Building Stroke System of Care

Virginia's Acute Stroke Hospital Roles Map

To download a high resolution version PDF of this map, click here.

The American Stroke association white paper Recommendations for Development of Stroke Systems of Care (2005) recommends that states identify the role each hospital plays in treating acute stroke, and lays out parameters for considering those roles. Virginia hospitals participate voluntarily in a biennial survey process to help draw a picture that is important for strategic planning across the state. Mapping services are graciously provided by the UVA Department of Planning and Research.

All stratifications presented on this map were derived from information reported by the hospitals during this survey process. The stratifications do not in any way reflect the quality of care provided at each facility and are not approved for hospital use in marketing or public relations. Revisions to reflect new Joint Commission-certified Primary Stroke Centers are planned for approximately every six months. Definitions of the stratifications levels are provided on Page 2 of the map.

RESOURCES

Partner Organizations

The following links have been provided as resources for enhancing stroke systems of care:

Literature

Surveys

Reports

Tools

The following link identifies Certified Primary Stroke Centers serving Virginia and those serving neighboring states (census off over 50% Virginia Residents):

Primary Stroke Centers

Primary Stroke Centers – serving neighboring states:

Stroke Systems Technical Consultation: The Virginia Stroke Systems Ambassador Panel (VSS AP)

Virginia Stroke Systems (VSS) invites you to access the expertise available to stroke professionals in Virginia and neighboring states by tapping into the Virginia Stroke Systems Ambassador Panel (VSS AP).

Submit your confidential questions to VA.STROKESYSTEMS@HEART.ORG

Purpose of the VSS AP:

In concert with the implementation of Virginia Stroke Systems, there is a recognized need for an increased number of Primary Stroke Centers (PSC) and novel strategies to assist acute care facilities in enhancing stroke care. To aid in the development of PSC's and integrated stoke systems, the Virginia Stroke Systems Leadership Team identified a need for access to stroke program development expertise by all interested healthcare institutions in the state. To address this need, the VSS Leadership Team collaboratively designed and implemented a statewide-accessible Ambassador Program.

The VSS Ambassador Panel (VSS AP) is an 11-member team of recognized and dedicated stroke professionals invested in providing the best stroke care possible. The Panel is comprised of physiatrists, neuro-radiologists, neurologists, emergency physicians, nurses, EMS leadership, hospital administrators, legislative and advocacy personnel, stroke program coordinators and experts in stroke program development and stroke systems of care. VSS AP was developed to meet a need for a single reliable and free resource for questions regarding stroke program design, development, evaluation and performance improvement.

Panel members respond to your questions with answers based on science and and best practice. The VSS AP is prepared to answer questions about EMS operations, ED work-up, stroke center development, hospital infrastructure, administrative management, or any question related to the development of an acute care system for stroke. There is no charge for this service. No query is too small.

The Virginia Stroke Systems Ambassador Panel (VSS AP) members have expertise in the following content areas:
1. Emergency Medical Service (EMS)/pre-hospital programs, training and regulations
2. Emergency Department (ED) stroke program barriers and development, ED stroke diagnosis and treatment
3. Acute and post-acute stroke care, Stroke Unit development, secondary prevention
4. Neurology & ED physician medicolegal issues, reimbursements, professional organization position statements
5. Administrative issues, achieving administrative support, creating a stroke program business case, defining fiscal and market incentives
6. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) certification, national initiatives, state legislation efforts
7. Performance measures, quality (process & outcome) measures, national indicator development, data systems
Access to the VSS AP has been extended to stroke professionals in Virginia’s neighboring states, including:
 Virginia
 Maryland
 District of Columbia
 West Virginia
 Kentucky
 Tennessee
 North Carolina
Take advantage of this unique service now and benefit from the experience of others who have been there and are eager to share their knowledge.! Requests are kept confidential, and responses are evidence- and science-based. In most cases a response is provided within 10 business days. Complex questions may take more time in order to ensure an evidence-based response. If your question is very time-sensitive, please write Urgent in the subject line and the panel will make every effort to respond more quickly.
To submit a question to the Panel, email VA.STROKESYSTEMS@HEART.ORG
Please articulate your question clearly and concisely to help streamline processing of your request.
All questions and information shared with VSS APP will be treated as strictly confidential.
We encourage you to add this address to your FAVORITES or CONTACTS list for easy access in the future.

