The American Heart Association’s Getting to the Heart of Stroke initiative™, developed in conjunction with and supported by HCA Healthcare and the HCA Healthcare Foundation, includes a specific focus in Nashville with TriStar Health/HCA Healthcare Foundation to help address local barriers to health equity and improve health outcomes in addition to providing consumer and health care professional education nationwide

NASHVILLE — Knowledge and management of heart-related risk factors and conditions are critical in reducing the likelihood of and improving outcomes with stroke, especially across populations with health disparities. This powerful connection between heart and brain health is the target of a new initiative focused on clinical training, community and patient education, as well as diagnosis and treatment. Getting to the Heart of Stroke from the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, with support and collaboration from HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the nation’s leading health care providers, and the HCA Healthcare Foundation, will also include individualized health education efforts in Nashville along with 14 other local markets across the United States.

Getting to the Heart of Stroke, developed in conjunction with HCA Healthcare and HCA Healthcare Foundation, features several efforts focused on preventing initial and recurrent strokes and improving overall stroke care by:

• Creating a learning collaborative with health care professionals at TriStar Health/HCA Healthcare Foundation focused on continuously improving quality of care.

• Educating and deepening the collaboration between health care professionals at TriStar Health/HCA Healthcare Foundation, especially in neurology and cardiology.

• Empowering consumers to know and better manage their stroke risk, including through the use of a new stroke self-management tool, along with greater engagement with patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AFib) through the Association’s MyAFibExperience patient support network.

• Improving the overall health of Nashville residents by addressing disparities through local health impact work in the areas of women’s health and wellbeing, high blood pressure management, nutrition security or tobacco/vaping prevention.

“Getting to the Heart of Stroke uses a proven approach to public health which combines a national initiative with local health impact work,” said Annie Thornhill, executive director, American Heart Association, Nashville. “Over the next few months, the American Heart Association will work closely with our volunteers and leaders at TriStar Health/HCA Healthcare Foundation to take a real look at the health disparities right here in Nashville and create a plan for helping more people in our community live the long, healthy lives they deserve.”

Getting to the Heart of Stroke focuses on education and care across medical disciplines and specialties and addresses risk factor management for people at highest risk of stroke from AFib—which is known to increase stroke risk by up to 5 times (1)—or secondary stroke from other undiagnosed heart issues.

“TriStar Health/HCA Healthcare Foundation is a proud supporter of the American Heart Association’s Getting to the Heart of Stroke initiative. We’re very excited for this new phase of our relationship that furthers our commitment to being a champion for health equity in the communities we serve,” said Mitch Edgeworth, HCA Healthcare TriStar division president.

As part of the new initiative, American Heart Association staff and volunteer experts with support from the HCA Healthcare Foundation and HCA Healthcare community colleagues will work in Nashville along with 14 other select communities (listed below) to implement community education. The nationwide initiative will also focus on stroke risk factor awareness and professional education projected through the lens of equitable health for all.

Working closely with health care professional thought leaders, including those from HCA Healthcare, the Association will also develop accredited education programming that will be available to all health care professionals, and a specific learning collaborative with 10 HCA Healthcare facilities including TriStar Health/HCA Healthcare Foundation focused on continuously improving quality of care.

Identifying the cause of a stroke is critical to being able to prevent a subsequent stroke. Certain patient subsets, including Black and Hispanic/Latino populations, face additional barriers to identifying and treating stroke risk factors as well as receiving thorough assessment and treatment following stroke.(2) 

While some AFib risk factors, including uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, are more prevalent among Black people, they are less likely to be diagnosed with the condition, which may be related to race or ethnicity (3) . Black adults also have a higher prevalence of stroke and the highest death rate from stroke compared to any other racial group. (4) Getting to the Heart of Stroke will address these disparities.

1. www.heart.org/-/media/Files/Health-Topics/Atrial-Fibrillation/FAQ-About-AFib.pdf Accessed August 30, 2022

2. D O Kleindorfer; et al 2021 Guideline for the Prevention of Stroke in Patients with Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Guideline From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association Stroke. 2021;52:e364–e467 DOI: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000375

3. S R Heckbert; et al Difference by Race/Ethnicity in the Prevalence of Clinically Detected and Monitor-Detected Atrial Fibrillation Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. 2020;13:e007698 DOI: 10.1161/CIRCEP.119.007698

4. www.stroke.org/-/media/Stroke-Files/Lets-Talk-About-Stroke/Prevention/Lets-Talk-About-Black-Americans-and-Stroke-Sheet.pdf Accessed August 30, 2022