08/29/2025
Did you know stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States?
Dr. Brijesh P Mehta, Medical Director of Adult & Pediatric NeuroInterventional Surgery and the Comprehensive Stroke Program at Memorial Neuroscience Institute, recently visited Capitol Hill for a "Day on the Hill" to support national efforts aimed at improving stroke care. 🏥
Along with fellow advocates from the Society of Vascular and Interventional Neurology (SVIN), Dr. Mehta met with a bipartisan group of senators from over 20 states to highlight the need for standardized EMS education on stroke. Large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes are due to blockage of major blood vessels in the brain and cause severe longterm disability. Endovascular thrombectomy is the most effective scientifically proven treatment of LVO strokes. Recognition of LVO strokes by paramedics, implementation of EMS triage routing protocols to thrombectomy-capable hospitals, and increased investment in prehospital stroke education are critical for better patient outcomes.
Stroke-related costs in the U.S. have reached $56.2 billion annually, underscoring the urgent need for more efficient and coordinated care systems.
Thank you, Dr. Mehta, for your leadership and dedication to advancing stroke care nationwide. 💙