Stem Cell Therapy for Stroke: Is It Safe?

 Why bother with stem cells if exosomes are created from stem cells and they are the beneficial occurrence? Did you somehow miss this article from December 2021?

Strategies for Targeted Delivery of Exosomes to the Brain: Advantages and Challenges

The latest here:

Stem Cell Therapy for Stroke: Is It Safe?

After cancer, stroke is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Europe. Stroke occurs when the blood flow to a portion of the brain is abruptly blocked, usually resulting in life-threatening repercussions.

The brain loses millions of neurons in a matter of minutes following a stroke. Cognitive, sensory, and motor functions can all be negatively affected, which can lead to the neurological consequences requiring long-term rehabilitation. With a variety of therapeutic options available presently, could stem cell therapy be a viable way out of this condition?

In this article, we present a brief review of the application of stem cells for stroke, how it works, its efficacy, safety, possible side effects, and additional essential information.

What are stem cells?

Stem cells (SCs) are a class of special cells that have the ability to adapt to their surroundings and develop into a variety of distinct cell types. This intrinsic ability of SCs make them suitable for restoring damage caused by several diseases, including neurological disorders such as strokes.

In theory, if SCs are administered to a patient with post-stroke condition, they will aid in the regeneration and healing process in the damaged parts of the brain following a stroke.

Stem cell therapy for stroke: how it works

Neurological functioning can be restored with cell-based therapies which help repair or replace cells that have been damaged or have died. Stem cell therapy for stroke is a minimally invasive procedure in which SCs are transplanted into the bloodstream or into the spinal cord, from where they are then sent to the compromised regions within the brain.

Stem cells were initially thought to be able to penetrate and replace dead brain cells following a stroke. However, it's now well-known that SCs do not actually transform into brain cells. Instead, they stimulate the release of potent growth factors and chemicals that aid in the body's own healing mechanisms, including the formation of new synapses between neurons and blood vessels, as well as play a significant role in fortifying the immune system.

In a nutshell, stem cell therapy for stroke entails the transformation of an adult brain into a newborn or child's brain, which is far more capable of repairing itself after damage due to the high concentration of this type of cells.

Therapeutic effects of stem cell therapy in stroke

Therapy based on SCs can produce several therapeutic effects that complement one another.

For starters, the injection of a cell-based product reduces inflammation by modifying the fundamental immune response. As a result, neurons will be protected from suffering any additional injury.

Similarly, the impact of stem cell therapy on regeneration is related to their ability to reduce the inflammatory response. Healing and regeneration impulses can now reach the brain tissues as they return to a resting state. Stem cell therapy for stroke recovery in conjunction with physiotherapy can promote the regeneration of new brain cells and prevent the loss of neurons.

In this kind of therapy, the release of trophic factors enhances angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) and contributes to their strengthening.

With additional rehabilitation, stem cell treatment for stroke may improve the neurological deficits and activities of daily living in post-stroke patients.

Is stem cell therapy safe?

Stem cell treatment for stroke has been shown to be safe and has very few side effects in several research and clinical trials. However, suitable cell delivery procedures must be followed by the physician. Patients should also be tested and consulted to evaluate if they qualify for stem cell therapy because not everyone is.

Are there side effects in stem cell therapy?

Patients who undergo transplantation of SCs may experience short-term fever lasting several hours and sometimes mild fatigue lasting about a week. There are no more issues to be concerned about as no other symptoms have been reported or discovered.

Can the body reject stem cells?

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) obtained from the patient's tissue or from donated sources such as cord tissue or the placenta do not pose a danger of rejection in the human body. These are young and undifferentiated cells that enjoy innate immunity as they've not yet been 'claimed' by the body. In addition, there are no blood components connection, which eliminates the need for a compatible donor in stem cell therapy for ischemic stroke.

What's the cost of stem cell therapy for stroke?

To give you some perspective, stem cell treatments for other parts of the body, such as the knee in arthritis, typically cost between $3,000 and $7,000. These are local injections with no need to stay at the clinic. In a post-stroke condition, long-term rehabilitation is required. This may include not only cell-based product administration, but other therapies as well. So, you should expect the cost of stem cell therapy for stroke to be several times higher since providing comprehensive in-patient treatment.

What's the healing period for this therapy?

A patient's recovery speed is unpredictable, and it is difficult to forecast how long it will take. Therapy works differently for each patient. Generally, to see effects, stem cells may take weeks or months to begin working.

Summary

Stem cell therapy for stroke holds great promise for the bulk of people suffering from this condition globally. Stem cell transplantation has been shown to promote stroke recovery in multiple studies and clinical investigations.

Positive therapeutic effects of this treatment include:

• improved survival of nerve cells;
• activation of regenerative processes in damaged areas;
• reduction of local inflammation;
• improvement of local blood circulation due to the growth of new vessels.

In turn, this allows to restore lost functions and enhance the effects of other therapies as part of rehabilitation in post-stroke conditions, improving the quality of patients' lives.

Have you ever tried this kind of therapy? Or do you know someone who benefited from stem cell therapy in managing post-stroke symptoms? Please, let us know.

Disclaimer

This article does not push using stem cell therapy like any other treatment method. Each case is unique, and a patient has to consult with expert doctors to make a decision specifically in his or her medical condition.

100th installation of the AR device for post-stroke motor rehabilitation

Seems like complicated and expensive mirror therapy.  What is your doctor and hospital doing to mimic that since they will never buy the product?

100th installation of the AR device for post-stroke motor rehabilitation 

On the occasion of World Multiple Sclerosis Day, Dessintey announces the 100th implantation of its innovative medical device dedicated to post-stroke motor rehabilitation in France, based on visual illusion.

