KISS

KISS

KISS

Kansas Initiative for Stroke Survival

Wear Red to Support Stroke Awareness

Nearly 2 million brain cells are lost for every minute that stroke care is delayed and up to 80 % of strokes can be prevented. We are challenging you to wear red in the month...

Patient Education Resources

The Kansas Initiative for Stroke Survival encourages hospitals, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers, and other patient care areas to promote stroke signs and symptoms and BE FAST. Public Stroke Education Materials HERO Stroke Infographic Coloring...

Hospital Stroke Treatment Capability Map

In 2011, a group of healthcare professionals met to discuss the results of the KS Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Cardiovascular Burden document which showed low public awareness, low IV alteplase utilization, and high mortality rates among KS stroke patients. The group developed a grant-funded statewide plan to improve access to acute stroke treatment to decrease disability and mortality from stroke. Since that time, more than 75 Kansas facilities in all 6 EMS regions have joined the fight to meet this goal.


Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center:

  • Provides ALL of the Primary Stroke Center services
  • Participates in the latest research
  • Full spectrum of hemorrhagic stroke care
  • 24/7 availability:
    • In-house Provider
    • Neurologist, Neuro-Interventionalist, Neuro-Radiologist & Neurosurgeon
    • Neuro- Critical Care
    • Catheter Angiography
Primary Stroke Center:

  • Provides ALL of the Acute Stroke  Ready Hospital services
  • Stroke Designated Unit
  • Stroke Program Coordinator
  • Advanced Imaging availability
  • Stroke Service
  • Neurosurgical Services within 2 hours
  • Continuum of inpatient care
Certified Acute Stroke Ready Hospital:

  • IV thrombolytics
  • CT, MRI & 24/7 Lab availability
  • 24/7 Acute Stroke Team
  • 24/7 in-person Neurologist or Telemedicine
Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals:

  • All of Certified Acute Stroke Ready Hospital ability, but are not certified by an independent certifying organization
Non-Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital:

  • Are not able to perform the abilities of an Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital or have not attested to stroke care ability

Emergent Stroke Ready (ESR) Hospitals

ESRHs, hospitals that diagnose, treat, and transport acute stroke patients to a higher level of care as warranted, are located throughout the state of Kansas. ESRHs must annually attest to Kansas State Stroke Task Force their continued compliance with criteria outlined below and must comply with these criteria 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

ESRH designation criteria include:

  • Written emergent stroke care protocols;
  • Written transfer agreement with a hospital with neurosurgical expertise;
  • Director of stroke care to oversee hospital stroke policies and procedures. This may be a clinical staff member or the designee of the hospital administrator;
  • Administration of thrombolytic therapy (e.g. Alteplase);
  • Ability to conduct brain image tests (e.g. CT scan) at all times;
  • Ability to conduct blood coagulation studies at all times;
  • Report data through a designated reporting tool (GWTG, KISS Survey Monkey); and
  • Provide community stroke education