February 2015
ICAHN’s Rural Stroke Initiative



Professional Education
Opportunities
Mark your calendars now!
The Management of Atrial Fibrillation
in Stroke Patients
Developing Collaborative Stroke Systems of
Care
Contact: Peggy Jones – pjones@icahn.org
Or phone 309-663-0092 or 309-830-0100
Highlights
from
Internations
Stroke
conference
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
1 pm EST/ 12 pm CST/ 10 am PST
(60 minutes) Approximately 20 percent of all
strokes are caused by atrial fibrillation (AFib).
Strokes caused by AFib are often deadlier and
more debilitating than strokes from other
causes. AFib is a common underlying
condition in many stroke patients and if not
managed properly, it can lead to recurring
strokes and attribute to further health
complications. Please join us to learn how to
properly manage and treat AFib in patients
that are admitted to your hospital with a stroke.
Advanced registration is required. Register
today
More Opportunities:
The NIH Stroke Scale Training Program
available on learn.heart.org is designed
to allow healthcare providers to refresh
their
and
demonstrate
March
5th skills
Dinner
and
Educationaltheir
continued
mastery
this tool by
program Thursday, March of
5th- Dinner with
aaseries
Attention
GWTG
Dr. successfully
Deepak
Nair: assessing
This
will beUsers
great of test
scenarios.
to register
for the
opportunity
to Click
hear ahere
Vascular
Neurologist
NIH
Stroke
Scale
today!
speak on Acute Ischemic Stroke and
your
calendars
Activase!Mark
7pm-Peoria
(locationnow!
details to
th
come!)
March 5 Dinner and Educational
program Thursday, March 5th- Dinner
with Dr. Deepak Nair: This will be a great
opportunity to hear a Vascular
Neurologist speak on Acute Ischemic
Stroke and Activase! 7pm-- Peoria
(location details to come!)
Reducing risk of stroke. People
60 or older, especially minorities
and women, have a lower risk of
stroke if the top number of their
blood pressure (systolic) is below
140 millimeters of mercury (mm
Hg), according to according to
research. Learn more about the
high blood pressure and stroke
connection.
Quicker and better treatment.
The good news is that stroke
patients are receiving better, more
timely care. One in four acute
ischemic stroke patients treated
with a time-dependent clot-busting
drug were quickly transferred from
an emergency room or smaller
community hospital to a stroke
certified center.
Intense rehab is best. New
research supports the need for
skilled, hands-on care in stroke
rehabilitation. The percentage of
Americans surviving a stroke is at
an all-time high. But experts
caution that more effective
strategies are needed to help them
recover — and avoid another
stroke. More to Come: Other
topics you will hear more about
will be presented as webinars
with CEU including:
Endovascular Therapy after IV
t-PA.
Community
Hospital ESRH
DesignationEducation
February
Update:



There is not a deadline for applying
for designation in 2015 so if you have
not applied yet, you still can do so.
We are into month 2 of the year so
make sure you are keeping stroke
data up to date in GWTG or on a log.
If your hospital would like to begin
using GWTG as your data tool, please
Contact me. We can seek grant funds
if there is enough interest.
NEW Atrial Fibrillation
Spotlight Series Talk is Now
Available
February 2015 page 2
Anticoagulation is an important consideration in the management of
atrial fibrillation. The goal of this accredited education program will be
to provide healthcare professionals with very specific guidance
related to what is known and what is not known about novel
anticoagulants; identifying the most appropriate patients for their use,
discerning their role in patients with non-valvular AF, and preventing
stroke and the growing medical care costs associated with atrial
fibrillation and stroke.
Spotlight Series Features:




Live, hour-long presentations delivered during grand rounds
at your institution
AHA-approved and trained experts in the field of
cardiovascular health
CME/CE accreditation provided by the American Heart
Association through ACCME, ANCC and ACPE
It’s free! There is no cost for your institution
Available Nationwide – Request this free CME/CE presentation at
your institution today! By incorporating a Spotlight Series
presentation into your institution’s educational programming we can
build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Register today to join Get With The Guidelines-AFIB on February 24
at noon C.T. for a live webinar about managing AFib in stroke
patients.
Non-valvular Atrial Fibrillation: 2014 Guidelines & Evidence-Based Practice
Based on the new 2014 AHA/ACC Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines, this program is the first online CME activity
to provide a comprehensive education on the new scientific outcomes that were presented in March 2014.
This course is available to all healthcare professionals, and will provide CME credit for physicians, nurses,
And pharmacists at learn.heart.org. This enduring activity discusses the treatments specific to the AHA/ACC
Guidelines to provide evidence-based care to patients, the methods of preventing stroke in patients with atrial
fibrillation, and provides a review of patient education recommendations. For more information about this program
or to register, visit the Professional Education Center website.