Dessintey Medtech, specialized in intensive rehabilitation technologies, develops and markets the IVS3, an innovative medical device, the result of 15 years of clinical experience. This unique and patented technology is intended to stimulate the plasticity of the brain and improve the planning and control of movement. Based on a principle of visuomotor neurons, IVS3 (Intensive Visual Simulation) uses action models and automatic simulation of the brain to help recover movement. Thanks to software, a camera and a system of screens, he replaces the image of a paralyzed limb with a positive image of the movement created from the valid limb. The reestablishment of coherence between what the patient wants to do and what he perceives helps to rebuild the motor and sensory circuits. This medical technology entirely developed in France, which has become an international standard for rehabilitation, is used in more than 15 countries with more than 150 devices deployed, including 100 in France.

Each year, more than 140,000 people in France are victims of stroke. Stroke is the first cause of acquired physical disability in adults, the second cause of dementia (after Alzheimer’s disease) and the second cause of death with 20% of people dying in the year following the stroke. . The peculiarity of this disease is that its consequences (partial or complete hemiplegia) significantly influence the patient’s autonomy and quality of life and it takes a long time to restore the patient’s bodily functions. At the end, only 20% of patients recover functional upper limb motor skills after stroke (Debelleix et al., 1997; Hendricks et al., 2002).

To accelerate the return to autonomy of patients, Dessintey develops and markets innovative intensive rehabilitation technologies. Dessintey aims to increase, diversify, and personalize the daily workload of patients from their entry into a rehabilitation facility (neurological and orthopedic), until their return home. Dessintey has relied on the latest scientific advances in neuroscience and on a close relationship with therapists to become, today, a real standard for rehabilitation. The IVS3 device is present in more than 100 hospitals in France and in 15 countries.

Augmented mirror therapy

The IVS3 device by Dessintey was inspired by mirror therapy, which is a rehabilitation therapy recognized by the scientific community (Pollock et al., 2014; Thieme et al., 2018; Zhang et al, 2018, Gandhi 2020). The idea consists in relying on the fact that, thanks to visuomotor neurons, watching a movement solicits substantially the same areas of the brain as those during the realization of this same movement. The technique consists in diffusing the mirror image of the valid member in place of the paralyzed one by using a mirror. By observing a representation of a movement, the brain automatically and effortlessly simulates that movement, and repetition then aids recovery. Dessintey has reinvented mirror therapy, using much simpler and more efficient innovative technologies to allow the care of fragile patients (cognitive or attentional disorders) hitherto excluded.

IVS3

The IVS3 device relies on brain plasticity. Based on a principle of visual illusion, the IVS3 (Intensive Visual Simulation) is a novel device that generates action models, to stimulate the planning and central control of movement. Thanks to software, a camera and a system of screens, he replaces the image of a sick limb with a movement image created from the valid limb. By restoring coherence between what the patient wants to do and what he perceives, these sensorimotor representations promote relearning and motor recovery. The IVS3 is an innovative tool developed to intensify rehabilitation and allow early management of approximately 80 to 90% of patients, including those presenting: strokes with or without motor skills, spasticity, hemineglect and chronic pain ( CRPS)

The IVS3 is a unique technology that allows you to rehearse a large number of movement simulations mentally and without fatigue. The device integrates an augmented assistant, based on intelligent algorithms, to facilitate the daily life of the therapist. Based on the evaluation carried out by the therapist, the IVS3 device offers various exercise sequences. He recognizes the movements most adapted to the deficiencies of the patients. The IVS3 thus manages the planning of sessions and the entire patient program, and is used in addition to other conventional therapies.

IVS3 on video

For Nicolas Fournier, CEO of Dessintey: “The action of the IVS3 is based on mirror therapy, the effectiveness of which has been scientifically demonstrated since the end of the 1990s. The concept of the device was born from an observation: only 10 to 20% of patients practice the therapy mirror or motor imagery in a rehabilitation center. The technologies deployed in our devices make it possible to take care of 90% of patients, with immersive sessions lasting around fifteen minutes. Our ambition was to make this technique accessible to as many patients as possible, including the most fragile.”

Made in France, established in more than 15 countries.

Dessentey devices are entirely manufactured in France in the Dessintey production unit in Saint Etienne. There are more than 150 Dessintey IVS3 devices used in hospitals in 15 countries, including 100 in France. The installation of the 100th Dessentey IVS3 device was carried out on Thursday May 19, 2022 at the Center Hospitalier Marches de Bretagne (35).

Dessintey distributes 2 other complementary devices:

– The REAplan is a robotic assistance device with motorization and self-adaptive feedback: an innovative technology to facilitate and stimulate motor performance.

– The Hunova, which is a double robotic platform (sitting + standing) for the rehabilitation of the trunk and balance.

Sleep joins revamped list of heart health essentials

Did your doctor give you protocols on these seven, now 8?

Sleep joins revamped list of heart health essentials

By Michael Merschel, American Heart Association News

(Olga Strelnikova/iStock via Getty Images)

Lea en español

Proper sleep is essential, and a widely used scoring system for heart and brain health is being redefined to reflect that.

Since 2010, the American Heart Association has said seven modifiable components – maintaining a healthy weight, not smoking, being physically active, eating a healthy diet and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar – were key to ideal cardiovascular health.

Those components, dubbed Life's Simple 7, became a common way for doctors and patients to rate and discuss heart and brain health. It's also been a key research tool, used in more than 2,500 scientific papers.

Sleep duration joins those seven original metrics in a revised scoring tool, now called Life's Essential 8, which published Wednesday as an AHA presidential advisory in the journal Circulation.

The update is about much more than adding sleep, said AHA president Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, who led the expert panel that wrote the advisory. The new score incorporates 12 years of research and enhances its evaluation of diet, exercise and more.

"We're hoping that this will, in fact, be a moment of empowerment, a moment of optimism for people to think positively about their health," said Lloyd-Jones, a cardiologist, epidemiologist and chair of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. "And this is a good way for them to measure it today, monitor it over time and focus on ways to maintain and improve it."

Adults should average seven to nine hours of sleep a night, the advisory says. For children, the amount varies by age.

