Consulting the Experts: Quality and Regulatory Resources for the Stroke Program Leader

Stroke program leaders are experts in clinical care and the administrative aspects of caring for patients with stroke. However, consultation with experts inside and outside of the organization may strengthen the program. Quality improvement (QI) and regulatory readiness are two common areas where expertise may be helpful. Internal expertise may come from hospital or system quality experts as well as regulatory specialists. Other service line and informational technology experts within the organization may be helpful to address concerns. Externally, stroke leaders may consult with experts associated with national organizations like the American Heart Association/Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) and the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI). Regional stroke networks and Quality Improvement Collaboratives (QICs) are also external resources for QI and regulatory readiness. Finally, multiple external databases offer programs an opportunity to benchmark for QI purposes. This summary offers a roadmap for stroke leaders to use their internal and external network for program improvement.