Stroke Systems of Care (SSOC): Policy Evidence Assessment Reports (PEARs)
Background
Stroke is a leading cause of death and serious disability in the United States.1 There are life-saving treatments for stroke, but patients must receive them in a timely manner.
State and regional stroke systems of care coordinate and promote timely patient access to the full range of activities and services associated with stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.2 Stroke systems of care improve patient care and support throughout the patient’s health care journey—from the first symptoms of stroke, Emergency medical services (EMS) transport, and hospital care to follow-up with outpatient providers.
Use the arrows below to view all stroke policy interventions with best evidence.
Click on the image above to view all state policy interventions.
Click on the image above to view all state policy interventions.
Click on the image above to view all state policy interventions.
Click on the image above to view all state policy interventions.
Click on the image above to view all state policy interventions.
Click on the image above to view all state policy interventions.
Click on the image above to view all state policy interventions.
Click on the image above to view all state policy interventions.
About the Reports
In May 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) assessed the best available evidence for seven different policy interventions to improve pre-hospital stroke care, addressed in state law. Pre-hospital stroke care includes all emergency medical care provided to the stroke patient prior to the handoff of the patient from EMS providers to staff at the acute care facility.
Between May and August 2018, DHDSP assessed the best available evidence for nine additional policy interventions to improve acute care hospital and post-hospital stroke care. This includes all care provided to the stroke patient at an acute care facility by hospital staff and their consulting specialists before a patient is discharged, and all long-term rehabilitative care received by the stroke patient after they have been discharged from the acute care facility.
The reports prioritize the stroke policy interventions by these evidence levels: best, promising quality, promising impact, or emerging.
- State laws that address the policy interventions with best evidence are expected to have the greatest potential for a positive health impact and an associated economic impact. Examples of positive health outcomes include improved patient access to appropriate stroke treatment and improved neurological outcomes and mortality rates. Economic impacts may include such factors as shorter hospital stays, cost savings, and cost-effectiveness.
- Those with promising or emerging evidence could also have positive impacts, but the quantity and quality of the evidence for public health impact is limited at this time.
Each report provides evidence summaries for the stroke policy interventions included in the assessment, which include a full reference list and positive outcomes observed in intervention studies, as well the specific states in which these outcomes were studied. These summaries are designed to help state decision makers and public health organizations determine which policy interventions may be useful in their state.
Using the Reports
Results of these policy evidence assessments offer decision makers real-world, evidence-informed options for supporting stroke systems of care.
- State decision makers and public health organizations may consider presenting the reports, along with facts about stroke rates and existing stroke policies and programs, to state stroke task forces and collaboratives, state and local public health agencies, EMS directors, health care providers and payers, and others interested in improving stroke outcomes.
- State and private sector decision makers may refer to the reports as they consider planning for a state stroke policy that addresses multiple evidence-informed policy interventions to improve stroke care.
- State and local health agencies and their partners, state legislators, and task forces can use these reports to help drive stroke policy development.
- Researchers may consider reviewing these reports for evidence gaps to be addressed in future studies.
Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions of these reports are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Furthermore, these reports are not intended to promote any particular legislative, regulatory, or other action.
