Memorial Hermann Health System receives $750K in state funding to expand mobile stroke unit

Gov. Greg Abbott announced June 10 that three hospital systems across Texas would receive grant funding to increase access to lifesaving stroke care through mobile stroke units.

The setup

The 89th Texas Legislature appropriated $5 million to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to improve stroke outcomes statewide through mobile services, according to a June 10 news release.

That funding includes disbursing roughly $2.5 million across three hospital systems for new and expanded mobile stroke units, including allocating $750,000 to the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston to expand its mobile stroke unit.

Zooming in

The mobile stroke unit at Memorial Hermann kick-started in 2014 under the direction of Dr. James Grotta, according to the hospital's website. The unit became the first specialized ambulance for prehospital stroke treatment in the United States. Mobile stroke units are specialized ambulances equipped with CT scanners that help identify strokes on-site and begin treatment more quickly.

Since its launch in Houston, researchers have found that 53% of patients treated by a mobile stroke unit, or MSU, have made a complete recovery after three months, compared to 43% of patients not treated on an MSU, according to data from a 2023 study.

“Mobile stroke units were funded to bring immediate, lifesaving care directly to patients, recognizing that every minute of delay results in irreversible loss of brain function,” state Rep. Greg Bonnen, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, said in the release. “They are especially critical for individuals who are not in close proximity to a stroke center, ensuring timely treatment when and where it matters most.”

Community Impact reached out to Memorial Hermann Health officials about how the $750,000 will be spent to expand the unit but did not receive a comment by press time.

One more thing

In addition to the $750,000 awarded to Memorial Hermann, the remainder of the funding went toward other hospital systems across the state. Approximately $1.25 million was given to Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas at Austin to establish a new mobile stroke unit, while $500,000 went to University Medical Center of El Paso to expand its existing mobile stroke unit.