Oklahoma Stroke Network Initiative - Oklahoma faces a growing neurological healthcare crisis driven by rising rates of stroke and other neurological disorders, combined with limited access to specialized care across rural communities. Neurological disease is now the third leading cause of death in the state, and delays in treatment frequently result in preventable disability, higher healthcare costs, and poorer patient outcomes. Oklahoma’s rural geography and shortage of neurological specialists create substantial barriers to timely emergency intervention and long-term neurological care. To address these challenges, The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC), through OU Health, is leading the development of an integrated statewide neurological care network designed to expand rapid access to stroke and neurological expertise across Oklahoma. OUHSC is requesting $4,584,275.00 through the Oklahoma Stroke Network Initiative to support deployment of two Mobile Stroke Units (MSUs), development of regional neurological care hubs, and implementation of an innovative telemedicine-enabled stroke triage pilot program that expands the reach and effectiveness of MSU services statewide. The initiative will establish a statewide Teleneuroscience Network connecting EMS agencies, rural hospitals, community providers, and neurological specialists through a coordinated hub-and-spoke model. This system will support rapid evaluation and treatment coordination for strokes, intracranial hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, seizures, and other time-sensitive neurological emergencies while improving access to specialty neurological care in underserved regions. A central component of the initiative is deployment of two Mobile Stroke Units equipped with onboard CT imaging, telemedicine capability, and specialized stroke expertise. By bringing advanced stroke diagnosis and treatment directly to patients before hospital arrival, MSUs significantly reduce time to intervention, improve access to thrombolytic therapy, and accelerate triage for thrombectomy-capable stroke centers. Placement of these units within Oklahoma’s largest population centers will maximize treatment during the critical early window following stroke onset. The project also includes creation of regional neurological care hubs within rural hospitals and a telemedicine-enabled EMS pilot program that allows vascular neurologists to remotely assess suspected stroke patients during ambulance transport. This innovative model leverages existing EMS infrastructure to improve destination triage, extend MSU coverage, reduce unnecessary transfers, and strengthen coordination between rural providers and comprehensive stroke centers. This initiative represents a transformational investment in Oklahoma’s healthcare infrastructure. Through the integration of Mobile Stroke Units, telemedicine-enabled EMS response, regional neurological hubs, and statewide teleneuroscience services, OU Health will create a scalable and sustainable system designed to improve outcomes, reduce disability, lower long-term healthcare costs, and expand equitable access to advanced neurological care for patients across Oklahoma.
