Improving cardiac and stroke care in rural Nevada

The American Heart Association launches initiative to enhance systems of care, reduce death and disability from cardiac events and stroke

LAS VEGAS — In Nevada, heart disease mortality ranks among the highest in the country and is the leading cause of death in the state. Stroke is the sixth leading cause of death. These conditions disproportionately affect rural residents, who face a 20% higher death rate from heart disease compared to urban populations.

To help change this trajectory, the American Heart Association is leading an initiative to develop a system of cardiac and stroke care that meets the critical needs of rural Nevadans.

“While Nevada hospitals, EMS agencies and other first responders work to provide care for cardiac and stroke patients, a systematic approach that integrates care and helps break down silos can amplify current efforts and help improve the health of rural Nevadans,” said Patty Riddle, region senior vice president of health strategies for the American Heart Association. “This initiative will work with the community to help improve outcomes for people experiencing stroke and heart attack.”

As a key component of this work, the Association will increase coordination among 14 hospitals (13 of which are Critical Access Hospitals), first responders and community-based health organizations across rural Nevada. These stakeholders will engage in activities to improve care quality using guidelines, improved processes, resources and data analysis; increase collaboration across Nevada’s rural health care ecosystem; and expand public education on cardiovascular diseases.

Together, these activities aim to close gaps separating rural patients from timely, appropriate treatments for stroke and cardiac events. The initiative is designed to:

• Improve public awareness of the signs and symptoms of heart disease, stroke and the need to call 911, with a focus on culturally appropriate materials.

• Increase coordination among community-level EMS and first responder networks, which are well-trained to identify and treat suspected cardiac arrest and stroke patients quickly and transport them to the most appropriate facility.

• Increase training for clinical staff on appropriate treatment and transfer of cardiac and stroke patients.

• Develop collaborative infrastructure for long-term attention to cardiac and stroke outcomes in rural Nevada.

• Publish a State of Cardiac and Stroke Care Report, co-created with local stakeholders, as a resource tool to guide continuous improvement.

Nevada rural and frontier communities in the initiative include:

• Battle Mountain

• Boulder City

• Caliente

• Elko

• Ely

• Fallon

• Gardnerville

• Hawthorne

• Incline Village

• Lovelock

• Mesquite

• Pahrump

• Winnemucca

• Yerington

This initiative in rural Nevada is supported by a multi-million-dollar commitment by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. Since 2010, the Helmsley Charitable Trust has committed more than $99 million to the mission of the American Heart Association.