Lombardia Stroke Unit Network Project.

Stroke unit care represents the major advancement in stroke management and it is applicable to all stroke patients. The Lombardia Health-Care Program for the period 2000-2004 planned to implement new semi-intensive stroke units in order to guarantee access to such units to all stroke patients. As has happened in other countries, there is a need to coordinate and streamline the process of care in order to optimise resources and outcome. The aim of the Stroke Unit Network (SUN) project is the improvement of the quality of stroke care in the acute and post-acute phase, developing an efficient network between hospitals involved in stroke care in order to quickly identify patients' needs and to improve cultural exchange on clinical and therapeutic information between people involved in the process of care. A web-based network has been created connecting the Lombardia Stroke Units and the departments in which stroke units will be implemented; a website to facilitate the exchange of scientific data, the discussion of clinical problems, the sharing of research projects and results, and a web-based quality register in order to verify quality, efficacy and efficiency of stroke units participating in the project providing important, consistently available data to monitor progress in reducing the incidence of stroke and associated disability and mortality. The Lombardia Stroke Unit Network Project, promoting and facilitating the exchange of know-how and collecting data on the quality of the processes of care provided, can significantly improve stroke care in Lombardia.