The usual stroke education group will receive general stroke education including written and verbal information about signs and symptoms of stroke, best practice to engage medical treatment if stroke occurs, general information about heart healthy diet and need for daily physical activity as well as need for compliance with medication recommendations. The education is incorporated with routine patient care and as allowed during quiet times. On the day of discharge, the patient will receive written materials reviewing stroke symptoms, risk factors, heart healthy diet and follow up appointments. The patient will receive written and verbal information about medications including indication, dose, frequency, physical activity goal, smoking cessation resources, appropriate diet, stroke signs and symptoms and best practice if one sees a stroke (BE-FAST), phone number to call for non-urgent questions, the importance of keeping follow up appointments including Stroke Clinic.

We will measure the last blood pressure (mm Hg) prior to hospital discharge and at the 1 month post discharge appointment. The change in systolic blood pressure will be measured and compared between groups. A greater decline in systolic blood pressure is considered optimal. The number of patients with systolic blood pressure less than 140 mm Hg at hospital discharge and at the 1 month visit will be compared. Systolic blood pressure decline to less than 140 suggests improved control.

We will measure patient mRankin Score (range 0-6) at hospital discharge and at 1 month post discharge appointment. The mRankin Scores will be grouped 0-2, 3-5 and 6. Comparison of a shift to lower or higher group at the 1 month appointment will be made. A shift to lower score group indicates improvement in overall function and independence.

We will measure patient Barthel Index at hospital discharge and at the 1 month post discharge appointment. Barthel Index score ranges 10 - 100 with higher scores indicating greater independence in activities of daily living. Scores will be grouped in quartiles of 10-25, 26- 50, 51-75, 76-100.. Comparison between groups is made with respect change in quartile at the 1 month appointment. A shift to a higher quartile indicates improved independence in activities of daily living.

We will measure participant perception of health literacy using the Brief Health Literacy Screen. We will administer the Brief Health Literacy Screen during the incident hospital stay and again during the 3 month post discharge appointment. Brief Health Literacy scores range from 4-20 with higher values representing greater participant confidence in health literacy. We will subtract participant baseline score from the 3 month post discharge score. Higher scores reflect improved perception of health literacy.

We will measure patient mRankin Score at hospital discharge and at the 6 month post discharge appointment. The mRankin Scores will be grouped 0-2, 3-5 and 6. Comparison of a shift to lower or higher group at the 6 month appointment will be made. A shift to lower score group indicates improvement in overall function and independence.

We will measure patient Barthel Index at hospital discharge and at the 6 month post discharge appointment. Barthel Index score ranges 10 - 100 with higher scores indicating greater independence in activities of daily living. Scores will be grouped in quartiles of 10-25, 26- 50, 51-75, 76-100. Comparison between groups is made with respect change in quartile at the 6 month appointment. A shift to a higher quartile indicates improved independence in activities of daily living.

We will measure the last blood pressure (mm Hg) prior to hospital discharge and at the 6 month post discharge appointment. The change in systolic blood pressure will be measured and compared between groups. A greater decline in systolic blood pressure is considered optimal. The number of patients with systolic blood pressure less than 140 mm Hg at hospital discharge and at 6 month visit will also be compared. Systolic blood pressure decline to less than 140 suggests improved control.

We will measure Low Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (mg/dL) during the incident stroke hospitalization and five to six months post hospitalization. Comparison of change in LDL cholesterol level from baseline value to 5-6 month value will be measured. A larger decline in LDL cholesterol suggests greater diet, physical activity, and / or medication effect.

We will measure glycated hemoglobin (%) in all participants during the incident stroke hospitalization and repeat testing in patients with diabetes at five to six months post hospitalization. Comparison of change in glycosylated hemoglobin value in patients with diabetes from baseline value to 5-6 month value will be measured. A larger decline in glycosylated hemoglobin suggests greater diet, physical activity, and / or medication effect.

We will measure height and weight on all participants and calculate the body mass index in Kg /m2= (weight (Kg) / height (m) x height (m)) during the incident stroke hospitalization and at the six month post hospitalization appointment. Comparison of change in body mass index from baseline value to 6 month value will be measured. A decline in body mass index at 6 months may reflect greater diet, physical activity effect.

Participants will be queried about adherence to medication recommendations made prior to incident hospitalization and at 6 month post hospital appointment. Results are scored yes or no for whether patient was compliant in following prescription recommendation for each group of medication: antithrombotic, cholesterol, antihypertensive and glycemic medication. The number of medication groups for which patient is not compliant are totaled for score with a range of 0 to 4. Comparison is made of total non-compliant groups for each patient at hospitalization and at 6 month appointment. Between group comparison is made. Lower values indicate greater medication compliance.