Supporting the AHA/ASA’s Mission to End Stroke

As the nation’s leading provider of inpatient rehabilitation, stroke is a common condition we treat at our hospitals. Because of this, Encompass Health joined forces with the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association four years ago to sponsor its Together to End Stroke initiative.

This initiative aims to prove that stroke is preventable, treatable and beatable. The ultimate goal is to end stroke, a condition that affects more than 800,000 people a year. At our rehabilitation hospitals, we help those recovering from a stroke regain their independence by providing them with intensive therapy that is unique to their needs and abilities. We’re proud to sponsor Together to End Stroke to educate the public and share our clinical expertise on stroke recovery and rehabilitation. During our four-year sponsorship, we have teamed up with the AHA/ASA to produce a variety of resources for those recovering from a stroke, as well as those charged with caring for them — be it their loved ones or healthcare professionals.

Developing Stroke Support Group Lesson Modules

At our hospitals, we know how effective support groups can be, especially for those recovering from a life-changing illness, such as a stroke. We developed and launched three stroke support group lesson modules, helping to support and inform group leaders on discussion topics and resources. Topics covered in these modules include personality changes after stroke, depression after a stroke and post-stroke pain. To date, these modules have been viewed more than 12,000 times. In 2023, AHA/ASA and Encompass Health are collaborating to develop an additional lesson module “Self-Care for Caregivers,” with a goal of providing resources for caregivers of stroke survivors.

Go Red for Women Luncheons

As a member of the American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women’s National Leadership Council, I was happy we were able to once again gather in-person for Go Red Luncheons after two years of virtual events. We reached over 3,000 attendees with important information on how to prevent, treat and beat a stroke.

Life after Stroke Guide and Simply Good Cookbook

Some of the first materials we produced as part of our sponsorship of Together to End Stroke, these two resources are still offering those recovering from a stroke with valuable information and resources. In 2022 alone, we had over 56,000 copies ordered or downloaded, bringing lifetime orders and downloads to just shy of 228,000 copies. The Life after Stroke Guide details everything from stroke early signs and symptoms to diagnosis and what to expect in rehabilitation. Our Simply Good Cookbook provides useful information on diet and nutrition after a stroke. It is complete with easy-to-make, healthy recipes for those recovering from a stroke and their caregivers.

Staff Support of AHA/ASA and Its Mission

Almost 50 Encompass Health staff members are actively engaging with their local chapters of the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association teams by serving on event volunteer committees, local boards of directors and on national committees, including nine serving as event chairs or in a leadership role on a board.

Continued Support

Those are just a few of our accomplishments over the past year. We are looking forward to continuing our sponsorship of Together to End Stroke this year and reinforcing the message that stroke is preventable, treatable and beatable.

The content of this site is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical conditions or treatments.