This House resolution recognizes stroke as a national health crisis and calls for immediate, coordinated action. The text says stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability. It states large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes make up about 15 to 30 percent of strokes and tend to have the worst outcomes. The resolution says mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is a proven, evidence-based treatment that reduces death and long-term disability and is cost effective, but only 3 to 7 percent of eligible ischemic stroke patients currently receive it. The resolution describes gaps that cause treatment delays, such as limited EMS recognition of LVO, no standard triage protocols, limited EMS and public education, and routine transport to the nearest hospital instead of thrombectomy-capable centers. It cites guidance that EMS should transport suspected LVO patients directly to thrombectomy-capable centers within a 60-minute transport window when possible, and notes that only 10 States require continuing stroke education for EMS providers. The resolution also notes a Society designation of May 15 as World Stroke Thrombectomy Day.
The resolution asks the House to: recognize stroke as a national health crisis; support a standardized EMS training curriculum for stroke and LVO recognition; urge States and regional EMS systems to adopt routing protocols that prioritize direct transport of suspected LVO patients to thrombectomy-capable centers when within recommended transport times; encourage more Federal and State investment in public stroke education to promote timely 9-1-1 activation; call for transparency in stroke center capabilities and outcomes to help EMS routing decisions; affirm the need for equitable access to mechanical thrombectomy and comprehensive stroke care; and support the goals of World Stroke Thrombectomy Day.
The resolution expresses the House's support for better EMS stroke training, clearer hospital capability information, stronger routing practices, and more public education about stroke symptoms and calling 9-1-1. It urges States, regional EMS systems, and federal and state investment to take those steps. The text does not itself list specific new programs or funding amounts.
The resolution text does not include cost estimates or specific funding amounts. No publicly available information.
The resolution's sponsors and supporters state that stroke causes large numbers of deaths and disability, that mechanical thrombectomy is an effective and cost-effective treatment for eligible LVO patients, and that improving EMS recognition, routing, training, public education, and transparency will reduce delays and improve access to lifesaving care.
No publicly available information.