Health First and Parrish Healthcare announced a formalized partnership Tuesday to establish a clinically integrated stroke network designed to speed up lifesaving treatment for residents across Brevard County.

The Health First-Parrish Stroke Network will standardize clinical protocols and coordinate emergency medical services (EMS) across five certified primary stroke centers. The partnership includes all four Health First hospitals and Parrish Medical Center in Titusville.

The collaboration aims to maximize the “golden hour,” the critical 60-minute window following the onset of stroke symptoms when medical intervention is most effective at preventing long-term brain damage. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Brevard County sees approximately 96 stroke deaths for every 100,000 residents over the age of 35.

“Today isn’t just about signing an agreement, it’s about what’s possible when we come together around a shared purpose—to improve the health and wellness of the communities we serve,” said Health First President and CEO Terry Forde.

Under the new agreement, both organizations will remain under independent governance but will leverage shared data and technology, such as the Viz.ai platform. The technology allows doctors to identify strokes and share imaging in real time, accelerating the activation of care teams.

Patients who enter any of the network’s primary stroke centers and require advanced procedures, such as a thrombectomy, will be fast-tracked for transfer to Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne.

“In stroke care, time is everything,” said Dr. Fawad Shaheen, a Health First interventional neuroradiologist. “When patients receive care quickly, their chances of survival improve and they’re more likely to recover with less long-term disability.”

Dr. Christopher Rajan, medical director for Parrish Healthcare Emergency Medicine and Stroke Program, said the network is a “leap forward” in advancing care for the community.

Stroke remains a leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United States, with an incident occurring every 40 seconds nationwide.

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Sources: Joint press release from Health First and Parrish Healthcare. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stroke statistics.