Webinar Sessions

The 2021 Rocky Mountain Stroke Conference will be offered virtually in six individual 1-hour lunchtime sessions.  Webinars will be presented on Thursdays from noon-1:00pm (MST), April 22-May 27, 2021.  Webinars will be recorded. Must register to receive an online conference link.

Course Objectives & Upon Completion of the Activity:

• Participants will be able to describe specific clinical practices to improve care for stroke patients.
• Participants will recognize the importance of using a standardized team-based approach for stroke care in the acute and regional care settings.
• Participants will be able to describe new clinical practice guidelines and recommendations for acute ischemic stroke patients.
• Participants will be able to describe specific stroke prevention interventions.

Disclosure Statement/Criteria for Successful Completion/Continuing Education:
For more information, scroll to the bottom of the page.

Thursday, April 22 - 12:00-1:00pm (MST)

Building Stroke Systems of Care: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Edward Jauch, MD, MS, FAHA FACEP, Chief of System Research, Mission Health - Asheville, NC

With varying levels of stroke center certifications and unique regional and geographic considerations, local Stroke Systems of Care (SSOC) designs and implementations vary widely.  Regional stakeholders must collaborate to consider local prehospital and health care resources, individual stroke center performance, and geographic considerations to create an optimally adapted SSOC and destination protocol to ensure effective and efficient stroke care. This presentation will describe the foundations of SSOC and the mechanisms for working with all stakeholders to effectively create a SSOC for the citizens they serve.

Edward Jauch, MD, MS, FAHA FACEP joined Mission Health System in 2018, serving as Chief of System Research and the Director of the Mission Research Institute in Asheville, NC, and adjunct professor at the Medical University of South Carolina and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Neurology.  Prior to joining Mission, Dr. Jauch was Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Medicine, Professor, Department of Neurology, and faculty in the College of Graduate Studies at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and adjunct Professor of Bioengineering, Clemson University.

Dr. Jauch is active in numerous national organizations and research activities.  Dr. Jauch served as the Chair of Stroke Council for the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) and primary author for the 2013 Acute Ischemic Stroke guidelines.  He is a co-author on the flagship AHA/ASA guidelines for telemedicine use in stroke, primary prevention of stroke, prehospital care of stroke, and stroke systems of care, as well as over 20 other AHA guidelines and scientific statements.  Dr. Jauch serves on multiple national committees related to stroke care, including the Joint Commission Technical Advisory Committees.  At the state level, Dr. Jauch served as the chair of the South Carolina Department of Health’s Stroke Advisory Committee and currently serves on the North Carolina Justus-Warren Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Task Force.  Collectively these efforts have focused on improving access to care, increasing the quality of acute stroke care, and educating both the public and healthcare professionals on developing integrated stroke systems for care for all patients.

Bibliographic Sources

Adeoye O, Nystrom KV, Yavagal DR, Luciano J, Nogueira RG, Zorowitz RD, et al. Recommendations for the establishment of stroke systems of care: A 2019 update. Stroke. 2019;50:e187-e210

Powers WJ, Derdeyn CP, Biller J, Coffey CS, Hoh BL, Jauch EC, et al. 2015 American Heart Association/American stroke association focused update of the 2013 guidelines for the early management of patients with acute ischemic stroke regarding endovascular treatment: A guideline for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association. 2015;46:3020-303

Saver JL, Goyal M, Van Der Lugt A, Menon BK, Majoie CBLM, Dippel DW, et al. Time to treatment with endovascular thrombectomy and outcomes from ischemic stroke: Ameta-analysis. JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association. 2016

Thursday, April 29 - 12:00-1:00pm (MST)

Setting Patients Up For Success: Prehospital Stroke Recognition and Treatment
Jeff Welch, Assistant Manager, Missoula Emergency Services

The early recognition and treatment of the CVA patient are paramount in setting the patient up for positive neurological outcomes. We will discuss the recognition of stroke patients, as well as early management for the best outcomes.

