Hawaii is implementing a $6.8 million initiative to transform its stroke care infrastructure through a comprehensive, integrated healthcare system. The American Stroke Association, in collaboration with the Helmsley Charitable Trust, will implement the Mission: Lifeline Stroke initiative to address the state's significant stroke challenges. Stroke remains the third leading cause of death in Hawaii and the primary source of disability across the islands, creating an urgent need for systemic improvement.
The new program will focus on connecting all components of acute stroke care, from emergency medical services to rehabilitation facilities, to ensure timely and effective patient treatment. Governor Josh Green emphasized the initiative's importance, stating that every second counts in stroke treatment. The program will particularly benefit rural communities by enhancing coordination among emergency responders, hospitals, and healthcare providers, addressing geographic disparities in access to care.
The initiative will engage 24 hospitals, including seven certified stroke centers, six community hospitals, and nine critical access hospitals. Eighteen facilities will implement Post-Acute Stroke Care Quality Standards to improve recovery outcomes. A key focus will be increasing awareness of hypertension and stroke through culturally authentic education resources, addressing higher stroke mortality rates among Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders. This culturally responsive approach recognizes the need for tailored interventions within specific communities.
Walter Panzirer from the Helmsley Charitable Trust highlighted the program's potential to significantly enhance stroke care, especially in underserved rural communities. The trust has previously supported similar initiatives across several states, committing over $96.7 million to the American Heart Association's mission since 2010. This substantial investment demonstrates a long-term commitment to improving cardiovascular health outcomes nationwide.
The comprehensive approach includes improving public stroke awareness, developing a coordinated emergency medical services network, standardizing hospital staff training, and creating a sustainable statewide quality improvement data system to monitor patient care and outcomes. Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, described the initiative as an effort to advance equitable health, ensuring patients receive high-quality stroke care regardless of their location within Hawaii. This system-wide transformation aims to create lasting improvements in stroke prevention, treatment, and recovery across the state's diverse communities.
