- Stroke is the 3rd leading cause of death in the US. In fact, only cardiovascular disease and cancer cause more deaths annually.
- It is also the leading cause of adult disability in our country.
- Every year about 795,000 Americans experience a stroke and about 160,000 die
— a 20% mortality rate. - Total U.S. costs associated with ischemic stroke care are estimated to exceed $2 trillion between 2005 and 2050.
While containing costs is vital, these statistics make it easy to see why quality stroke outreach is important to patient care and within the business of healthcare – especially as the median age of our population climbs.
Currently, tPA (tissue Plasminogen Activator) is the only FDA approved drug for acute ischemic strokes. Time is of the essence for the effective administration of intravenous tPA. However, intravenous tPA is used infrequently. A common reason cited is inadequate stroke care expertise at rural hospitals.
Since the recommendation to administer tPA can only be completed by a stroke specialist – a resource that is often non-existent in rural hospitals – the logistical challenges in stroke treatment are often insurmountable. However, REACH Call has created the technology and developed the expertise to close the gap.
A large body of evidence points to the value of stroke networks, i.e. telestroke, as a means of improving stroke patient outcomes. As a result, the American Stroke Association (ASA) has published National Recommendations for the development of Stroke Networks. The REACH telestroke solution is designed to work in support of the ASA recommendations.