Thursday, May 6 - 12:00-1:00pm (MST)

Mechanical Thrombectomy to Improve Patient Outcomes in Stroke
Christopher M. Zylak, MD, Interventional Radiologist, Inland Imaging - Spokane, WA

The discussion will be centered on Mechanical Thrombectomy with an emphasis on rural systems of care, determining eligibility, transfers, communication, improving patient outcomes, case studies.

Christopher M. Zylak, MD is a practicing Vascular & Interventional Radiologist in Spokane, WA. Dr. Zylak graduated from Queen's University Faculty of Health Sciences in 1996 and has been in practice for 22 years.  He completed a residency at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Dr. Zylak also specializes in Diagnostic Radiology. He currently practices at Inland Imaging Associates and is affiliated with Sacred Heart Medical Center and Valley Hospital & Medical Center. Dr. Zylak accepts multiple insurance plans including Aetna, Medicare, and Cigna. Dr. Zylak is board certified in Diagnostic Radiology. Dr. Zylak also practices at Inland Imaging in Spokane, WA.

Bibliographic Sources

Aghaebrahim A, Sauvageau E, Aguilar-Salinas P, et al - Referral facility CT perfusion prior to inter-facility transfer in patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy, Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery 2018;10:818-822.

Asif KS, Lazzaro MA, Zaidat O - Identifying delays to mechanical thrombectomy for acute stroke: onset to door and door to clot times, Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery 2014;6:505-510.

Thursday, May 13 - 12:00-1:00pm (MST)

Zoinks!!! The Sleuthy Stroke Caper - A Who’s Who of Who Done It!
Jason Gleason, MSN, NP-C, USAF Lieutenant Colonel (RET) - Great Falls, MT

Scooby-Doo has been stricken with a stroke! Can the audience help the gang save the day and Scooby by solving the Sleuthy Stroke Caper? Audience members will be taken through a fun, immersive, and informative journey empowering them with information and tools related to stroke prevention. 

Jason Gleason MSN, NP-C has been a Registered Nurse since 1994 and a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner since 2001. He has an expansive leadership and practice portfolio including Occupational Health, Family Practice, Emergency Medicine, and most recently as a Stroke Care Consultant and National Speaker on promoting and advancing stroke care. Gleason also served for twenty years in the Air National Guard prior to retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2015. During his time with the Air National Guard, he served as Officer in Charge of Health Promotion, Medical Readiness, Staff Development, and as Assistant Chief Nurse. Gleason currently works in Primary Care serving our national heroes through the Veteran’s Administration in addition to working in an Emergency Department of a Level II Trauma Center while continuing his work as a professional speaker and consultant advancing exceptional stroke care.  Gleason’s top job is that of being a great father and husband.

Bibliographic Sources

Gurol, M. E., & Kim, J. S. (2018). Advances in Stroke Prevention in 2018. Journal of Stroke, 20(2), 143–144. doi: 10.5853/jos.2018.01438

Powers, W., Rabinstein, A., Ackerson, T., Adevoe, O., Bambakidis, N., & Becker, K. (2018). 2018 Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Guideline for Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Journal of Vascular Surgery, 67(6), 1934. doi: 10.1016/j.jvs.2018.04.007

Thursday, May 20 - 12:00-1:00pm (MST)

Stroke Care in the Frontier
Todd Mohr, PA-C, Physician Assistant, St. James Healthcare - Butte, MT

This session will discuss the identification and care of a stroke patient with limited resources.

Todd Mohr, PA-C is a Physician Assistant working at St. James Healthcare in Butte. He has worked in the Emergency Department at St. James for 15 years. Todd grew up in Deadwood, South Dakota and became interested in helping others as a teenager when he joined the Volunteer Fire Department at age 14 as a Junior Volunteer. He became an Emergency Medical Technician and worked on the Ambulance at age 16. He joined the US Air Force at age 17 as a Fire Protection Specialist and quickly rose through the ranks. Todd served primarily as a Rescue Crew Chief and was responsible for motor vehicle accident patient extrication, aircraft crash pilot rescue and was assigned to the Space Shuttle Rescue Team while stationed in Germany. He completed the Air Force Physician Assistant Program 25 years ago and was assigned to Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana. He thoroughly enjoys the opportunities that Montana provides his family to spend time together in their passion for golfing, skiing, and hunting. His other noted patient care experiences include serving as a SWAT Medic and on Helicopter EMS. Todd is the Medical Director for several Volunteer EMS Services in Southwest Montana and believes it is his way to “give back to his roots” which has allowed him to have the “most blessed career experiences in the world!”

