Education for stroke patients and families provided

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Strokes occur when the brain doesn’t get the oxygen it needs. There are two classifications of strokes and the treatment may be different depending on the underlying cause of the stroke. A stroke can be hemorrhagic or ischemic. An ischemic stroke occurs when blood flow to the brain is blocked. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. Strokes require immediate medical attention. The sooner patients are treated for a stroke, the more likely they are to survive and have a better quality of life after the stroke.

Most stroke patients are at risk for another stroke in the future, so it is important they and/or their caregivers understand their risk factors, the warning signs of a stroke, and how to contact emergency medical services in the event they do have symptoms of another stroke. It is also important that they and/or their caregivers understand the need for post-discharge follow up care and how and when to take their medications. A higher percentage may indicate that a hospital provides a higher level of patient care.

About this measure

This measure tracks the percent of stroke patients/caregivers who were given education and education materials before they were discharged from the hospital.

Note: In this case, a higher number is better.