Evaluation of stroke patients for rehabilitation care

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.

Stroke is a leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the United States, with 4.4 million stroke survivors alive today. Forty percent of stroke patients are left with moderate functional impairment and 15 to 30 percent with severe disability. Stroke rehabilitation should begin as soon as the diagnosis of stroke is established and life-threatening problems are under control. Studies have shown that stroke patients have better clinical outcomes when they receive rehabilitation care.

About this measure

This measure tracks the percentage of stroke patients who were assessed for rehabilitation services.

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