About this Dashboard
This dashboard provides information on stroke and stroke treatment at Primary Stroke Service facilities in Massachusetts. Primary Stroke Service designation indicates that a facility is ready to evaluate and treat acute stroke patients 24 hours a day.
In addition, find selected data on designated Primary Stroke Services in Massachusetts including the name, address, and phone number for each facility. The different tabs provide overviews of stroke evaluation that include stoke treatment types and facility arrival time metrics. Additionally, stroke patient demographic data can be filtered by year of stroke, region of facility, and type of stroke. All visualizations focus on reported race and Hispanic ethnicity, age group, and sex. If someone is having a stroke now, call 911.
The data found in the two Excel files below can be combined to complement the data contained within the dashboard.
Primary Stroke Service in Massachusetts - Facility Details Data Download
Primary Stroke Service in Massachusetts - Patient Analysis Data Download
As you look at data on this webpage, you may see differences among population groups. The differences are especially noticeable between white people and people of color.
These differences exist because of structural racism. These differences are NOT because of an individual’s choices, behaviors, or identity.
Systems of oppression, such as racism, cause harm to everyone. They also influence the social determinants of health (SDoH), which impact health outcomes. See Figure 1.
It is important to keep these notes in mind when looking at the data and using it to inform public health efforts.
If you decide to share these data, remember to use racial equity context and framing. The DPH Racial Equity Data Road Map is one resource that can help.
About Primary Stroke Service Facilities in Massachusetts
Hospitals licensed by the Department of Public Health that are designated as Primary Stroke Service facilities follow specific stroke protocols for patient assessment and care. Following a provider evaluation, patients with acute ischemic strokes can be treated with a blood clot dissolving drug to improve patient recovery and outcome. During stroke evaluation a brain scan is performed and treatment plan formed. Current recommendations encourage prompt evaluation and treatment of eligible patients; specifically, facilities perform a brain scan and administer treatment within 60 minutes of patient arrival.
The Primary Stroke Service designation is awarded to facilities that develop and implement written care protocols for acute stroke based on previously published guidelines and/or developed by a multidisciplinary team organized by the Primary Stroke Service, which is required under 105 CMR 130.1405. These facilities submit data to the Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality as part of licensing.