An international certification framework for post-stroke rehabilitation programs has been developed, aiming to improve the quality of patient recovery worldwide, including in low- and middle-income countries.
The initiative was co-developed by UTHealth Houston neurologist Sean Savitz alongside two dozen international experts. Created under the auspices of the World Stroke Organization, the framework has been published in the International Journal of Stroke.
According to the organization, more than 12 million people suffer a stroke each year. Experts note that while significant progress has been made over recent decades in treating the acute phase of stroke, the rehabilitation stage following hospital discharge remains insufficiently developed.
The new certification system is based on a stroke center certification model introduced in 2021 and will apply to rehabilitation facilities globally.
To achieve certification, institutions must meet 55 criteria, including the quality of documentation, professional development programs, healthcare improvement systems, and clinical indicators of patient recovery.
Special emphasis is placed on a multidisciplinary approach—incorporating the work of neurologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists—as well as comprehensive methods for restoring motor, cognitive, and swallowing functions.
Applications for certification are expected to open in October, following a pilot testing of the criteria across 15 medical centers in six countries.
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