A new study from UC San Francisco reveals significant disparities in access to specialized stroke care across the United States, with low-income communities at a distinct disadvantage. The 14-year analysis of over 5,000 acute care hospitals found that facilities in economically disadvantaged areas were up to 42% less likely to obtain stroke center certification compared to those in average-income communities.
Stroke center certification, introduced in 2004, indicates a hospital’s ability to provide specialized, lifesaving stroke treatments. These certified centers are associated with better patient outcomes, making their uneven distribution a critical health equity issue.
Lead investigator Dr. Renee Y. Hsia, professor of emergency medicine at UCSF, explained, “Some hospitals do not have the necessary resources to treat patients experiencing certain types of strokes.” She emphasized that the findings could inform policy interventions to promote equal access to vital community resources.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, revealed that only 7% of hospitals were located in the most disadvantaged communities, compared to 17% in affluent or relatively advantaged areas. Dr. Hsia noted that hospitals serving patients with commercial insurance or Medicare tend to be revenue centers, while those in areas with uninsured or Medicaid patients often operate with lower or negative profit margins for stroke services.
These findings underscore the need for targeted support to help hospitals in disadvantaged communities obtain stroke center certification, potentially reducing disparities in stroke care and outcomes across socioeconomic lines.
See “Study finds stark differences in stroke center access by income” (July 27, 2024)
