American Heart Association applauds Nevada passage of statewide Stroke System of Care

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval officially signed Senate Bill 196 into law Wednesday, creating a statewide stroke system of care and paving the way to help save thousands of lives each year.

“We’re very pleased to see this important bill become a law. Legislation like Senate Bill 196 is part of the efforts going on nationwide to improve the system of care that have led to significant reductions in stroke deaths and improved care,” said Rick Casazza, Board Chair, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Northern Nevada.

Stroke kills over 128,000 people each year and is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability. The outcome from a stroke depends largely on how and when the patient is treated. SB 196 will provide the state with essential data for improving stroke care and patient outcomes by requiring the Division of Public and Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services to establish and maintain a statewide stroke database, known as a registry.

In addition, the Division of Public and Behavioral Health will adopt and carry out procedures for utilizing the registry in collaboration with statewide partners to improve quality of care for stroke patients and compile an annual report to be hosted online.

“Data is this case will lead to lives saved. We know coordinated systems of care can save lives by providing seamless transitions from one stage of care to the next,” said Casazza.

Currently, Nevada does not have a statewide centralized database to utilize for stroke surveillance, identifying trends and improving the whole system of care. Last week, the Senate and Assembly voted to change that when they both passed SB 196.

Every 40 seconds someone in the United States suffers from a stroke, making it the fourth leading cause of death and the number one cause of adult disability in the country.

Fortunately, recent studies indicate that more than 80 percent of strokes can be prevented by keeping a healthy lifestyle — controlling high blood pressure; not smoking; eating a low-fat, low cholesterol diet; being physically active; maintaining a healthy body weight; and managing diabetes. Additionally, 30 percent of strokes can be reversed if treated immediately by a stroke care team.

A strong stroke system of care addresses all aspects of stroke care in an organized coordinated manner, from primary prevention, calling 9-1-1, acute care, secondary prevention, rehabilitation and return to the community. It also recognizes medical centers that follow the best practices of stroke care.

The new law increases collaboration between the state, hospital staff, emergency medical service providers and public health organizations. SB 196 also adds Comprehensive Stroke Center recognition to the already recognized Primary Stroke Centers in Nevada and requires these hospitals to report relevant data to the Stroke Registry. Comprehensive Stroke Centers are hospitals that have the ability to receive and treat the most complex stroke cases.

For stroke survivors like former teacher Kathy McCormick, who testified in support of SB 196, the new law means hope for stroke patients.

“I am so happy to have been part of passing Senate Bill 196. Anyone can have a stroke and it changes a life. It changed mine. As a teacher I know that what gets measured gets done. By setting up this registry and collaborating we are putting eyes on this issue improving the system of care for the next person. ” said McCormick.

May is American Stroke Month. The American Stroke Association’s Together to End Stroke initiative, nationally sponsored by Medtronic, teaches the acronym F.A.S.T. to encourage everyone to remember the stroke warning signs:

F - Face Drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
A - Arm Weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S - Speech Difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence like, “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
T - Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

Additional stroke signs include: Sudden severe headache with no known cause; sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes; or sudden confusion or trouble understanding.

In recognition of National Stroke Awareness Month in May, Carson Tahoe Health is offering free events designed to educate the community on recognizing the signs and symptoms of stroke, identifying potential risk factors, and understanding the importance of seeking immediate medical care should the need arise. On Thursday, May 14, a monthly Stroke Support Group at will meet at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center at 4:30 p.m.