South Florida hospitals join trend of becoming stroke centers

South Florida Sun-Sentinel, July 8, 2008

As stroke care advances, South Florida hospitals are lining up to create centers to treat strokes with as much urgency as they treat trauma patients. The hospitals are being propelled by a 2004 Florida law that sends ambulances to stroke centers even if another hospital is closer. Florida leads the nation in the number of stroke centers because of the law, the state's large population, and older demographic. Doctors say the centers provide a better approach to stroke care, but say care can be inconsistent.