With neurologic emergencies such as stroke, access to high-quality healthcare is critical to positive health outcomes. In the New Haven community, however, those living in under-resourced zip codes may face disparities in stroke care, such as a lack of access to education or a low income. Recently named the winner of two American Academy of Neurology (AAN) grants, the DEI Innovator Grant and Palatucci Action Plan Grant, Assistant Professor of Neurology Rachel Forman, MD, now has the resources to implement a strategic stroke education curriculum that addresses the unique needs of each neighborhood and that expands access to treatment.
Both grants support the same initiative, Stamp Out Stroke (SOS), an outreach program staffed by Yale stroke specialists and trainees for which Forman serves as faculty advisor.
Its goal is to raise awareness among local communities of stroke risk factors and symptoms and the importance of seeking emergency services.
To this end, Forman identified a need to adjust SOS’s messaging to better serve under-resourced residents of New Haven.
“Reinforcing the importance of eating a healthy diet and regular exercise is not enough when many of our community members live in food deserts and support their families on less than $40K a year,” Forman said in her pitch to the AAN.
Recognizing that one standard presentation might not adequately serve all of SOS’s audiences, Forman developed a novel approach based on strategic partnerships. Now backed by both AAN grants, she will work with Postgraduate Associates Sofia Constantinescu and Rachel Kitagawa on making this plan a reality.
“[In partnership with Community Action Agency of New Haven], we’ll conduct an initial focus group asking residents about their health beliefs, barriers to calling 911, and experiences with healthcare professionals. Building on my experience performing qualitative research, we will analyze the data and incorporate this into a new pilot presentation in coordination with MedExplain, a health technology company that creates relatable, situation-based scripts and interactive lecture items…,” described Forman.
Following thorough review of the new presentation by subsequent focus groups, SOS will roll it out in future local outreach events.
Made possible by the DEI Innovator Grant and Palatucci Action Plan Grant, this transformative project to educate vulnerable communities on how to recognize and prevent stroke and how to seek help will increase access to the lifesaving care and expertise of Yale New Haven Health’s stroke experts.