The New Hampshire Stroke Collaborative received the American Stroke Association’s 2017 Community Conscience Award at the 12th annual Summit of the NorthEast Cerebrovascular Consortium (NECC). The Community Conscience Award is presented annually to an individual or group that has been an advocate for policy change supported by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association to improve stroke systems of care including: prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation for stroke patients within the northeast region.
The NH Stroke Collaborative at the NECC Summit in 2016.
The New Hampshire Stroke Collaborative began in 2005 with the mission of developing an interdisciplinary stroke system of care that increased stroke awareness in the community, prevented stroke and complications from stroke, improved the quality and coordination of care across the continuum, and empowered recovering stroke patients and families to achieve the highest quality of life. Over the past 12 years, the New Hampshire Stroke Collaborative has worked steadfastly to educate the community and key stakeholders of the importance of preventing strokes, improving outcomes and inspiring hope in the stroke community.
Accomplishments of the New Hampshire Stroke Collaborative include development of a survey tool to assess stroke care in New Hampshire, creation of a patient’s Stroke Survival Guide, hosting an annual stroke professional education conference, and an annual Stroke Awareness Night at sporting events.
In May 2017, the collaborative released an extensive report to further guide stroke systems of care in the community. Planning for a NH Stroke Care System in New Hampshire is designed to provide stroke care providers, public health officials and health policy experts with a guide and initial strategy for integrating public health and stroke prevention with acute stroke care systems and secondary prevention and rehabilitation.
Members of the New Hampshire Stroke Collaborative include:
- Timothy G. Lukovits, Medical Director, Cerebrovascular Disease and Stroke Program, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
- Susan Barnard, Stroke Coordinator, St. Joseph’s Hospital
- Barbara Barton, Stroke Coordinator, Catholic Medical Center
- Lia Baroody, Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services
- Vicki Blanchard, Clinical Systems Coordinator, Department of Safety, Bureau of EMS
- Cathy Danforth, Stroke Program Manager, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
- Tricia Desrocher, Director of Projects & Planning, Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital
- Jamie Joyce, Director of Neuroscience Service Line & Respiratory Care, Portsmouth Regional Hospital
- Sheryl Rambikur, Senior Rehabilitation Liaison, Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital
- Christina Swanberry, Stroke Program Manager, Concord Hospital
- Cheryl Thibodeau, Stroke Program Coordinator/Neuroscience Navigator, Portsmouth Regional Hospital
- Nancy Vaughan, American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
To learn more, visit the NH Stroke Collaborative page on the NECC website.