Lloyd-Jones, who led the creation of the original seven categories in 2010, said sleep's importance was clear even then. But it was difficult to agree on how to score it, because sleep information wasn't being collected in large national databases.

"Now it is," he said, and "the science has shown us how sleep is part and parcel of cardiovascular health."

The advisory notes that both too much and too little sleep are associated with heart disease and that poor sleep health is linked to poor psychological health, an important driver of heart disease.

"And of course, sleep affects all the other seven metrics here as well," Lloyd-Jones said.

Cheryl Anderson, dean of the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California San Diego, called Life's Essential 8 "a big deal" both for health care professionals and people who want to understand their cardiovascular health.

Anderson, who co-wrote the advisory, said the update is "a really good recognition of how science has changed, and our ability to adapt according to the changes."

The revisions introduce a 100-point measure of heart health, which can be taken online at www.heart.org/lifes8.

The new score replaces a 14-point scale and tweaks several of the original categories.

On smoking, for example, the old measure considered only traditional cigarette use. The new score includes nicotine use and exposure from e-cigarettes, as well as the effects of secondhand exposure.

The new score also shifts from emphasizing total cholesterol in favor of measuring non-HDL cholesterol. It's now calculated by subtracting "good" HDL cholesterol from total cholesterol, leaving just a measurement of the "bad" types of cholesterol. The new tool also expands how blood glucose can be evaluated.

The system allows for more precise evaluation of exercise levels, Lloyd-Jones said. And it looks at diet in a new way. "Before, we had five very clunky yes-or-no metrics to say whether someone had a healthy diet or not. And that wasn't really appropriate for all different types of eating patterns and cultures."

Anderson said the new diet component rates how closely someone follows a Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, or DASH, type of diet.

But although the measure broadens the foods evaluated, people shouldn't focus on single items, Anderson said. "We want to think about the whole package. There is no one food or nutrient that will completely overhaul one's cardiovascular health."

Some key components of heart health, such as stress, are not part of the new score.

"Stress is real," Lloyd-Jones said. "It's an important part of all of our lives. But it's hard to measure how we internalize that stress, and what the effect is on our health status."

The advisory discusses the importance of both psychological health and the societal and environmental factors known as the social determinants of health, which include whether someone has access to healthy food, medical care or a safe place to exercise. But although Lloyd-Jones called them "foundational" for heart health, he said such factors couldn't be boiled down into something that fit the scoring system.

The old scoring system sorted responses in its seven categories as either "poor," "intermediate" or "ideal." Fewer than 1% of people in the U.S. across all age groups reached the overall "ideal" level, primarily because of diet, the advisory says.

But for people who want to improve their heart health, the new approach makes progress easier to see. "The positive changes don't have to be really big," Anderson said. "They can be moderate. And you can still get credit for it within this new approach."

Good heart health begins with talking with a doctor to know how you're doing in all eight categories, Lloyd-Jones said. Improvement in any of them helps.

"If I have three or four things of the eight that are suboptimal that I could work on, do I need to tackle three or four at once? Absolutely not," he said. "The data show us that picking and improving one thing will actually have a measurable impact on improving your health and improving your health outcomes."

So people shouldn't feel overwhelmed, he said. "It doesn't really matter which one you pick. Pick the one that you're going to succeed on. And that's the way to move your cardiovascular health forward."

If you have questions or comments about this American Heart Association News story, please email editor@heart.org.

Next-gen stroke rehab: Robot at home

 Now the only question is: EXACTLY WHAT DAMAGE DIAGNOSIS will this be useful for? I lost my motor cortex and most of my pre-motor cortex so the only possibility for me would be if my contralateral side could be trained to control both hands.

Next-gen stroke rehab: Robot at home

Exoskeleton controlled by brain, developed at University of Houston, now in clinical trials

Grant and Award Announcement

University of Houston

image: University of Houston engineering professor Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, an international pioneer in noninvasive brain-machine interfaces and robotic device inventions, has developed a portable robot for stroke rehabilitation. view more 

Credit: University of Houston

When 66-year-old Oswald Reedus had a stroke in 2014, he became one of 795,000 people in the United States who annually suffer the same fate. This year he also became the first stroke patient in the world to use a robotic arm controlled by his brainwaves - at home - to recover the use of a limb.  

Reedus was lucky to live in Houston and have access to this futuristic-looking, portable device - an invention of University of Houston engineering professor Jose Luis Contreras-Vidal, an international pioneer in noninvasive brain-machine interfaces and robotic device inventions. His team developed the portable brain-computer interface (BCI) exoskeleton to restore upper limb function. 

It’s the next generation of stroke rehabilitation, and now Reedus’ name will forever be associated with it. 

“If I can pass along anything to help a stroke person’s life, I will do it. For me it’s my purpose in life now,” said Reedus, whose determination sharpened after his mother and younger brother both died of strokes. 

Reedus realized he had lost the use of his left arm the night he had the stroke. His wife roused him from sleep, asking him to get up because he was mumbling, and she couldn’t understand his words. He tried but couldn’t use his left arm to help him rise.  

The stroke also caused Reedus to suffer aphasia, a difficulty with speech, barely noticeable now. 

“I don’t know why God spared me, but I want to leave here helping someone,” he said. 

Now he’s helping usher in a pivotal moment in stroke rehabilitation and medical science. Goal achieved. 

Using the robot 

Most neuro technologies are limited to the lab or clinic and are very expensive and hard to operate. This brain-controlled robotic arm requires no surgery and is accessible to robotically guide stroke rehabilitation both in clinic and at home. Reedus’ use of it in his Houston home follows clinical trials at TIRR Memorial Hermann. 

“The broader impact and commercial potential of this project is to advance national health by accelerating development, efficacy and use of brain-controlled robotic rehabilitation after stroke by capitalizing on the benefits of non-invasive brain interfaces that extract information about the patient’s motor intent and the real-time assessment of impairment and recovery of motor function," said Contreras-Vidal, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of electrical and computer engineering at UH. “Brain-machine interfaces based on scalp electroencephalography (EEG) have the potential to promote cortical plasticity following stroke, which has been shown to improve motor recovery outcomes.” 