Bibliographic Sources

American Stroke Association, https://www.stroke.org/en/professionals/stroke-resource-library/prevention/prevention-materials

Journal of Emergency Medical Services, Implementation Strategies for Emergency Medical Services Within Stroke Systems of Care, A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association Expert Panel on Emergency Medical Services Systems and the Stroke Council, Originally published27 Sep 2007https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.107.186094Stroke. 2007;38:3097–3115

Thursday, May 27 - 12:00-1:00pm (MST)

Post-Stroke Rehab: Tackling Barriers to Care and Return to Community
Alicia Fuhrman, MD, Physiatrist, St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute - Spokane, WA
Jennell Taylor, RN, Case Manager Supervisor, St. Luke's Rehabilitation Institute - Spokane, WA

After a stroke, receiving multidisciplinary therapies in an inpatient rehabilitation setting has been associated with greater improvement in function as well as better long-term outcomes, lower mortality, and lower rates of re-hospitalization. However, numerous clinical, logistical, and financial barriers can limit access to this type of care. Our purpose is to describe methods for addressing, reducing, and/or removing these barriers, as well as to list solutions to common problems in post-stroke rehabilitation care. We do this by utilizing the strengths of the multidisciplinary rehabilitation team and facilitating clear and consistent communication to help provide the best patient care possible. As a result, our facility is able to discharge a high percentage of stroke survivors to community settings.

Alicia Fuhrman, MD graduated with honors from Baylor University in Waco, TX prior to attending the University of Texas Medical School at Houston, now the McGovern Medical School. She completed residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Washington. Her areas of interest include medical ethics, quality improvement, and patient safety. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, and spending time with family. 

Jennell Taylor, RN has been working in rehab since 2003. She started as a NAC while working her way through nursing school and fell in love with the rehab population. Jennell works with stroke, and brain injury patients but found her passion in the spinal cord population in 2005. In 2010 she moved into case management at St. Luke’s assisting with the discharge of patients to the community. 6 years later moved to another area of case management assisting St. Luke’s admission from the neurology floor at Providence SHMC. She is now working as a supervisor for the case management team sharing her knowledge and 17 years of rehab experience throughout the continuum for rehab and stroke patients.

Bibliographic Sources

Hong et al. Comparison of functional status improvements among patients with stroke receiving post acute care in IRF vs SNF. Jama December 4, 2019. IRF associated with greater improvement in mobility and self-care compared with care in SNF, and significant difference in functional improvement.

Belagaje et al. J Neurointerventional Surgery 2015;7:322-325, Bettger JP et al. stroke 2015;46:A146. Chan L et al. Archives of Phys Med Rehabil 2013;94(4):622-629.

Kumar A et al. Archives of Physical Medicine Rehabil 2019;100:1218-25.

The AHA guidelines for stroke rehabilitation and recovery clearly recommend inpatient rehabilitation for patients with CVA who meet criteria, and multiple research studies have documented that long term outcomes, mortality, and re-hospitalization rates for patients with stroke are better with intensive inpatient rehabilitation programs than with skilled nursing facility placement

There is also research that shows that patients who undergo endovascular reperfusion therapy who discharge to IRF have a higher probability of achieving a good neurologic outcome (Belagaje SR, et al. J NeuroIntervent Surg 2015;7:99–103.) There is also research that shows that patients who receive intensive speech therapy for aphasia have significantly improved effective communication ability compared to those that do not (Breitenstein, C et al Lancet 2017; 389:1528-1538). 

Disclosure Statement - Criteria for Successful Completion - Continuing Education

Disclosure Statement:
There is no conflict of interest for anyone with the ability to control the content of this activity except for Dr. Christopher M. Zylak, who has been a speaker and proctor for Medtronic.

Criteria for Successful Completion & Certificates: 
More information to follow, please check back.

Continuing Education: 
CE applications have been submitted, more information to follow.