UAB Leads Five-State Consortium to Ease Burden of Strokes

The Delta States Stroke Consortium, a five-state collaborative effort coordinated by the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), is bringing together academic, government, business and community leaders to identify and address factors associated with the high rate of strokes in the southeast. States represented by the consortium are Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee — five of eight southeastern states comprising the “stroke belt,” where the stroke death rate is one-and-a-half times the national average.

March 11, 2003

BIRMINGHAM, AL — The Delta States Stroke Consortium, a five-state collaborative effort coordinated by the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), is bringing together academic, government, business and community leaders to identify and address factors associated with the high rate of strokes in the southeast. States represented by the consortium are Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee — five of eight southeastern states comprising the “stroke belt,” where the stroke death rate is one-and-a-half times the national average.

“The largest ever national stroke study is currently being conducted by UAB’s School of Public Health to determine why the southeast has a higher rate of strokes,” said Dr. Max Michael, consortium lead and dean of UAB’s School of Public Health. “In the meantime, the consortium will act to ease the excessive burden of strokes on the region.”

The one-year, $435,000 project, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, began in August compiling stroke data for the region. The 55-member consortium will meet March 13-14 in Birmingham to review information collected and to identify what it feels are the most pressing issues to be addressed. “The meeting will provide a forum for discussion about the issues and a solid foundation for the group’s action plans to reduce the high occurrence of strokes and related factors,” said Michael.

At the meeting, members will be asked to divide into several small groups and to select a topic to focus on the remainder of the year. “Our hope is that groups will reflect a mix of representatives from all five states and various professional backgrounds,” Michael said. “But that will be up to members of the consortium. Our primary role as the coordinating institution is to facilitate and support the consortium in achieving its mission.”

Once groups determine a topic, each will be asked to develop one objective aimed at addressing that topic. “An objective might focus on increasing public awareness, enhancing training for emergency responders or reducing costs associated with long-term rehabilitation,” Michael said. “From here, groups will map out strategies for accomplishing their objectives and the real work will begin.”

In six months the consortium will meet again and groups will report on their progress. “Depending on each group’s objective, some may report completed projects; others may offer detailed plans outlining funding sources and action items,” Michael said “These reports will be shared with the CDC, and we anticipate the agency will renew its funding of the consortium.”

For more information, contact Ada Griffies, program manager with UAB’s School of Public Health, at adag@uab.edu or (205) 934-2710.