Importance of a Comprehensive Approach

Abstract

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and the foremost cause of disability (The top 10 causes of death. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310/en/. Accessed 18 Apr 2017). For over a decade and a half, the Brain Attack Coalition (BAC) has been developing recommendations for the treatment of stroke, and the Joint Commission has been certifying centers based on these recommendations (Alberts et al., JAMA 283(23):3102–3109, 2000). These guidelines are designed to improve access and triage decision making for patients in efforts to obtain the best possible population-based clinical outcomes. The current highest level of Joint Commission certification is Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC).