ESO EAST (Enhancing and Accelerating Stroke Treatment)

Transforming Stroke Care in Eastern Europe

Building sustainable stroke systems through collaboration, education, and evidence-based practice.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death (WHO) and the leading cause of long term disability.

In stroke, there are numerous treatments that save lives. But the implementation is missing. For many patients, the effective treatment is not accessible.

We can change that!

The ESO EAST Programme, initiated by ESO, is the first comprehensive effort to enhance stroke care across Eastern Europe. By uniting stroke professionals, national societies, and local health authorities, ESO EAST works to strengthen the organisation of stroke services, promote evidence-based treatment, and accelerate access to high-quality care.

Through collaborative learning, knowledge exchange, and local implementation, the programme aims to reduce disparities in stroke management and improve patient outcomes throughout the region.

The ESO EAST initiative is supported by an independent and unrestricted educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim.

What is ESO EAST?

ESO EAST (European Stroke Organisation: Enhancing and Accelerating Stroke Treatment) is the first comprehensive programme of improving stroke care in Europe. ESO EAST Programme is initiated by the European Stroke Organisation and implemented in Eastern European countries through participation of stroke professionals, professional organisations and local authorities. The ESO EAST Programme is planned for the period 2015 – 2022 (at least).

ESO EAST is supported by an independent and unrestricted educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim.

ESO EAST ESJ Supplement

This dedicated ESJ supplement shares an overview of ESO’s implementation strategy, specifically focusing on Eastern European countries, showcasing the great achievements and looking forward to future collaborations.

ESJ SUPPLEMENT 2023

ESO EAST Programming is Built on Three Pillars

Networking

Building a strong and highly professional human infrastructure with good management structure and communication tools, involving all who are interested and providing leadership to members of this network.

Quality Improvement

Measuring and improving stroke care quality through a) using a newly developed RES-Q, the Registry of Stroke Care Quality and existing SITS registry, and b) providing education to stroke professionals.

Stroke Care Policy

Development and implementation through involvement of all stakeholders and all subjects of the value chain as (inter)national professional organisations, Ministries of Health etc. and providing facts and solutions for stroke care improvement.

ESO EAST Goals

Improve outcomes of patients after stroke through scaled-up evidence-based treatments in ESO EAST countries.
Decrease disparities in stroke care in Eastern countries compare to Western European countries.
Measure the quality of stroke healthcare systems across diverse countries.
Change the current clinical practice and improve health services in ESO EAST countries.
Improve access and conditions of health-care staff to professional training.
Increase research knowledge and performance of health professionals in ESO EAST countries.
Develop methodology of stroke care improvement scalable beyond ESO EAST countries.

Join ESO EAST Activities

Contact your Country Representative who coordinates national ESO EAST projects.
Join RES-Q – Registry of Stroke Care Quality and help us to improve stroke care
Follow our Social Media: ESO-EAST LinkedIn Group, ESO Twitter, ESO Facebook.

ESO EAST Steering Committee

Cristina Tiu, Romania – ESO EAST Chair
Adam Kobayashi, Poland – ESO EAST Co-Chair
Anita Arsovska, North Macedonia
Natan Bornstein, Israel
Hrovje Budincevic, Croatia
Zuzana Gdovinova, Slovakia
Michal Karlinski, Poland
Dmytro Lebedynets, Ukraine
Alexander Tsiskaridze, Georgia
Aleksandras Vilionskis, Lithuania

The ESO EAST Steering Committee oversees implementation of strategy, coordinates activities between countries, organises ESO EAST meetings, and communications with stakeholders, including sponsors. The Steering Committee encourages educational activities as well as the promotion of the ESO EAST Project and its results.

ESO EAST Workshops

ESO EAST WORKSHOP 2026

The annual ESO EAST Workshop takes place in Maastricht, The Netherlands in conjunction with ESOC 2026.

ESO EAST Workshop 2025

ESO EAST WORKSHOP 2025

The 11th Annual ESO EAST Workshop took place in Helsinki, Finland in conjunction with ESOC 2025.