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to modify, change, adapt and recover itself. Like a plastic material, which can be stretched and shaped to a desired design, there are certain properties in the brain that induce flexibility to recover even decades after a stroke or brain injury.

Intravenous tPA (Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator) Correlates With Favorable Venous Outflow Profiles in Acute Ischemic Stroke

If you're not measuring recovery you're doing fucking useless research. Venous outflow is some intermediate step.

“What's measured, improves.” So said management legend and author Peter F. Drucker 

Intravenous tPA (Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator) Correlates With Favorable Venous Outflow Profiles in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Tobias D. Faizy

,

Michael Mlynash

,

Michael P. Marks

,

Soren Christensen

,

Reza Kabiri

,

Gabriella M. Kuraitis

,

Gabriel Broocks

,

Laurens Winkelmeier

,

Vincent Geest

,

Jawed Nawabi

,

Maarten G. Lansberg

,

Gregory W. Albers

, … See all authors

Originally published23 Jun 2022https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.038560Stroke. 2022;0:10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.038560

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Intravenous tPA (tissue-type plasminogen activator) is often administered before endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Recent studies have questioned whether tPA is necessary given the high rates of arterial recanalization achieved by EVT, but whether tPA impacts venous outflow (VO) is unknown. We investigated whether tPA improves VO profiles on baseline computed tomography (CT) angiography (CTA) images before EVT.

METHODS:

Retrospective multicenter cohort study of patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion undergoing EVT triage. Included patients underwent CT, CTA, and CT perfusion before EVT. VO profiles were determined by opacification of the vein of Labbé, sphenoparietal sinus, and superficial middle cerebral vein on CTA as 0, not visible; 1, moderate opacification; and 2, full. Pial arterial collaterals were graded on CTA, and tissue-level collaterals were assessed on CT perfusion using the hypoperfusion intensity ratio. Clinical and demographic data were determined from the electronic medical record. Using multivariable regression analysis, we determined the correlation between tPA administration and favorable VO profiles.

RESULTS:

Seven hundred seventeen patients met inclusion criteria. Three hundred sixty-five patients received tPA (tPA+), while 352 patients were not treated with tPA (tPA−). Fewer tPA+ patients had atrial fibrillation (n=128 [35%] versus n=156 [44%]; P=0.012) and anticoagulants/antiplatelet treatment before acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion onset (n=130 [36%] versus n=178 [52%]; P<0.001) compared with tPA− patients. One hundred eighty-five patients (51%) in the tPA+ and 100 patients (28%) in the tPA− group exhibited favorable VO (P<0.001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that tPA administration was a strong independent predictor of favorable VO profiles (OR, 2.6 [95% CI, 1.7–4.0]; P<0.001) after control for favorable pial arterial CTA collaterals, favorable tissue-level collaterals on CT perfusion, age, presentation National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, antiplatelet/anticoagulant treatment, history of atrial fibrillation and time from symptom onset to imaging.

CONCLUSIONS:

In patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion undergoing thrombectomy triage, tPA administration was strongly associated with the presence of favorable VO profiles.

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Dual antiplatelet therapy with cilostazol in stroke patients with extracranial arterial stenosis or without arterial stenosis: a subgroup analysis of the CSPS.com trial

Can you at least write up a provisional protocol on this  and get it delivered to all stroke hospitals? YOUR RESPONSIBILITY  since we have fucking failures of stroke associations that do nothing for survivors.

Dual antiplatelet therapy with cilostazol in stroke patients with extracranial arterial stenosis or without arterial stenosis: a subgroup analysis of the CSPS.com trial

Show all authors

Shinichiro Uchiyama, Kazunori Toyoda, Satomi Okamura, ...

First Published June 28, 2022 Research Article 

https://doi.org/10.1177/17474930221112343

Article information

Abstract

Background: 

We previously reported that dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with cilostazol was superior to aspirin or clopidogrel for the prevention of recurrent stroke and vascular events in a subgroup analysis of intracranial arterial stenosis in the Cilostazol Stroke Prevention Study for Antiplatelet Combination (CSPS.com), a randomized controlled trial.

Aims: 

We conducted another subgroup analysis to investigate the benefit of DAPT with cilostazol in patients with extracranial arterial stenosis (ECAS) and those without arterial stenosis.

Methods: 

We compared the risk of recurrent ischemic stroke, vascular events, and major bleeding between DAPT with cilostazol plus aspirin or clopidogrel and aspirin or clopidogrel alone in patients with ischemic stroke between 8 and 180 days before starting trial treatment and extracranial arterial stenosis (ECAS) or without arterial stenosis.

Results: 

The median follow-up period was 1.4 years. The risk of recurrent ischemic stroke (hazard ratio [HR]; 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.42-2.57) and vascular events (HR; 0.97, 95% CI; 0.42-2.24) did not differ between the both groups for the 253 patients with ECAS, whereas they were lower (HR; 0.36, 95% CI; 0.18-0.74 and HR; 0.47, 95% CI; 0.26-0.85, respectively) in the DAPT group for the 944 patients without arterial stenosis. The risk of major bleeding did not differ between the groups in patients with ECAS (HR; 0.58, 95% CI; 0.05-6.39) or without arterial stenosis (HR; 0.79, 95% CI; 0.27-2.26).

Conclusions: 

DAPT with cilostazol might be beneficial for prevention of recurrent stroke and vascular events in patients without arterial stenosis but not in those with ECAS.

Keywords

Antiplatelet therapy, Clinical trial, Ischaemic stroke, Stenosis, Asia, Prevention

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Crouse Health Nationally Recognized for Its Commitment to Providing High-Quality Stroke Care

 

Big fucking whoopee.

