachian region. The KSIC will serve as the coordinator for improving stroke patient care, ensuring a comprehensive and coordinated approach to stroke prevention and care in the state.
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