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The Kentucky Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (KHDSP) Program promotes improved diagnosis of hypertension and improves stroke treatment. The KHDSP, in partnership with the KHDSP Task Force, leads the effort to transform cardiovascular health approaches and practices in the state using collaborative workgroups to turn knowledge into behavioral change and increase use of evidenced-based guidelines for health systems change.

Program Categories of Work

  1. Surveillance and epidemiology
  2. Environmental approaches
  3. Health systems improvements
  4. Community-clinical linkages 

The strategies for KHDSP are to promote reporting of blood pressure and initiate activities to promote clinical innovations, team-based care and self-monitoring of blood pressure; promote awareness of high blood pressure among patients; increase implementation of quality improvement pro​cesses in health systems; increase use of team-based care in health systems; and to increase use of healthcare extenders in the community in support of self-management of high blood pressure.

Certified Stroke Centers in Kentucky 

Acute Stroke Ready Hospitals - ASRH (16)

  • ASRH always have a stroke team available with physicians privileged in the diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke or telemedicine available within 20 minutes, computerized tomography (CT) and laboratory testing available constantly, can deliver intravenous thrombolysis around the clock and transfer protocols in place when a higher level of care is needed. 

Primary Stroke Centers - PSC (19)

  • PSC must meet all ASRH requirements, have dedicated in-patient beds for the acute care of stroke patients, have advanced radiology imaging available around the clock, may be capable of performing endovascular therapy (clot retrieval) and can potentially admit hemorrhagic strokes.​

Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center - TSC (1)

  • TSC must meet all PSC requirements, have advanced imaging capabilities, meet standards for performing endovascular thrombectomy (clot retrieval) and providing post-procedural care, possibly admit hemorrhagic stroke patients and potentially perform research.​

Comprehensive Stroke Centers - CSC (4​)

  • CSC must meet all TSC requirements, as well as be able to meet concurrently the emergent needs of multiple complex stroke patients, admit hemorrhagic stroke patients, have neurosurgical capability around the clock and perform research.
Updated: August 2023​
Sources: The Joint Commission, Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program and the American Heart Association

Certified Stroke Centers-August-2023.pptx

Reports and Data

KHDSP Task Force Strategic Map and Plan 2020 - 2023 

Kentucky Stroke Registry Annual ​Report 2023

Previous reports can be requested using the contact information below.​