Translating Best Practices to a Statewide System of Care for Stroke:The Passage of Legislation to Recognize Stroke Centers in Connecticut

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Connecticut. Due to a lack of federal funding, the State Department of Public Health retired the Hospital Designation Program in 2013, leaving multiple hospitals without any form of a state-sponsored stroke center certification designation. Subsequently, a grass-roots effort was initiated to improve the state-wide system of care for acute stroke care. This effort culminated in the passage of two legislative bills, and formal recommendations made by a legislature-appointed Stroke Task Force. This manuscript outlines the past, present, and future vision for this continued collaborative effort to improve stroke care for all citizens in Connecticut.