Abstract TP294: Can Stroke Systems of Care Improve Measure Compliance and Outcomes Through Statewide Hospital Collaboration?

Abstract

Background: The Stroke Encounter Quality Improvement Project (SEQIP) launched in 2009 as a statewide voluntary initiative and collaboration between the American Heart Association, the Kentucky Department for Public Health and 16 acute care hospitals interested in improving stroke care in their communities. The mission is to advance acute stroke care and reduce disparities in Kentucky by: establishing a network that encourages and supports collaboration; increases access to stroke care by targeting underserved areas; provides opportunities to share resources related to program development and proficiency across the continuum of care; and promotes quality outcomes and standardization of care through collegiality and use of evidence-based guidelines and research collaboration. Purpose: The goal of this unfunded initiative (now in its tenth year) has been to increase adherence to evidence-based guidelines for stroke patients by implementing a unified statewide effort. Methods: Get With The Guidelines-Stroke data were reviewed with the founding 16 SEQIP hospitals and adherence to evidence-based guidelines was measured and analyzed over a 10-year period. Results: SEQIP has grown to a network of 35 hospitals with 23 submitting data; patient records increased from 4358 (2008) to 10015 (2018); hospitals achieving Gold GWTG award status increased from 4 to 16; certified stroke centers grew from 4 to 32 decreasing geographic barriers to the nearest certified center; and, SEQIP hospitals achieved statistically significant improvement in all stroke measures. Conclusions: With deployment of strategically targeted action plans and expected accountability, competing hospitals can collaborate on a statewide level. Sharing of best practices across organizations can empower stroke teams to implement effective strategies within the confines of their resources to achieve collective goals.