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This month, CDC Vital Signs focuses on stroke and a troubling new trend: After decades of decline, progress has slowed in preventing stroke deaths.

 Almost 800,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year and more than 140,000 die as a result. Although we, as a nation, have made excellent progress in treating stroke risk factors, such as high blood pressure, declines in stroke death rates have recently stalled in 3 out of every 4 states.

 The good news is that many strokes are preventable and treatable. Health systems can use evidence-based strategies and health professionals can identify and treat risk factors to restore the decline in stroke death rates. This CDC Vital Signs report explains how implementing coordinated systems of care can help prevent stroke deaths.

These materials and tools can help guide you and other public health and healthcare professionals in learning about stroke, including how to work with patients, EMS, pharmacists, community health workers and clinicians to prevent, treat and manage stroke.

Great Plains Quality Innovation Network is actively working with providers, patients, partners and stakeholders to implement evidence-based practices that support the Million Hearts® initiative goal to prevent heart attacks and strokes. We provide resources and assistance on preventive cardiovascular best practices – the ABCS (Aspirin Therapy, Blood Pressure Control, Cholesterol Control and Smoking Cessation).

Click here for resources, educational webinar recordings and to learn how you can become a partner to improve cardiac health across our region.