 

 But you tell us NOTHING ABOUT RESULTS. They remind us they 'care' about us multiple times but never tell us how many 100% recovered.  You have to ask yourself why they are hiding their incompetency by not disclosing recovery results. ARE THEY THAT FUCKING BAD?

Anytime I see the word 'care' in stroke I know that we don't have the right goals anywhere in stroke. 100% recovery is the only goal in stroke. NOT 'care'.

 

Three measurements will tell me if the stroke hospital is possibly not completely incompetent; DO YOU MEASURE ANYTHING?  I would start cleaning the hospital by firing the board of directors, you can't let incompetency continue for years at a time.

There is no quality here if you don't measure the right things.

1. tPA full recovery? Better than 12%?
2. 30 day deaths? Better than competitors?

3. rehab full recovery? Better than 10%?

 

You'll want to know results so call that hospital president(Whoever that is) RESULTS are; tPA efficacy, 30 day deaths, 100% recovery. Because there is no point in going to that hospital if they are not willing to publish results.

 

In my opinion Get With the Guidelines allows stroke hospitals to continue with their tyranny of low expectations and justify their complete failure to get survivors 100% recovered. Prove me wrong, I dare you in my stroke addled mind. If your stroke hospital goal is not 100% recovery you don't have a functioning stroke hospital.

All you ever get from hospitals are that they are following 'Get With the Guidelines'; these are way too static to be of any use. With thousands of pieces of stroke research yearly it would take a Ph.D. level research analyst to keep up, create protocols, and train the doctors and therapists in their use. 

If your stroke hospital doesn't have that, you don't have a well functioning stroke hospital, you have a dinosaur. 

Read the guidelines yourself here:  You'll see they say they improve outcomes but give no proof that it is happening. I find nothing in here that states they are even measuring results or recovery. Since neither seems to occur, it is in my opinion invalid recognition.

“What's measured, improves.” So said management legend and author Peter F. Drucker 

Get With The Guidelines® Stroke

 The latest invalid chest thumping here:

Crouse Health Nationally Recognized for Its Commitment to Providing High-Quality Stroke Care

Syracuse, NY — Crouse Health has received the American Heart/Stroke Association’s GoldPlus Get With The Guidelines^® – Stroke quality achievement award for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Crouse Health recognized for Stroke Care Initiative

Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. A stroke occurs when a blood vessel that carries oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When that happens, part of the brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs, so brain cells die. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times.

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

“We are committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines,” said Crouse Health Chief Operating Officer/Chief Medical Officer Seth Kronenberg, MD. “Get With The Guidelines helps our team to put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which leads to better outcomes and faster recovery.”

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize Crouse Health for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” said Steven Messe, M.D., chairperson of the Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

Crouse has also received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke^SM Honor Roll Elite Plus award. To qualify for this recognition, hospitals must meet specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster alteplase.

In addition, Crouse received the American Heart Association’s Target: Stroke^SM Honor Roll Advanced Therapy award by meeting specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment to remove the clot causing the stroke.

About Get With The Guidelines^®

Get With The Guidelines^® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 12 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.

 

Excela Health continues to earn national recognition for exemplary care of heart, stroke patients

Big fucking whoopee.

 

 But you tell us NOTHING ABOUT RESULTS. They remind us they 'care' about us multiple times but never tell us how many 100% recovered.  You have to ask yourself why they are hiding their incompetency by not disclosing recovery results. ARE THEY THAT FUCKING BAD?

Anytime I see the word 'care' in stroke I know that we don't have the right goals anywhere in stroke. 100% recovery is the only goal in stroke. NOT 'care'.

 

Three measurements will tell me if the stroke hospital is possibly not completely incompetent; DO YOU MEASURE ANYTHING?  I would start cleaning the hospital by firing the board of directors, you can't let incompetency continue for years at a time.

There is no quality here if you don't measure the right things.

1. tPA full recovery? Better than 12%?
2. 30 day deaths? Better than competitors?

3. rehab full recovery? Better than 10%?

 

You'll want to know results so call that hospital president(Whoever that is) RESULTS are; tPA efficacy, 30 day deaths, 100% recovery. Because there is no point in going to that hospital if they are not willing to publish results.

 

In my opinion Get With the Guidelines allows stroke hospitals to continue with their tyranny of low expectations and justify their complete failure to get survivors 100% recovered. Prove me wrong, I dare you in my stroke addled mind. If your stroke hospital goal is not 100% recovery you don't have a functioning stroke hospital.

All you ever get from hospitals are that they are following 'Get With the Guidelines'; these are way too static to be of any use. With thousands of pieces of stroke research yearly it would take a Ph.D. level research analyst to keep up, create protocols, and train the doctors and therapists in their use. 

If your stroke hospital doesn't have that, you don't have a well functioning stroke hospital, you have a dinosaur. 

Read the guidelines yourself here:  You'll see they say they improve outcomes but give no proof that it is happening. I find nothing in here that states they are even measuring results or recovery. Since neither seems to occur, it is in my opinion invalid recognition.

“What's measured, improves.” So said management legend and author Peter F. Drucker 

Get With The Guidelines® Stroke

 The latest invalid chest thumping here:

Excela Health continues to earn national recognition for exemplary care of heart, stroke patients

Excela Health through its three member hospitals once again has received multiple American Heart Association Achievement Awards for demonstrated commitment to ensuring cardiovascular patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved, shorter recovery times and fewer returns to the hospital.

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke or heart attack, with heart disease and stroke \the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the U.S., respectively. Studies show patients can recover better when providers consistently follow treatment guidelines. Nearly half of all adults in the United States have experienced some form of cardiovascular disease – including heart attack, stroke and heart failure. For patients with conditions that are severe enough to be transported or admitted to a hospital, time is critical. The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® and Get With The Guidelines® programs help reduce barriers to prompt treatment for cardiovascular events. As a participant in both programs, Excela Health earned award recognitions by demonstrating how the health system has committed to delivering quality care for patients.