ESO EAST W orkshop_Programme

ESO EAST Workshop 2024

10th Annual ESO-EAST Workshop at ESOC

The 10th Annual ESO EAST Workshop took place in Basel, Switzerland in conjunction with ESOC 2024.

ESO EAST Workshop Programme

ESO EAST Workshop 2023

ESO EAST WORKSHOP 2023

The 9th Annual ESO EAST Workshop took place in Munich, Germany in conjunction with ESOC 2023.

ESO EAST Workshop Programme

ESO EAST Workshop 2022

ESO EAST WORKSHOP 2022

The 8th Annual ESO EAST Workshop will take place in Lyon, France in conjunction with ESOC 2022 on 3 May and marks the reunion of national delegates coming together face to face once again.

ESO EAST Workshop Programme

ESO EAST Workshop 2020

ESO EAST WORKSHOP 2020

The 6th Annual ESO EAST Workshop was held as a two part virtual workshop on 26 and 27 November 2020

6th Annual ESO EAST Meeting Programme

ESO EAST Workshop 2019

Download 5th Annual ESO EAST Workshop Info and Programme

5th Annual ESO-EAST Workshop at ESOC

21 May, 2019, 8:00 – 17:00

Venue: Milano Convention Centre MiCo, Piazzale Carlo Magno, 1, 20149 Milan, Italy

Moderators: Francesca R. Pezzella and Natan Bornstein

Time

Lecture

Speaker

8.00

Registration

—

8.15

Welcome and Introduction

Robert Mikulik, Veronika Svobodova

8.30

ESO President Welcome

Bart van der Worp

8.40

European Stroke Action Plan 2018-2030 Implementation

Valeria Caso

8.55

ESO EAST Highlights – 2018/2019 Report

Veronika Svobodova

9.10

RES-Q Data Report and Update

Robert Mikulik

9.30

RES-Q Technical News and Plans

Andreea M. Grecu, Steven Simsic

9.40

RES-Q Discussion

All

10.00 – 10.15

Coffee Break

10.20

IRENE COST Action: Quality Improvement Grant

Veronika Svobodova

10.35

Guest Lecture: IRENE COST Action: Stroke Registries – A Model for Comprehensive and Sustainable Stroke Care Quality

Peter Kolominsky-Rabas

10.55

Moldova pilot study – Brief Introduction

Natan Bornstein, Stanislav Groppa

11.05

RES-Q Results in ESO EAST Countries: Guided Poster Session

Moderators: Milan Vosko, F. R. Pezzella

12.05

Lunch

12.50

Brief presentations of all ESO EAST Countries

1) The biggest success in stroke care improvement in each ESO EAST country during last 5 years

2) What have we learned from the RES-Q data on stroke care quality in our country?

3) How do we use / plan to use the RES-Q data?

Country Delegates (one by one)

14.30

ESO EAST Advisor`s Lecture

Bo Norrving

14.50

Coffee Break

15.10

ANGELS activities in ESO EAST region 2018/2019

Thomas Fischer

15.20

Discussion on using RES-Q data – Inputs for the following task

Moderator: Robert Mikulik

15.50

Preparation of Country Action Plans

1) Defining KPIs for stroke care improvement based on RES-Q data.

2) To whom and how the RES-Q data will be communicated.

Group Task – Country Delegates and ANGELS

16.20

Presentation of Selected Country Action Plans

Country Delegates

16.35

Publication Plan 2019/2020

Natan Bornstein

16.50

Conclusion

Robert Mikulik

Funding:
The ESO EAST Project is supported by unrestricted grant from EVER Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim companies.

The 2019 ESO EAST Workshop is endorsed by the World Stroke Organization (WSO)

Attendees:

Invited ESO-EAST Country Representatives and delegates
ESO-EAST Steering Committee Members
Representatives of Industry Partners (BI, EVER Pharma,)
ANGELS Initiative Representatives and Consultants

ESO EAST Workshop 2018

4th Annual ESO-EAST Workshop at ESOC

Gothenburg, Sweden – 15 May, 2018

Venue:

The Swedish Exhibition & Congress Centre
Room: J2
Entrance: Gate 8
Mässans Gata/Korsvägen, 412 94 Göteborg, Sweden

Moderators: Francesca R. Pezzella and Natan Bornstein

Time	Lecture	Speaker
8.00-8.30	Registration	—
8.30-8.40	Welcome speech and introduction	Valeria Caso, ESO President, Italy Robert Mikulik, ESO-EAST Chair, Czech Republic
8.40-8.55	The Presidential Speech – The special lecture for ESO-EAST delegates	Valeria Caso ESO President, Italy
9.00-9.10	ESO-EAST overview and up-date	Veronika Svobodova ESO-EAST Manager, Czech Republic
9.15-9.30	RES-Q up-date and results	Robert Mikulik ESO-EAST Chair, Czech Republic
9.35-9.45	RES-Q technical development and news	Andreea Madalina Grecu RES-Q Manager & Platform Architect, Czech Republic
9.45-10.15	RES-Q questions, discussion	All
10.15-10.30	Coffee break
10.30-11.15	Poster presentation: RES-Q country results – 1^st round	ESO-EAST Country Representatives
11.15-11.45	Guest: prof. Sandy Middleton QASC Protocol Introduction + Questions 15 min.	Sandy Middleton Director, Nursing Research Institute Australian Catholic University & St Vincent’s Health Australia Sydney
11.45-12.30	Poster presentation: RES-Q country results – 2^nd round	ESO-EAST Country Representatives
12.30-13.10	Lunch
13.10-13.30	Leadership – educational lecture	Axel Kohlmetz Industry Partner, Austria
13.35-14.15	The best practice of 3 ESO-EAST Countries: The way they achieved their results. + Discussion 15 min.	ESO-EAST Country Representatives
14.20-14.30	Guest: Dr. Madhu Kanakapura Strategy of ANGELS in South-East Asia	Madhu Kanakapura ANGELS Manager, South Asia
14.30-14.40	Guest: Dr. Epifania V. Collantes Strategy of Philippines Stroke Society in Stroke Care Improvement	Epifania V. Collantes President of Stroke Society, Philippines
14.40-14.50	Guest: Prof. Nguyen Hng Thang Strategy of Stroke Care Improvement in Vietnam	Nguyen Hng Thang Head of Stroke Unit, 115 People’s Hospital, Vietnam
15.00-15.15	Coffee break
15.20-15.30	SUNEP: The Nursing educational project Up-date and plans 2018/2019	Yuriy Flomin SUNEP Coordinator, Ukraine
15.30-15.40	ESO-EAST PR Strategy 2018/2019 and beyond	Milan Vosko, ESO-EAST Steering Committee Member, Austria Hrvoje Budincevic, Country Representative, Croatia
15.40-15.50	ESO-EAST Strategy in cooperation with governments and international bodies	Francesca R. Pezzella ESO-EAST Steering Committee Member, Italy
15.50-16.00	Publication support program	Natan Bornstein ESO-EAST Steering Committee Member, Israel
16.00-16.30	ESO-EAST and ANGELS management alignment + discussion	Thomas Fischer ANGELS Global Team Leader, Germany
16.30-17.00	Wrap-up	All
17.00-17.15	Conclusion	Robert Mikulik, ESO-EAST Chair, Czech Republic

Funding:
The ESO EAST Project is supported by unrestricted grant from EVER Pharma and Boehringer Ingelheim companies.

Attendees:

Invited ESO-EAST Country Representatives and delegates
ESO-EAST Steering Committee Members
Representatives of Industry Partners (BI, EVER Pharma, Medtronic)
ANGELS Initiative Representatives and Consultants

Participants are invited to the ESO-EAST post workshop networking dinner at 7 p.m.

This meeting is endorsed by the World Stroke Organisation

ESO EAST Member Countries

We are a big part of the world. We can improve stroke care for more than 380 million people!

Albania — Armenia — Azerbaijan — Bosnia — Bulgaria — Croatia — Czech Republic — Estonia — Georgia — Hungary — Kazakhstan — Kyrgyzstan — Lithuania — Macedonia — Moldova — Poland — Romania — Russia — Serbia — Slovakia — Slovenia — Tajikistan — Ukraine — Uzbekistan

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