Focus on Stroke and Hypertension

Hypertension is often called a “silent killer” because many people do not know they have high blood pressure. People who have hypertension that goes untreated are more likely to die from, or be disabled by, cardiovascular complications such as heart attacks, heart failure or stroke. Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the United States.

In October of 2004, Alta Bates Summit opened a Regional Stroke Center. The Center provides a continuum of care for people who have had strokes. As part of the Stroke Initiative of the 2005-2007 Community Benefit Plan, the Center collaborated with the Ethnic Health Institute and other medical center programs to provide information and education to our community.

2005-2007 Goal

• To decrease the morbidity and mortality rates from strokes by educating, informing and raising community awareness about stroke prevention, warning signs and symptoms of stroke; the community standard of care for people who have had a stroke; and the treatment continuum for people who have had a stroke.

2005-2007 Cumulative Outcomes

1. Since the opening of the Regional Stroke Center in October of 2004, a Stroke Outreach Committee was created with a mission, strategic plan and measurable goals and objectives.
2. Stroke educational materials were created and disseminated in five different languages.
3. An educational film on stroke entitled “Time is Brain” was completed and premiered in 2007 in a special showing for 300+ community members at a well-known local movie theatre. The film will be widely distributed throughout the country.
4. Stroke quizzes, testing an individuals understanding of the symptoms of stroke and distributed widely throughout the community.
5. Stroke education has been extremely successful. There was a 43% increase in the number of stroke patients arriving at the Emergency Department within a 3-hour time period when outcomes will most likely be better.
6. Emergency physicians were trained in the use of TpA, a clot-dissolving drug that can literally reduce the impact of a stroke. In 2006, there was a 125% increase in the use of TpA.