East Texas Stroke Initiative Receives State Recognition

The Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke has awarded the Texas Cardiovascular Health Promotion Outstanding Program Award to the East Texas Stroke Initiative in Lufkin.   A partnership between Memorial Health System East Texas (MHSET) and The Methodist Hospital (TMH) in Houston, the East Texas Stroke Initiative was made possible by a 3 year, 5.8 million dollar grant funded by the TLL Temple Foundation.

Now in its second year, the program has accomplished multiple goals, including Memorial Medical Center—Lufkin receiving certification as the city’s first and only Joint Commission Primary Stroke Center, widespread Community Education for Stroke Prevention Strategies, Signs & Symptoms and Medical Urgency and lowering the length of stay overall for stroke patients in the program. 

 The East Texas Stroke Initiative is the only program to receive an outstanding evaluation this year. The Texas Council on Cardiovascular Disease, in conjunction with the Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) & Stroke Program of the Texas Department of State Health Services, created the Health Promotion awards to recognize outstanding cardiovascular health promotion programs in Texas.

CVD and stroke are leading causes of death in Texas. Increases in the rates of physical inactivity, poor dietary choices, diabetes, high blood cholesterol and obesity, as well as the continued high prevalence of hypertension and the use of tobacco contribute to these diseases each year.