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Stroke Smart Michigan Champion Partners: Skilled Nursing Facilities
Stroke Smart Michigan: Program Overview and Steps Required to Become a Skilled Nursing Facility Stroke Champion
Stroke Smart Michigan is a statewide initiative led by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Michigan Stroke Program (MiSP). The program partners with various organizations including skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) across Michigan to increase stroke awareness, improve rapid response to stroke symptoms and reduce stroke-related illness and death. SNFs serve some of Michigan’s most vulnerable residents and play a critical role in early recognition and response to stroke.
Why This Work Matters
Stroke is a leading cause of disability and death in Michigan. After decades of decline, stroke mortality has risen since 2013 and continues to exceed the national rate. Older adults and individuals with complex medical needs, many of whom reside in SNFs, are at significantly higher risk. SNFs are uniquely positioned to provide timely education, improve emergency response and connect residents and families with the resources needed to reduce stroke-related death and disability.
Program Goals
Stroke Smart Michigan aims to:
- Increase public awareness of the signs and symptoms of stroke.
- Improve readiness to recognize and respond quickly.
- Promote prevention and cardiovascular health.
- Reduce disparities through focused outreach.
- Build sustainable partnerships to improve community health.
Skilled Nursing Facility Participation Criteria
To become a Stroke Smart SNF, participants will:
- Appoint a Stroke Champion to serve as the primary program contact.
- Complete Stroke Preparedness Training through MDHHS.
- Coordinate stroke education and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) engagement event.
- Coordinate at least one annual stroke screening event, offering education, risk assessment and connections to community resources.
- Distribute approved educational materials on stroke prevention and preparedness.
- Establish a Stroke Preparedness Protocol.
- Steps to complete these criteria can be found below.
Benefits of Participation
SNFs that meet Stroke Smart criteria:
- Equip staff, residents and families with life-saving stroke literacy.
- Strengthen facility-wide readiness and reduce delays in seeking emergency care.
- Improve access to stroke prevention and recovery resources.
- Demonstrate leadership and commitment to resident safety and high-quality care.
Recognition reflects a commitment to awareness and education, not clinical certification.
Building a Healthier Michigan Together
Through partnerships with county health departments, local organizations and community leaders, Stroke Smart Michigan expands effective, evidence-based approaches statewide. By engaging SNFs the program helps ensure that medically vulnerable Michigan residents and their care providers have the knowledge and support to Spot a Stroke, Stop a Stroke and Save a Life.
Steps to Become a Recognized Stroke Smart Skilled Nursing Facility
- Designate a Stroke Champion responsible for overseeing the program, including coordination with MDHHS and stroke prevention groups to host stroke education events.
- Complete the Stroke Smart Michigan Partner Interest Form (URL: www.surveymonkey.com/r/StrokeSmartInterestForm) to initiate the recognition process.

- Ensure the Stroke Champion completes the MDHHS BE FAST Stroke Preparedness Training. The Michigan Stroke Program team will work with your organization's Stroke Champion to identify a date and time to complete the training.
- Coordinate with MDHHS to host one annual stroke education and EMS engagement event that includes:
- Educating at least 50% of nursing staff to ensure they have the knowledge necessary to identify stroke risk factors, implement prevention strategies and understand the stroke risk and disparities experienced by the population they serve.
- Engaging with local EMS agency providers who will discuss the optimal stroke patient hand-off protocol and allow for strengthening communication.
- Coordinate with MDHHS and local stroke prevention groups to host at least one stroke awareness event annually at the SNF.* The event should:
- Educate participants on how to identify a stroke and the importance of early EMS activation.
- Assess individual stroke risks and provide guidance on reducing risks.
- Screen for social determinants of health and connect participants with appropriate community-based resources.
- Distribute approved stroke awareness materials to participants.
- Display posters/other stroke awareness and prevention materials in main areas of the facility and in patient rooms with a high risk of stroke. Materials are available on the Stroke Smart Michigan Resources page.
- Establish or update a written protocol that outlines steps required by staff to take in response to patients experiencing stroke symptoms, when to call 9-1-1 and the type of patient information that is required to be provided to EMS during patient hand-off.
Once steps 1-7 are finished, submit the Stroke Smart Michigan Partner Completion Form (URL: www.surveymonkey.com/r/StrokeSmartCompletionForm). This will allow MDHHS to verify the completion of the criteria and to recognize your organization as Stroke Smart.
*Note: Various public health and nursing organizations partner with Stroke Smart Michigan to provide free onsite stroke screenings. Hosting these events will require that the Stroke Champion from the organization assists in coordinating the site location and event date and time with MDHHS Stroke Team staff.
For more information on the Stroke Smart Michigan Program or for assistance, visit Stroke Smart Michigan (URL: www.michigan.gov/StrokeSmart) or contact MDHHS-Stroke@Michigan.gov.
