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Presenters:

David Vrudny, MPH, CPHQ, Section Chief, Stroke & Heart Attack

Aliza Brown, PhD, FAHA, TTS, UAMS Department of Neurology

Major Mack Hutchison, MHA, FACPE, MEMS Paramedic

Arkansas State Health Improvement Plan, 2024-2029

2nd Annual Meeting

Holiday Inn Conference Center, Little Rock

August 28, 2025

Focus Area: Access to Care

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Strategies

  • Strategies for Stroke + Acute Myocardial Infraction Mortality
    1. Expanding telehealth services to improve heart attack and stroke mitigation, particularly in under-resourced areas of the state.
    2. Boost community outreach on heart attack and stroke, and empower community health workers to drive prevention efforts.
    3. Elevate stroke and heart attack care across Arkansas and improve patient outcomes by actively engaging the state's healthcare providers.

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  • Vision for Future for a Broader Impact

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CDC WONDER, 2025

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(S-1) �Expanding Telehealth

“…we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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S-1: Support of Telehealth/ASCTF

  • Arkansas Acute Stroke Care Task Force (ASCTF)
    • Created by Act 663 (2005) under the State Board of Health
    • Coordinates state efforts to reduce stroke morbidity and mortality
    • Evaluates stroke care status and recommends improvements
  • 2017
    • Stroke Task Force not only endorsed the idea of a statewide telestroke program but also provided the evidence, advocacy, and infrastructure necessary to make it a reality, ensuring that even the most rural patients in Arkansas could access life-saving stroke expertise.

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S-1: Benefits of Telestroke in Arkansas

UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation (IDHI) Stroke Program

  • In 2024, improved patient outcomes and efficiency:
    • 62% discharged home, 83% ambulatory at discharge
    • Median door-to-needle time 50 min
    • $350M+ healthcare savings and
    • $3M+ in avoided EMS transfers (2019–2024)

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S-1: Benefits of Telestroke in Arkansas

UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation (IDHI) Stroke Program

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Pulsara in Arkansas

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Source: Pulsara Records, 2025

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Pulsara in Arkansas

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  • Contracted Organizations
    • 95 Hospitals + Affiliated Healthcare Facilities
    • 119 Fire/EMS/Public Safety

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Source: https://www.pulsara.com/arkansas-resources

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(S-2) �Boosting Community Education + CHWs

Image Source: gemini.google.com

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members."

– Coretta Scott King

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New �Public �Education �Panel Cards

Thank you, Joy Gray!!!

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S-2: UAMS IDHI Stroke Program Outreach Data

Calendar

Year

Community Events

Community Attendees

2024

2,471

165,866

2023

2,304

405,982

2022

2,045

355,709

2021

1,830

265,156

2020

1,717

246,786

2019

1,848

229,211

2018

1,798

313,703

2017

1,510

263,850

2016

1,537

380,368

2015

1,328

445,030

2014

1,164

386,113

TOTALS

10,733

2,116,556

2019–2024: Rural awareness boosted thrombolysis use.

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Equity gains: Biggest rise in African-American & Hispanic patients

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Impact: Telestroke + outreach = faster arrivals, better access

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Comprehensive training & outreach:� - 8,566 NIHSS nurse trainings, 4,071 EMS providers trained� - 12,215 community events reaching 1.67M Arkansans for education on recognizing stroke signs and symptoms for faster hospital arrivals

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S-2: Community Outreach!

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    • WRMC Success (Tremwel, 2024)
      • Test (Clinic attendance) vs. control:
        • 93% vs. 56% (p = 0.003)
      • Test (Target Blood Pressure) vs. control
        • 90% vs. 61% (p=0.002)
    • New sub-grants
    • Patient Story

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S-2: Community Paramedicine

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Plan: Closed Loop Health Related Social Needs Referrals

CLOSED LOOP REFERRALS: COMMUNITY HEATLH CENTERS

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Arkansas Statewide Implementation BP Kiosks

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(S-3) �Engaging Healthcare Providers

Image Source: gemini.google.com

“Everybody can be great…because everybody can serve…."

– Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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(S-3) �Engaging Healthcare Providers

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Statewide STEMI/ACS

Guidelines EMS

(S-3) Engaging Healthcare Providers

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Statewide STEMI

Guidelines Non-PCI

(S-3) Engaging Healthcare Providers

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AR’s Stroke+ Heart Attack Regions

  • Regional teams meet to find and close gaps in care

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Provider Educational Classes

(S-3) Engaging Healthcare Providers

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Vision for Future for a Broader Impact

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Heart

Attack Designation

Explore Acute Time Sensitive System

Community Paramedicine Expansion

Interim Stroke Study

Vision for Future for a Broader Impact

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Summarizing Strategies

  • Strategies for Stroke + Acute Myocardial Infraction Mortality
    1. Expanding telehealth services to improve heart attack and stroke mitigation, particularly in under-resourced areas of the state.
    2. Boost community outreach on heart attack and stroke, and empower community health workers to drive prevention efforts.
    3. Elevate stroke and heart attack care across Arkansas and improve patient outcomes by actively engaging the state's healthcare providers.

​

  • Vision for Future

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