“Excela Health is honored to be recognized by the American Heart Association for our dedication to helping our patients have the best possible chance of survival after cardiovascular events,” said Chief Medical Officer Carol Fox, MD, FAAFP. “Mission: Lifeline and Get With The Guidelines programs give our teams evidence-based knowledge and clinical tools to use on a daily basis to improve outcomes. The recognitions clearly demonstrate our ongoing commitment to putting the needs of our patients first on a daily basis. And while we are gratified that the consistency of our efforts is note-worthy, it is our patients who are most grateful for the exemplary care.”

For the second consecutive year, all Excela Health hospitals received the American Heart Association’s Gold Plus Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke Quality Achievement Award. To earn this distinction, Excela Frick Hospital, Excela Latrobe Hospital and Excela Westmoreland Hospital each met aggressive clinical goals for treating patients in seven core standard levels of care as outlined by American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, as well as compliance with stroke quality measures during the specific 12-month evaluation period. Gold Plus Quality Awards are advanced levels of recognition acknowledging hospitals for consistent adherence to quality measures.

Excela Latrobe Hospital also achieved the Gold Plus with Target: Stroke Honor Roll distinction. To qualify for this recognition, Latrobe met specific criteria that reduced the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster alteplase. Excela Health hospitals are already recognized as Primary Stroke Centers, which features a comprehensive system for rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergency department.

Separately, Excela Westmoreland Hospital was awarded the Mission: Lifeline® Receiving Silver Plus Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures to treat patients who suffer severe heart attacks.

Each year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack, caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it is critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.

The American Heart Association’s mission: Lifeline program helps reduce barriers to prompt treatment for heart attacks – starting from when 9-1-1 is called, to EMS transport and continuing through hospital treatment and discharge. Optimal care for heart attack patients takes coordination between the individual hospital, EMS and healthcare system.

More American Heart Association Gold for UConn Stroke Care

Big fucking whoopee.

 

 But you tell us NOTHING ABOUT RESULTS. They remind us they 'care' about us multiple times but never tell us how many 100% recovered.  You have to ask yourself why they are hiding their incompetency by not disclosing recovery results. ARE THEY THAT FUCKING BAD?

Anytime I see the word 'care' in stroke I know that we don't have the right goals anywhere in stroke. 100% recovery is the only goal in stroke. NOT 'care'.

 

Three measurements will tell me if the stroke hospital is possibly not completely incompetent; DO YOU MEASURE ANYTHING?  I would start cleaning the hospital by firing the board of directors, you can't let incompetency continue for years at a time.

There is no quality here if you don't measure the right things.

1. tPA full recovery? Better than 12%?
2. 30 day deaths? Better than competitors?

3. rehab full recovery? Better than 10%?

 

You'll want to know results so call that hospital president(Whoever that is) RESULTS are; tPA efficacy, 30 day deaths, 100% recovery. Because there is no point in going to that hospital if they are not willing to publish results.

 

In my opinion Get With the Guidelines allows stroke hospitals to continue with their tyranny of low expectations and justify their complete failure to get survivors 100% recovered. Prove me wrong, I dare you in my stroke addled mind. If your stroke hospital goal is not 100% recovery you don't have a functioning stroke hospital.

All you ever get from hospitals are that they are following 'Get With the Guidelines'; these are way too static to be of any use. With thousands of pieces of stroke research yearly it would take a Ph.D. level research analyst to keep up, create protocols, and train the doctors and therapists in their use. 

If your stroke hospital doesn't have that, you don't have a well functioning stroke hospital, you have a dinosaur. 

Read the guidelines yourself here:  You'll see they say they improve outcomes but give no proof that it is happening. I find nothing in here that states they are even measuring results or recovery. Since neither seems to occur, it is in my opinion invalid recognition.

“What's measured, improves.” So said management legend and author Peter F. Drucker 

Get With The Guidelines® Stroke

 The latest invalid chest thumping here:

 

More American Heart Association Gold for UConn Stroke Care

For a sixth consecutive year, the UConn Health Stroke Center earns the American Heart Association’s highest distinction: “Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus.”

Dr. Gracia Mui performs a test on a model patient in the UConn John Dempsey Hospital Emergency Department with nurse Jennifer Sposito and Dr. Sanjay Mittal. (Tina Encarnacion/UConn Health photo)

We are the highest level of care. — Jennifer Sposito

Stroke care at the UConn John Dempsey Hospital continues to earn accolades from independent third parties, including now a sixth consecutive year with a “Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus” designation from the American Heart Association.

The award recognizes the UConn Health Stroke Center for its commitment to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines, ultimately leading to more lives saved and reduced disability.

Nurse Jennifer Sposito is the UConn Health Stroke Center’s clinical program coordinator. (Photo by Tina Encarnacion)

“Words cannot express how proud we are of our advanced thrombectomy-capable stroke center winning another Gold status, highlighting our excellence in high-quality stroke care,” says Jennifer Sposito, the UConn Health Stroke Center’s clinical program coordinator. “Patients with large vessel occlusions requiring thrombectomy, an advanced procedure, or any neurosurgical procedure are able to come here directly to UConn to be cared for immediately without need to transfer to a higher level of care. We are the highest level of care.”

(American Heart Association)

This year the Gold status comes with two additional distinctions: “Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite,” for meeting specific criteria that reduce the time between an eligible patient’s arrival at the hospital and treatment with the clot-buster alteplase, and “Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll,” which aims to ensure patients with Type 2 diabetes, who might be at higher risk for complications, receive the most up-to-date, evidence-based care when hospitalized due to stroke.

