HR0391 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The National Black Caucus of State Legislators (NBCSL) recognizes that stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States; each year over 160,000 Americans die from strokes; African-Americans are two times more likely to suffer a first-ever stroke than Caucasian Americans; and age adjusted death rates for stroke are also higher among African-Americans; and

WHEREAS, Stroke is also a leading cause of serious long-term disability, and more than 1.1 million American adults yearly experience functional limitations and difficulty with activities of daily living as a result of a stroke; and

WHEREAS, Despite the fact that Americans are now more aware of stroke's risk factors and warning signs than in the past, less than one in five adults can correctly classify all stroke symptoms and warnings, including:

sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arms, or legs, especially on one side of the body;

confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding;

trouble seeing in one or both eyes;

trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance, or coordination; and

severe headache with no known cause; and

WHEREAS, There is a need for a coordinated system of care for stroke that addresses stroke care along a continuum of care from primary prevention through rehabilitation to greatly reduce the fragmentation of care and the burden of stroke; and

WHEREAS, Essential components of an effective coordinated system of care for stroke include patient access to the full range of services associated with stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, including:

primordial and primary prevention;

timely notification of and response by emergency medical service providers;

acute treatment;

sub-acute care and secondary prevention; and

rehabilitation Continual quality improvement initiatives; and

WHEREAS, Timely recognition of the symptoms of stroke by stroke victims, family members, the public, and emergency medical service providers, including, but not limited to, emergency medical responders, transport providers, and hospital emergency room and health clinic personnel, is crucial because the effects of stroke can be totally reversed if recognized, diagnosed, and treated within three hours; and

WHEREAS, These groups can screen for stroke by remembering the first three letters of the word "STR," and asking the individual to:

smile;

talk and speak a simple sentence coherently; and

raise both arms; and

WHEREAS, Another sign of stroke is noting whether an individual's tongue is crooked or goes to one side; and

WHEREAS, A concerted focus on the dissemination of this type of information is one way to raise awareness about the power of communities, especially communities of color, to prevent stroke; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage NBCSL members and other legislators across the country to: partner with the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to promote the Power to End Stroke program as a precursor to a nationwide movement to address stroke as a serious health disparity in African-Americans; raise awareness that uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes in African-Americans raises the risk for stroke; and promote adherence to primary and secondary stroke prevention guidelines by healthcare professionals; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage NBCSL members, in collaboration with the American Hearth Association and American Stroke Association, to seek to introduce and enact policy that will create and expand Statewide coordinated systems of care for stroke, with special focus and attention on timely access to care, diagnosis, and the most advanced treatment for those most disproportionately affected by stroke.