Stroke treatment started in a timely manner

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.

tPA is the "clot-busting" drug often given to ischemic stroke patients that can potentially reverse the effects of a major stroke. It must be given within 3 hours of the start of symptoms to be most effective.

A higher percentage may indicate that a hospital provides a higher level of patient care.

About this measure

This measure tracks the percentage of ischemic stroke patients who arrive at the hospital within two hours of the first symptoms of their stroke and are given tPA within three hours of their first symptoms.

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