SAINT PAUL, Minnesota, September 26, 2024 – The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association announced a statewide commitment of $4.7 million to strengthen the full spectrum of stroke care across Minnesota. The foundation of this new initiative is a $4 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.

This initiative is designed to expand the existing statewide stroke system of care by building key bookends to the successful acute stroke efforts the state leads through the federal Paul Coverdell Program. Through two primary components, the Association aims to help close gaps that separate people in rural areas and those with limited English proficiency from timely, appropriate stroke treatments and to improve their access to post-acute care facilities following guideline-directed care.

“Stroke is a time-sensitive medical emergency. Healthcare providers need accurate descriptions of symptoms, which can be challenging when there are language barriers between patients, families and healthcare providers,” said Heather Peterson, Vice President of Community Impact for the American Heart Association. “This effort will create culturally and linguistically relevant materials. Improving stroke literacy among all Minnesotans is a key step in ensuring everyone, everywhere has the best possible outcome after stroke.”

At the end of the three-year initiative, Minnesotans will have access to expanded resources, infrastructure and efforts that cover the full stroke journey. More specifically, they will benefit from:

  • Expanded, culturally and linguistically relevant public awareness on the signs, symptoms of stroke, the need to call 911 and stroke prevention education
  • Guideline-directed care in post-acute care facilities to improve recovery and quality of life
  • Infrastructure and support for data collection across diverse types of rehabilitation facilities, including Critical Access Hospitals with swing beds, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and skilled nursing facilities to drive continuous quality improvement
  • Access to skilled nursing facilities certified in post-acute stroke care

This is the latest in a series of investments by The Helmsley Charitable Trust in the American Heart Association’s system of care model for acute cardiac and stroke care. “The American Heart Association’s comprehensive approach will ensure all Minnesotans including those that live in rural areas and those with limited English proficiency have access to appropriate care from onset of stroke symptoms through post-acute treatment. This is critical to improving outcomes,” said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee for the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “Translating public education materials into multiple languages will broaden our impact and ensure more people across the state can recognize a stroke and know how to act in an emergency.”

Cardiovascular disease, including heart and stroke conditions, is the leading cause of death in the United States. The acute nature of strokes is particularly deadly and requires time-sensitive treatment to save lives and reduce lasting disability. Stroke is a leading cause of death in Minnesota, accounting for more than 2,300 deaths in 2021. Many more Minnesotans are living with stroke-related disabilities.

Every minute saved in stroke treatment can directly improve survival and recovery rates. Strengthening care requires a system-wide, data-driven quality improvement approach to address many similar triaging, transfer, and treatment challenges in time-sensitive stroke care.

The stroke program in Minnesota builds upon prior success with this approach. In 2013, the Helmsley Charitable Trust provided a $4.6 million grant to support the launch of Mission: Lifeline STEMI in Minnesota to reduce treatment times for acute cardiac care in the cases of ST Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). STEMI is the most serious type of heart attack and occurs when blood flow is completely blocked to a portion of the heart.

“Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in Minnesota and across the country,” said Dr. Haitham Hussein, Neurologist at the University of Minnesota and former board president for the American Heart Association in the Twin Cities. “Access to quality stroke rehabilitation is a critical piece of the recovery process. The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline Stroke efforts will ensure that Minnesotans across the state, in metro and rural areas, can have the best opportunity to live a long and healthy life after stroke.”

Since 2010, the Helmsley Charitable Trust has committed over $90.9 million to the American Heart Association’s mission. Helmsley’s support has been foundational to improving statewide systems of care in the Upper Midwest, including Mission: Lifeline STEMI projects in seven states from 2010 to 2016 and the launch of Mission: Lifeline Stroke in North Dakota, Nebraska, Montana and Iowa.

 

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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for a century. During 2024 - our Centennial year - we celebrate our rich 100-year history and accomplishments. As we forge ahead into our second century of bold discovery and impact, our vision is to advance health and hope for everyone, everywhere. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

 

About the Helmsley Charitable Trust
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $700 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org. 

 

For Media Inquiries:
Olivia LaVoy: olivia.lavoy@heart.org
For Public Inquiries: 1-800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and stroke.org