What acute ischemic stroke?

"Acute ischemic stroke is a medical emergency caused by decreased blood flow to the brain, which results in damage to brain cells,” explains JAMA Network’s patient page on acute ischemic stroke.

It happens when blood flow to part of the brain is interrupted, depriving brain tissue of oxygen and nutrients. It is also “a leading cause of death and disability in the US and affects approximately 700,000 people each year,” JAMA adds.

As brain cells begin dying within minutes of losing their blood supply, recognizing the early signs of an acute ischemic stroke can drastically improve chances of recovery.

 

What are the signs of ischemic stroke?

“Signs and symptoms of stroke may include sudden-onset numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, facial droop, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, confusion, trouble with balance or coordination, and loss of vision. Acute ischemic stroke is sometimes preceded by a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is a temporary episode of brain dysfunction due to decreased blood flow,” the page explains.

Furthermore, the “primary risk factor for acute ischemic stroke is high blood pressure. Other conditions associated with an increased risk of stroke include a history of TIAs, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, end-stage kidney disease, and a heart rhythm disorder called atrial fibrillation.”

 

How email can promote accessibility

Since email is so easily accessible and cost-effective, healthcare organizations can use emails to deliver educational content directly to patients' inboxes regularly. These emails can include information on stroke symptoms to help educate patients on blood pressure monitoring, promote smoking cessation resources, inform high-risk patients, and encourage family members to learn stroke warning signs.

For patients with chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, or atrial fibrillation, regular educational emails can reinforce healthy behaviors that reduce stroke risk.

However, according to federal law, any electronic patient communication that contains protected health information (PHI) must be secured during transmission and at rest. As such, healthcare organizations must use a HIPAA compliant email solution, like Paubox, to send appointment reminders, laboratory notifications, educational materials, and follow-up instructions. Paubox email uses advanced encryption, user authentication, access controls, and audit logs, upholding HIPAA’s Privacy and Security Rules. These safeguards help prevent unauthorized access to patient information, so providers can communicate efficiently.

For example, a healthcare provider can send a secure email reminding a patient with hypertension about an upcoming blood pressure check, accompanied by educational resources explaining how controlling blood pressure reduces stroke risk. Using Paubox email automatically encrypts all outgoing emails, so individuals’ PHI remains secure.

 

Educating patients about stroke symptoms

Healthcare organizations must use HIPAA compliant email campaigns to improve recognition of stroke symptoms among patients. This will help patients identify the early signs of a stroke, which would have otherwise gone unnoticed. As the JAMA Patient Page explains, "Signs and symptoms of stroke may include sudden-onset numbness or weakness in an arm or leg, facial droop, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, confusion, trouble with balance or coordination, and loss of vision."

HIPAA compliant emails can explain these symptoms using simple, jargon-free language accompanied by infographics. These educational emails should also encourage patients to get emergency medical care immediately if they experience these symptoms. It may also help to repeat this message over time, increasing familiarity with stroke signs, which could help improve patient responses during an emergency.

 

Helping patients understand TIAs

As many patients are unfamiliar with transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), often referred to as "mini-strokes,” HIPAA compliant emails can explain why TIAs require urgent medical evaluation.

The JAMA Patient Page notes, "Acute ischemic stroke is sometimes preceded by a transient ischemic attack (TIA), which is a temporary episode of brain dysfunction due to decreased blood flow." Since TIA symptoms can resolve quickly, patients may mistakenly believe no further medical attention is needed. Secure educational emails can explain that TIAs are warning signs of future stroke and require immediate evaluation.

Healthcare organizations can also design targeted campaigns for specific high-risk patients that will help them recognize a TIA and schedule a medical follow-up.

 

Raising awareness of stroke risk factors

According to the JAMA Patient Page, "The primary risk factor for acute ischemic stroke is high blood pressure." The publication further identifies several additional risk factors, including a history of TIAs, cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, and atrial fibrillation.

Healthcare providers can then segment their email lists based on patient populations. For example, providers can send blood pressure management tips specifically to patients with hypertension. Patients with diabetes can get educational resources about blood sugar control. Smokers can receive smoking cessation resources, and patients with atrial fibrillation can receive medication reminders and educational materials.