Dr. Sanjay Mittal is the UConn Health Stroke Center’s medical director. (Photo by Tina Encarnacion)

“At UConn Health we are proud to have highly educated and motivated health care professionals who make it possible to deliver hyperacute stroke care in a timely manner,” says Dr. Sanjay Mittal, the UConn Health Stroke Center’s medical director. “I’m so proud of my team that we have consistently been able to achieve Gold Plus status as well as adding diabetes recognition to our status, which means we have adopted best practices to achieve excellent door-to-needle times, provide excellent care for our stroke and diabetes patients based on the latest AHA recommendations, and have adopted evidence-based guidelines at our institution.”

Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines. Get With The Guidelines – Stroke is an in-hospital program for improving stroke care by promoting consistent adherence to these guidelines, which can minimize the long-term effects of a stroke and even prevent death.

Each year, program participants qualify for the award by demonstrating how their organization has committed to providing quality care for stroke patients. In addition to following treatment guidelines, Get With The Guidelines participants also educate patients to help them manage their health and recovery at home.

“We are incredibly pleased to recognize UConn Health for its commitment to caring for patients with stroke,” says Dr. Steven Messe, chairperson of the Stroke System of Care Advisory Group. “Participation in Get With The Guidelines is associated with improved patient outcomes, fewer readmissions and lower mortality rates – a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

Learn more about the UConn Health Stroke Center.

/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) may be of a point-in-time nature, edited for clarity, style and length. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s).View in full here.

Why?

Tags:american, diabetes, director, Emergency, emergency department, health, hospital, mortality, mortality rates, outcomes, participants, patient care, patient outcomes, quality, stroke, treatment, university, University of Connecticut

Phagocytic microglia and macrophages in brain injury and repair

In stroke do we even know if the dead neurons are being cleaned up properly?  Or do we need to send maggots in there to do the job? Ask your doctor this simple question.

Phagocytic microglia and macrophages in brain injury and repair

Fang Yu1,2| Yangfan Wang1,2| Anne R. Stetler1,2| Rehana K. Leak3|Xiaoming Hu1,2| Jun Chen1,2This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.© 2022 The Authors. CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.1Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA2Pittsburgh Institute of Brain Disorders & Recovery and Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA3Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USACorrespondenceJun Chen, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Health Care System, University Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.Email: chenj2@upmc.eduFunding informationNIH, Grant/Award Number: NS0105430; VA, Grant/Award Number: 821-RC- NB- 30556, I01BX003377, I01BX003651, I01BX005290 and I01BX005589 

Abstract

 

Aims:  

Phagocytosis is the cellular digestion of extracellular particles, such as patho-gens and dying cells, and is a key element in the evolution of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Microglia and macrophages are the professional phagocytes of the CNS. By clearing toxic cellular debris and reshaping the extracellular matrix, microglia/macrophages help pilot the brain repair and functional recovery process. However, CNS resident and invading immune cells can also magnify tissue damage by igniting runaway inflammation and phagocytosing stressed—but viable—neurons.

 Discussion:  

Microglia/macrophages help mediate intercellular communication and react quickly to the “find- me” signals expressed by dead/dying neurons. The acti-vated microglia/macrophages then migrate to the injury site to initiate the phago-cytic process upon encountering “eat- me” signals on the surfaces of endangered cells. Thus, healthy cells attempt to avoid inappropriate engulfment by expressing “do not- eat- me” signals. Microglia/macrophages also have the capacity to phagocytose immune cells that invade the injured brain (e.g., neutrophils) and to regulate their pro- inflammatory properties. During brain recovery, microglia/macrophages engulf myelin debris, initiate synaptogenesis and neurogenesis, and sculpt a favorable extracellular matrix to support network rewiring, among other favorable roles. Here, we review the multilayered nature of phagocytotic microglia/macrophages, including the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern microglia/macrophage-induced phagocytosis in acute brain injury, and discuss strategies that tap into the therapeutic potential of this engulfment process.

 Conclusion: 

 Identification of biological targets that can temper neuroinflammation after brain injury without hindering the essential phagocytic functions of microglia/macrophages will expedite better medical management of the stroke recovery stage.

 KEYWORDS

acute brain injury, brain repair, microglia/macrophage, phagocytosis

'Something we have dreamed about for years': EAMC gains stroke certification(East Alabama Medical Center)

Big fucking whoopee.

 

 But you tell us NOTHING ABOUT RESULTS. They remind us they 'care' about us multiple times but never tell us how many 100% recovered.  You have to ask yourself why they are hiding their incompetency by not disclosing recovery results.  ARE THEY THAT FUCKING BAD?

Three measurements will tell me if the stroke hospital is possibly not completely incompetent; DO YOU MEASURE ANYTHING?  I would start cleaning the hospital by firing the board of directors, you can't let incompetency continue for years at a time.

There is no quality here if you don't measure the right things.

1. tPA full recovery? Better than 12%?
2. 30 day deaths? Better than competitors?

3. rehab full recovery? Better than 10%?

 

You'll want to know results so call that hospital president(Whoever that is) RESULTS are; tPA efficacy, 30 day deaths, 100% recovery. Because there is no point in going to that hospital if they are not willing to publish results.

 The latest invalid chest thumping here:

 

  'Something we have dreamed about for years': EAMC gains stroke certification 

After 18 months of preparation and a meticulous on-site review, East Alabama Medical Center is now stroke-certified, and its leader calls the achievement a dream come true.

“Having a certified stroke program is something we have dreamed about for years,” said Laura Grill, president and CEO of East Alabama Health, in a press release. “We want to be the provider of choice for our community and achieving this designation means fewer patients have to go outside of this region to receive top-notch stroke care.”

The Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization that accredits more than 22,000 U.S. health care organizations and programs, found EAMC compliant with its standards for the delivery of stroke patient care, timeliness of stroke-specific patient care and utilization of current evidence-based guidelines of stroke care, according to a press release from East Alabama Health

After the evaluation, EAMC was awarded The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval and the American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Primary Stroke Center Certification.

“This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Stroke Association in a press release.

Receiving the Gold Seal of Approval means the organization exceeds and maintains quality benchmarks and patient outcomes, according to The Joint Commission’s website.

