Kansas Initiative for Stroke Survival (KISS)

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:

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• 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:

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• 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:

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

Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals:

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

Non-Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital:

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• 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

Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals (ESRHs) are hospitals that diagnose, treat, and stabilize acute stroke patients before transferring them to a higher level of care when appropriate. These facilities are located throughout the state of Kansas and play a critical role in ensuring timely stroke evaluation and treatment.

ESRHs must annually attest to the Kansas State Stroke Task Force that they continue to meet the criteria outlined below. Hospitals designated as ESRHs must comply with these criteria 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

ESRH Designation Criteria

• Maintain written emergent stroke care protocols.
• Maintain a written transfer agreement with a hospital that has neurosurgical expertise.
• Designate a Director of Stroke Care to oversee hospital stroke policies and procedures. This may be a clinical staff member or a designee of the hospital administrator.
• Administer thrombolytic therapy (e.g., Alteplase) when clinically appropriate.
• Maintain the ability to conduct brain imaging tests (e.g., CT scan) at all times.
• Maintain the ability to conduct blood coagulation studies at all times.
• Report stroke data through a designated reporting tool (e.g., GWTG or the KISS SurveyMonkey reporting system).
• Provide community stroke education.