These personalized email campaigns are proven to improve relevance and encourage preventative care.

 

Reinforcing early diagnosis

Patients often delay seeking treatment because they are uncertain whether their symptoms represent a stroke. Educational emails can explain what happens after arriving at the emergency department, as evidenced in the JAMA Patient Page, "In the US, computed tomography (CT) of the brain is typically the first imaging study used to detect stroke."

The publication also notes that MRI is commonly used in diagnosing acute ischemic stroke. Healthcare organizations can use secure emails to reassure patients that imaging helps physicians determine the correct treatment quickly.

Moreover, understanding diagnostics can help keep the patient informed, encouraging them to get the care they need sooner. As JAMA explains, "Acute ischemic stroke should be treated as soon as possible because earlier treatment is associated with improved outcomes."

This message should appear consistently throughout educational email campaigns. More specifically, HIPAA compliant emails should encourage patients not to wait for their symptoms to improve, but rather to call emergency medical services immediately, as earlier treatment improves recovery.

 

Explaining available stroke treatments

“If acute ischemic stroke is diagnosed early (within 4.5 hours of onset of stroke symptoms), some patients may be eligible for treatment with an intravenous drug that dissolves blood clots, called recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (alteplase),” as JAMA Network explains.

Providers can use HIPAA compliant emails to explain these available stroke treatments, educating patients about clot-busting medication, so patients can hurry to their nearest emergency department.

Similarly, email campaigns can explain mechanical thrombectomy. According to the JAMA publication, "Acute ischemic stroke due to blockage of the large blood vessels in the brain may be treated with mechanical removal of the blood clot... up to 24 hours after onset of stroke symptoms."

Ultimately, this information helps patients understand why immediate transport to an appropriate stroke center or emergency department is necessary.

 

Supporting stroke survivors after hospital discharge

HIPAA compliant emails should educate ischemic stroke patients even after their hospitalization. Providers can securely send rehabilitation resources, medication reminders, physical therapy information, follow-up appointment reminders, educational videos, and community support resources.

 

Encouraging secondary stroke prevention

When recovering from a stroke, patients must try to reduce their risk of another event. Educational email campaigns can help remind patients to “take aspirin or, in certain cases, a blood thinner medication to reduce the risk of future strokes."

JAMA Network also encourages patients to better manage their blood pressure, cholesterol, tobacco use, and diabetes to improve their long-term health.

 

Personalizing email campaigns responsibly

Paubox email allows healthcare organizations to personalize their communications and maintain HIPAA compliance. More specifically, providers can safely segment patient populations based on clinical needs, like sending personalized resources and information for smoking cessation programs or stroke survivor rehabilitation support.

These personalized communications also lead to higher engagement, strengthening the patient-provider relationship.

 

Building community awareness

Healthcare organizations can encourage subscribers to share educational materials with spouses, family members, caregivers, and friends, especially since they might be the first to recognize stroke symptoms and call emergency medical services.

Community-wide education also increases the likelihood that someone nearby will recognize stroke warning signs and respond quickly for faster treatment and better outcomes for stroke patients, improving public health.

Healthcare systems can also coordinate stroke awareness campaigns during May, which is Stroke Awareness Month, and reinforce educational emails throughout the year. Additionally, healthcare organizations can collaborate with local community centers, schools, and businesses to distribute educational materials and host informational events.

Ultimately, using HIPAA compliant email campaigns for ischemic stroke education can improve symptom recognition, encourage healthier lifestyles, and support recovery after hospitalization.

Go deeper: Personalized patient education, HIPAA, and AI

 

FAQs

Can providers use email to communicate with patients about their health concerns?

Yes, providers must use a HIPAA compliant email platform, like Paubox, to email their patients about their health concerns.

 

What makes an email service HIPAA compliant?

Providers must use a HIPAA compliant email service with encryption, access controls, audit trails, and secure data storage. Additionally, the email service should sign a business associate agreement (BAA) to adhere to HIPAA regulations regarding the security and privacy of protected health information.

 

Can providers discuss patient information over email with other healthcare providers?

Yes, providers can use HIPAA compliant emails to discuss patient information as long as it is necessary for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations and appropriate security measures are in place.

Read also: Using HIPAA compliant emails to improve provider collaboration