“This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Stroke Association, in a press release. “We congratulate EAMC for this outstanding achievement.”

More achievements

The accreditation comes after Laura Grill was elected to serve on the executive committee of the Alabama Hospital Association as the secretary-treasurer. Grill was also selected as president to lead the Association’s Central Alabama Regional Hospital Council.

American Heart Association announces $9.3 million in grants

 This is what is so wrong about our stroke associations, they are stuck on providing 'care' rather than RESULTS OR RECOVERY!

American Heart Association announces $9.3 million in grants

The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association announced a statewide commitment of $7.5 million for its “Mission: Lifeline Stroke” initiative.

According to a news release, this initiative will strengthen the full spectrum of stroke care across Iowa. The foundation of this new initiative is a $6.3 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

Mission: Lifeline Stroke focuses on connecting all components of acute stroke care into a smoothly integrated system that reinforces the use of evidence-based guidelines to timely and effectively treat stroke patients. It brings together hospitals, emergency medical services and first responders, rehabilitation facilities, communications and regulatory agencies, state and local government, and payers to forge a proactive system of stroke care that saves and improves lives, according to the release.

“The work of the Iowa Stroke Task Force ensures that Iowans swiftly receive excellent care from highly skilled providers, so that stroke patients have the greatest odds of survival and full recovery,” said Kelly Garcia, Director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, in the release. “This significant investment by the American Heart Association and the Helmsley Charitable Trust builds on the work of the Stroke Task Force to enhance and expand those lifesaving efforts and to improve stroke recovery and rehab in large and small communities across Iowa.”

Cardiovascular disease, including heart and stroke conditions, is the leading cause of death in the United States. The acute nature of heart attacks and strokes is particularly deadly and requires time-sensitive treatment to save lives and reduce lasting disability. Stroke is a leading cause of death in Iowa, accounting for more than 1,400 deaths in 2020. Many more Iowans are living with stroke-related disabilities.

According to the release, this is the latest in a series of Helmsley investments in Mission: Lifeline’s system of care model for acute cardiac and stroke care. “We believe that a comprehensive approach is the best way to make the most substantial impact, especially for rural populations that face longer transit times and limited access to specialists,” said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust, in the release.

The stroke program in Iowa builds upon prior success with this approach. In 2015, the Helmsley Charitable Trust provided a $4.6 million grant to support the launch of Mission: Lifeline STEMI in Iowa to reduce treatment times for acute cardiac care in the cases of ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). STEMI is the most serious type of heart attack and occurs when blood flow is completely blocked to a portion of the heart.

Every minute saved in heart attack and stroke treatment can directly improve survival and recovery rates. Strengthening care requires a system-wide, data-driven quality improvement approach to address many similar triaging, transfer, and treatment challenges in time-sensitive stroke care, according to the release.

“This ongoing commitment from the Helmsley Charitable Trust will directly touch the lives of all Iowans and for this I am very grateful,” said Dr. Enrique Leira, Professor of Neurology and Head of the Comprehensive Stroke Center at the University of Iowa and co-Chair of the Iowa Stroke Task Force, in the release. “The Mission: Lifeline Stroke initiative will help us better coordinate stroke care, from the time of onset to treatment. Stroke treatment is time-sensitive, so getting patients the proper treatment faster, is crucial. This investment is going to be particularly impactful in decreasing the unacceptable disparity in stroke care we are currently experiencing in rural states like Iowa.”

Mission: Lifeline Stroke will build upon the gains achieved by the existing Iowa Stroke Task Force by further strengthening the collaboration with stakeholders across the state representing hospitals, individual ambulance services, the Iowa Department of Human Services and others. The project will enhance many critical elements of an optimal stroke system of care, including:

• Improved public awareness on the symptoms of a stroke and the need to call 9-1-1;
• A coordinated EMS network, well-trained to identify suspected stroke patients quicky and transport them to the most appropriate facility;
• Well-trained hospital staff who are prepared to properly treat stroke patients and transfer, when appropriate, to higher levels of care and high-quality rehabilitation services;
• Coordination and collaboration among all statewide stroke centers;
• Seamless discharge to high-quality, post-acute stroke rehabilitation and recovery care;
• Guideline-directed care in post-acute care facilities to improve recovery and quality of life;
• A sustainable statewide quality improvement data system to monitor patient care, identify successes and areas in need of further improvement and investment; and
• Robust, collaborative infrastructure for long-term attention to stroke outcomes across the state.

HeartCorps to Launch in Iowa and across the country

According to the release, the Helmsley Charitable Trust is also granting $3 million to the American Heart Association to launch HeartCorps in Iowa, Minnesota, and Wyoming. HeartCorps is the Association’s new initiative serving rural communities across the U.S. As an inaugural grantee of the Public Health AmeriCorps Program, the AHA will launch HeartCorps this fall to address health inequities and develop a new generation of public health leaders in rural America.

The goal of the initial three-year HeartCorps program is to grow a sustainable pipeline of public health workers, reduce cardiovascular risks among rural residents and accelerate the adoption and implementation of systems changes to improve cardiovascular health. The Public Health AmeriCorps Program is a joint partnership between AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

“HeartCorps is an excellent opportunity to bolster the public health workforce in communities across the country,” Mr. Panzirer said, in the release. “Developing local expertise and resources to improve health outcomes will provide long-term benefits to these communities.”

With funding from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the AHA will place HeartCorps members in counties that rank among the least healthy in Iowa according to County Health Rankings. These members will focus on improving cardiovascular health, including blood pressure awareness and control. Funding will also support HeartCorps members in several counties throughout Minnesota and Wyoming.

According to the release, HeartCorps will support 100 Public Health AmeriCorps members each year in rural areas across the country. AmeriCorps will provide $8.6 million, or 63% of the project with the remaining $5.1 million, or 37% of the project funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the American Heart Association, and other funders.