 Welcome to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Instructional DVD. This training consists of several components, detailed scale instruction, interactive demonstration, reference patients for certification, and interviews with experienced stroke scale users who explain some of the subtleties of the scale. New treatments for acute stroke have increased the importance of a rapid response and assessment of patients using standard measurements. The NINDS funded development of the NIH Stroke Scale for use in the research setting. Subsequent studies have proven the stroke scale's reliability and validity. Now, clinicians around the world have adopted the NIH Stroke Scale as part of their clinical practice. It's become an international standard for stroke measurement. As our population ages, the number of strokes will continue to climb. The NIH Stroke Scale will become increasingly important as EMTs, emergency physicians, and nurses take a larger role in the treatment of acute stroke. Our hope is that this DVD will lead to wider, better use of the NIH Stroke Scale, and that accurate performance of the scale will improve the quality of acute stroke care. On behalf of the NIH, thank you for your interest in learning to perform the NIH Stroke Scale.