Limited access is a major hurdle in the treatment of AIS; many hospitals, especially rural hospitals, do not have the infrastructure or medical support to effectively treat AIS patients.5 Failure to recognize the signs and symptoms of stroke by the patient and/or emergency medical services (EMS) is another barrier to the timely treatment of AIS. Several studies, including the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry (PCNASR), have reported low rates of adherence to stroke care guidelines, suggesting that many AIS patients do not receive proper treatment according to established guidelines. Thus, there remains an increasing need to assess and address the barriers that prevent patient access to proper AIS treatment.