VSS Stakeholder Fall News Bulletin

· Calling all Stroke Coordinators! Virginia Stroke Systems is forming a Stroke Coordinator’s Consortium for sharing of best practices and driving advancements in stroke systems of care. An initial planning call is set up for Friday November 20 from 1:00 to 2:00. If you are functioning in this capacity and did not receive the Save-The-Date notice sent by AHA VP of Quality Initiatives Eric Walker on 10/13, then you are not on our list: please email me to provide your contact information ASAP. Other hospital personnel, please forward this to your Stroke coordinator to assure they are in the loop.

· The most recent Stroke Hospital Roles Map is posted on our web site (http://www.virginiastrokesystems.org <http://www.virginiastrokesystems.org/>; ). We hope to provide an update around the end of the year to capture facilities that have become certified as Primary Stroke Centers since the last update – please contact me to provide any pertinent information in this regard.

· The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) would like to welcome its two newest members to the Virginia Stroke Systems Task Force: Dr. Adolph Flowers and Dr. Karen Shipman. Dr. Flowers is a family practice physician from Emporia serving in the southeast region of Virginia. Dr. Shipman is the Emergency Department Nursing Director at CJW Medical Center in Richmond. Both are replacing members who are stepping down: Dr. Joel Temme from Northern Virginia; and Dr. Timothy Shephard from Richmond, who was also the co-chair for the Task Force since its inception. VDH would like to thank Drs. Temme and Shephard for their participation and dedication to improving stroke systems in Virginia.

· The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) would like to announce the election of Dr. Richard Zweifler as the new co-chair of the Virginia Stroke Systems Task Force, replacing Dr. Timothy Shephard, who is stepping down from the Task Force. Dr. Zweifler is the chief of neurology for Sentara Healthcare and professor of neurology at Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS). Prior to his roles with Sentara and EVMS, Dr. Zweifler directed the University of South Alabama (USA) Stroke Center in Mobile for 13 years. While in Alabama, he served on the Alabama State Stroke Task Force and the Alabama Stroke Systems Operations Group. Dr. Nina Solenski of the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville will continue to co-chair the VSSTF with Dr. Zweifler.

· Congratulations to Dr Jack Cochran for his recent designation by American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) as Virginia’s Get with The Guidelines Stroke Champion. In this role he will serve as a spokesperson and consultant. As a forerunner in building stroke systems in Northern Virginia and a long-time user of the program, Dr. Cochran is uniquely positioned to teach others how to benefit from this tool. Dr. Cochran serves on the VSS Task Force, leading the Acute Project Team.

· Virginia has a new cardiovascular disease state plan, developed by the Virginia Department of Health, the Virginia Heart Disease and stroke Alliance, and a host of other stakeholders across the state. You can play a part in its implementation, and might find value in some of the data provided in the document. Heart Disease and Stroke in Virginia: A Prevention & Control Plan 2008–2018 is downloadable from the health department at: http://www.vahealth.org/cdpc/cvh/.

· VSS is presenting two stroke modules at the annual EMS Symposium this November: Different Strokes for Different Folks by Dr Bruce Lo (Nov 12), and A Stroke of Good Luck by Drs Nina Solenski and Sabina Braithwaite (Nov 13). If you’re attending the symposium please come by to learn the latest, and to say hello!

· Save-the-Date: Centra Lynchburg Hospital will be hosting an AHA quality improvement workshop for stroke on March 4, 2010. Some of the topic areas being developed include Get With the Guidelines Stroke, stroke telemedicine, dysphasia, collaborating with EMS, and more. CMEs will be offered. Mark your calendars now and be on the lookout for more information!

Keltcie Delamar
Director, State Health Alliances
American Heart Association
Mid-Atlantic Affiliate
4217 Park Place Court
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Tel 804-965-6571
Fax 804-965-6422
Email keltcie.delamar@heart.org <mailto:keltcie.delamar@heart.org>