The aim of the Angels Initiative is to increase the numbers of patients treated in stroke ready hospitals and to optimise the quality of treatment in all existing stroke centres.

Cross-National key performance measures of the quality of acute stroke care in Western Europe were suggested in a paper by the European Implementation Score Collaboration1 in Stroke in 2015.

The quality measures for the ESO Angels Awards have been selected among these, according to the European Stroke Organisation recommendations to establish a stroke unit and stroke centre.2

Stroke-unit based care, brain imaging by CT/MR performed, reperfusion therapy performed, door-to-treatment time, dysphagia screening, antiplatelet therapy at discharge, anticoagulation therapy prescribed or planned at discharged in patients with atrial fibrillation.

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1. Norrving B, Bray BD, Asplund K, et.al., for the European Implementation Score Collaboration. Stroke 2015; 46: 2891-2895
2. Ringelstein EB, Chamorro A, Kaste M, et al for the ESO Stroke Unit Certification Committee. Stroke. 2013: 44(3):828-40