3 ways community paramedics can assist with after-stroke care [Video]

By Mark E. Milliron, MS, MPA, MHS, EMT, CCHW

Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death (not including COVID-19) in the United States. Nearly 800,000 people will suffer a stroke each year; and for Black Americans, the risk of a first stroke is nearly twice as high, with the highest death rate.

Strokes are also the leading cause of long-term disability usage; in 2017, $53 billion was spent between related medical expenses and lost workdays [1].

A study of 2,706 patients discharged between 2007-2009 found that 6.4% were readmitted to the hospital within 30 days. Of those, 29% were found to be readmitted after inadequate outpatient care coordination and 4% readmitted after being discharged with inadequate discharge instructions [2]. Another study from the 2013 Nationwide Readmission Database of 319,317 patients with acute ischemic stroke – which accounts for 87% of strokes – found 12.1% of patients were readmitted. Factors for readmission included patients who were older, had Medicare …