Quality measures for stroke care at Ohio State
At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, our goal is to help you reach the best possible outcomes after a stroke. From the moment a person experiencing a stroke arrives in our Emergency Department and throughout recovery, every step is designed to improve your outcome and support long-term health.
We are recognized as an American Heart Association Gold Plus Comprehensive Stroke Center, which means we have specific abilities to receive and treat complex stroke cases that other area hospitals might not be able to manage. We’ve also received multiple Get With The Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus awards for quality in 2025, further underscoring our expertise in stroke care. These designations include:
- Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus
- Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll
But don’t just take our word for it. Our performance across the best outcome measures for a stroke speaks for itself.
Time to intravenous thrombolytic therapy for stroke care
When a stroke occurs, the time it takes to get treatment directly affects brain function and long-term recovery. Intravenous thrombolytic therapy is a clot-dissolving treatment that must be given quickly to improve the outcomes of stroke. We track how fast treatment begins after arrival to ensure that stroke patients receive care without delay.
National goals call for treatment within 60 minutes for at least 85% of eligible patients. We consistently exceed national benchmarks for treatment speed and continue to improve year-over-year.
Treatment window adherence, which measures whether patients arrive within 3.5 hours and receive treatment within 4.5 hours, increased from 88.9% in 2023 to 92.9% in 2024. This shows elite coordination from first contact through treatment.
Treatment within 30 minutes
(2024)
- 71.4% of patients
- Exceeds national goal of 50%
Treatment within 45 minutes
(2024)
- 96.4% of patients
- Exceeds national goal of 75%
Treatment within 60 minutes
(2024)
- 97.2% of patients
- Exceeds national goal of 85%
Restoring blood flow quickly: Reperfusion outcomes
Restoring blood flow to the brain (reperfusion) is a primary measure of successful stroke treatment. This metric reflects how effectively care teams reopen blocked vessels after a stroke.
Our rate of rapid and effective reperfusion improved by nearly 4% from 2023 to 2024, reaching 86%. While speed is critical, this metric shows the success of treatment itself. High performance is closely tied to better neurological recovery and improved long-term stroke outcomes.
Dysphagia screening
After a stroke, some people experience difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), which can lead to complications like aspiration or pneumonia. Early screening helps care teams identify and manage this risk.
Our rate of dysphagia screening among stroke patients remained consistently high in 2024, with 88.4% of people screened. This measure supports recovery and can help guide next steps in rehabilitation for stroke recovery.
Reperfusion success
Restoring blood flow after stroke
- 86% of patients
- Speed and effective treatment supports better stroke outcomes
Dysphagia screening
Screening for swallowing complications
- 88.4% of patients
- Early screening helps prevent complications
Ohio State’s national recognition for stroke quality care
As a certified comprehensive stroke center, we treat the most complex stroke types with around-the-clock access to advanced imaging and specialized procedures. From surgical and emergency care to minimally invasive procedures and stroke rehabilitation, we tailor treatment to your specific diagnosis and individual needs.
Recognition through the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® stroke program highlights that we follow national standards for stroke care and track outcomes closely. In most cases, our results far exceed national goals.
Why choose Ohio State for stroke care?
Ohio state experts explain how their advanced treatment and recovery care for all types of strokes leads to better outcomes. Watch videos about stroke symptoms, emergency treatment and other stroke-related topics.
Why choose Ohio State as your Comprehensive Stroke Center?
The best stroke outcomes depend on speed, technology, coordination and access to the best treatment at the right time. At Ohio State, our Comprehensive Stroke Center sets itself apart in several ways, including:
- We’re among the first hospitals in the country to earn the Comprehensive Stroke Center designation.
- We’re the only Columbus hospital with neurosurgeons trained in both open brain surgery and endovascular procedures.
- Our hybrid operating rooms combine imaging and surgical capabilities, allowing us to diagnose and treat a stroke in one space.
- We have a mobile stroke treatment unit where our ambulances come equipped with specialized testing tools to begin diagnoses during transport.
- Our program brings together specialists across neurology, neurosurgery, radiology and rehabilitation in a statewide Telestroke Network, allowing us to connect virtually with 30+ hospitals for access to stroke care from our experts, no matter where you are in Ohio.
- Our nationally ranked, integrated stroke recovery and rehabilitation program helps patients regain functionality after emergency treatment.
- Our Stroke Clinic helps reduce the risk of future stroke through monitoring, medication management and personalized care plans.
Ohio State neuroscience grad student fully recovers after massive stroke
A neuroscience graduate student makes a full recovery after suffering a stroke across the street from Ohio State’s emergency department.