Sen. Kirk Outlines Goal To Get Stroke Victims Back To Work
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Senator Mark Kirk was in Chicago Sunday to outline what he calls his "stroke agenda" before climbing a stairway at the Willis Tower as part of a fundraiser for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. That's where the Highland Park Republican underwent physical therapy after suffering a stroke in 2012.
Kirk Outlines Goal To Get Stroke Victims Back To Work
Kirk has introduced legislation to set a national standard of care for stroke survivors, expand access to high-quality rehabilitation and help stroke victims return to work.
Since suffering a stroke nearly two years ago, Senator Kirk has struggled with the idea that he has received much better care than other stroke victims with lower quality health insurance.
He is now introducing legislation that would standardize stroke rehab procedures and get victims back to work faster.
"If we set a national goal of returning stroke patients to work as I have been able to do, we will serve our country very well with those 300,000 Americans all back at work with all of the upside of personal worth and better psychology that comes from returning to work," said Kirk.
The Senator says he has improved his walking speed and he is demonstrating that by climbing nearly 40 stories of the Willis Tower, joining other stair climbers in the "Sky Rise Challenge."
