Telehealth After Stroke Care: Integrated Multidisciplinary Access to Post-stroke Care

Hypertension is the most modifiable risk factor for recurrent stroke. Blood pressure (BP) reduction is associated with decreased risk of stroke recurrence but remains poorly controlled in most survivors. Minority groups have a higher prevalence of uncontrolled BP and higher rates of stroke. Limited access contributes to challenges in post-stroke care. Telehealth After Stroke Care (TASC) will be a telehealth intervention that integrates remote BP monitoring and telehealth visits to enhance BP control and promote self-efficacy, with a multidisciplinary approach to improve clinical processes and health outcomes. The investigators will assess for feasibility and obtain preliminary evidence of efficacy. Fifty (50) eligible patients will be screened for inclusion prior to hospital discharge and randomized to TASC or usual care. TASC patients will receive a BP monitoring kit and electronic tablet. They will be scheduled with 5 telehealth visits over 3 months, including primary care nurse practitioner, pharmacy at 4 and 8 weeks and stroke neurologist. Usual care patients will be seen by a primary care nurse practitioner at 1-2 weeks and a stroke neurologist at 1 and 3 months. Data will be collected at 0 and 3 months. The primary outcome will be BP control (BP <140/90 mmHg) at 3 months. The secondary outcome will be self-efficacy in medication adherence and treatment. Interdisciplinary team competency, fidelity, and telehealth satisfaction surveys will be administered. Patient reported outcomes including depression, cognitive function, and socioeconomic determinants will also be collected. Integrated team-based interventions are needed to improve BP control and reduce racial disparities in post-stroke care. It may be feasible and effective in enhancing post-stroke BP control and promoting self-efficacy.

Inclusion criteria

• Presence of hypertension (by clinical history or hospital BP ≥140/90 on two occasions)
• Plan for discharge home after stroke
• Ability to provide consent (patient or caregiver)

Exclusion criteria

• Modified Rankin scale ≥ 4 at time of enrollment (severely disabled)
• Pregnancy
• Severe psychiatric illness
• Dialysis or diagnosis of end stage renal disease
• Life expectancy < 1 year or terminal illness
• Symptomatic flow limiting cerebrovascular stenosis without plan for intervention, or long-term BP goal ≥ 140/90