Abstract
Background: According to the CDC, Healthy People 2030, and the CMS, even though strokes are widespread, they are one of the most preventable conditions. Strokes are one of the leading causes of disability in the United States and roughly 800,000 Americans are affected each year. Consequently, the purpose of this quality improvement project (QI) was to implement a tool kit to assist providers in the assessment, education, and management for stroke prevention in the primary care setting.|Methods: The QI aimed at using the ASCVD risk assessment calculator in one primary care clinic to improve screening and prevention of stroke. It was done by having the provider identify patients at risk for cardiovascular disease based on specific criteria and then providing suitable education and starting the appropriate treatment if needed.|Sample/Setting: The project site was Express Care Family Medicine, the inclusive criteria that the providers went off from was the following: participants between the age of 40-79 that present to the clinic for either an annual well visit, hypertension follow up, hyperlipidemia follow up, or diabetes follow up. Individuals that had pre-existing atherosclerotic disease were excluded from the project.|Results: The results generated the following: 1. Providers felt more comfortable using the ASCVD risk calculator after the QI. 2. Providers felt that it was beneficial to use the ASCVD calculator tool kit, however they felt that it was time intense and that it was something that they already do in their regular work follow.|Conclusion: The study exhibited the importance of implementing a stroke risk tool kit in the primary care setting. At times the ASCVD risk calculator did consume significant time, however it did expedite the treatment options and education.