Thursday, April 10, 2025
4/10/2025
Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program - In 2022, stroke was the fifth leading cause of death in North Carolina and the state has continued to see an increase in death due to stroke over the last several years. We know that some of the key risk factors for stroke include diabetes and high-blood pressure, and that stroke risk is higher for people who are not aware they have these conditions and for people who have had them for many years without appropriate treatment. In North Carolina, like in many other states, there are communities that currently have fewer resources than others because of historic choices that limited growth and investment in those communities. Higher rates of serious health issues like stroke are often found in those under-resourced communities, and that is the case for a few locations within our health system’s service area. Our plan is to address the high rate of stroke in these communities through several approaches. First, using our electronic medical record, we will work to understand how we can better serve the patients we currently see who are at high risk of stroke and those who have already had one. We will also use the medical record to make sure we have a more complete picture of the needs patients have related to supporting their health, using social determinants of health screening data that we have collected from patients during prior medical encounters. Second, we will begin using a specialized communication tool that connects everyone supporting a patient who comes into the hospital for stroke care, from EMS to staff within the hospital. Everyone communicating on one channel should make the process of sharing information smoother, more complete, and faster – so patients receive the care they need faster, which is especially important for stroke. Third, we will send team members into the community to connect with patients who may have trouble accessing health care on their own, and who also may need more resources closer to home. These team members will screen patients who have had a stroke and those in high stroke burdened communities who are at highest risk of stroke for health-related social needs. We will help people meet these needs by connecting them to resources beyond their clinical care. Our team members will also provide education in the community on the risks and signs of stroke, so community members can support each other staying healthy, and learn to seek medical help quickly if someone is showing signs of stroke. Fourth, we will connect with existing groups working on stroke in our area, to share knowledge and resources. We will also form new partnerships, so we can reach more patients at risk or recovering from stroke together. As our work progresses, we will work closely with an outside team that has expertise in evaluating approaches like ours. They will assess if our plans are resulting in more patients receiving resources, better coordination among staff supporting these patients and, ultimately, better outcomes for patients receiving care related to stroke prevention and treatment. We will be in touch with this evaluation team at regular intervals and will continually improve how we approach our work so we can be as effective as possible. If we are successful in the long term, we will see faster, more complete care for stroke patients, more people accessing resources that are more easily available in the community, and fewer strokes overall, as we help people stay healthier.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).