(DALLAS, June 28, 2000 ) - The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, today made available its Acute Stroke Treatment Program - the first comprehensive implementation guide for hospitals planning to develop Primary Stroke Centers. A Primary Stroke Center has the infrastructure, staff and organization to treat stroke patients rapidly and efficiently.

The American Stroke Association's comprehensive guide was written in cooperation with some of the country's leading neurologists, including Dr. Mark Alberts, lead author of "Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers" published in the June 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"The Acute Stroke Treatment Program from the American Stroke Association is an important tool to help raise the level of stroke care in America," says Alberts. "Tragically, less that 34 percent of hospitals surveyed as part of a recent study have stroke protocols in place and less than 18 percent have rapid identification for patients experiencing acute stroke."

Following is a list of areas for emergency stroke care that are addressed in the core piece of the Acute Stroke Treatment Program:

• Acute Stroke Teams
• Written Care Protocols
• Emergency Medical Services
• Emergency Department
• Neuro-Imaging Services
• Laboratory Services
• Stroke Unit Service Parameters
• Neurosurgical Services
• Outcomes and Quality Improvement
• Educational Programs for Professionals

"The sections of the American Stroke Association's Acute Stroke Treatment Program mirror the Primary Stroke Center Recommendations published in JAMA and give hospitals a real how-to guide to creating stroke centers," said Alberts.
Other key components of the tool kit include:

• Consumer awareness campaign
• Professional education materials
• Patient education materials
• Acute rehabilitation recommendations
• Resources for life after stroke
• Pre-hospital and in-hospital stroke patient outcome scales

"We know stroke units can reduce death by 17 percent and increase quality of life after stroke," said Alberts. "That means we must develop more stroke centers if we're going to meet the American Stroke Association's goal to reduce death and disability from stroke by 25 percent by 2010."

The Acute Stroke Treatment Program can be purchased through 300 local American Heart Association offices and the American Heart Association's National Center in Dallas.

The American Stroke Association also will distribute the Acute Stroke Treatment Program in 125 communities across the United States implementing Operation Stroke, the American Stroke Association's community mobilization program led by local neurologists and emergency medical services director to reduce death and disability from stroke.

In addition to Dr. Alberts, other contributions to the Acute Stroke Treatment Program come from Anthony Furlan, M.D. and Brian Dyko, M.S.N., C.N.P from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation; Midge Wood, R.N., M.S.N from University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas; and Arthur Pancioli, M.D. from the University of Cincinnati.

The American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, was created in November 1998 as part of a strategic decision to spotlight and strengthen the American Heart Association's effort to reduce death and disability from stroke through research, education, fundraising and advocacy.

To learn more about stroke, call 1-888-4-STROKE or visit the American Stroke Association Web site at www.StrokeAssociation.org.

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© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.

The information contained in this American Heart Association (AHA) Web site is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment, and the AHA recommends consultation with your doctor or health care professional.