The Palm Beach Town Council on September 9, 2026, approved moving forward with a pilot program that would bring University of Florida Health’s newest mobile stroke treatment unit (MTSU) to the community early next year, giving residents faster access to specialized stroke care. Town leaders will now formalize an agreement with UF Health for consideration at the council’s next meeting. 

Why the MTSU Matters: 

Equipped to deliver hospital-level stroke diagnosis and treatment at the patient’s side, the unit would be the latest addition to UF Health’s fleet and would work alongside Palm Beach Fire-Rescue and local hospital partners to reduce time to treatment and improve outcomes for patients experiencing a stroke, accelerating the delivery of lifesaving critical care when every minute matters. 

The program would pilot coordinating mobile stroke care with local partners and create a model for future regional collaborations. The specially equipped vehicle would feature a 32-slice portable CT scanner, telemedicine capabilities and stroke-specific medications, allowing the care team to evaluate and begin treatment before patients even arrive at the hospital, saving vital time.  

Hear from Community Leaders: 

“The program will provide our community clinically proven and innovative benefits from the state’s premier academic medical center working with local hospitals,” said E. Hunter Beebe, a Palm Beach resident and president of the Foundation for Cardiac & Neurological Care, which is providing the grant to fund the program. Beebe is also a member of the UF Health Corporation Board of Trustees and has seen the exceptional benefits the MSTU program has achieved since its inception in 2023. “Palm Beach will be an active hub for breakthrough stroke research and treatment. We are hopeful that our support of this program in Palm Beach will set the stage for additional statewide expansion of UF Health’s cutting-edge MSTU program.”  

The mobile stroke treatment unit would be in service 12 hours a day, seven days a week and would be staffed by a stroke-trained registered nurse, paramedics and a CT technologist as well as a board-certified vascular neurologist via telemedicine. 

“Throughout my career in Palm Beach, my focus has been on protecting and improving the lives of those in our community,” said Sean Baker, fire-rescue chief and the Palm Beach Fire-Rescue Department’s director of emergency management. “I hope this is the beginning of expanded access to higher-quality care for our community that strengthens health outcomes for the residents we serve.” 

Next Steps: 

During the coming weeks, representatives from the Town of Palm Beach and UF Health will negotiate specifics about the vehicle, operational details and other specifications. The intent is to present a contract to the town council for final approval later this fall.  

Treatment within the first 60 minutes after stroke symptoms start, also known as the “golden hour,” has been shown to improve patient outcomes, better preserving physical functioning and reducing the risk of death. Data from UF Health’s program show that 34% of patients treated on an MSTU receive care within this period, reducing time to treatment by an average of 38 minutes compared with traditional emergency medical services transport. Patients treated by MTSU teams have seen a 45% decrease in mortality. 

UF Health’s MTSU Network and Expansion Plans:

“We’re excited for the opportunity to build new relationships in Palm Beach County and expand access to advanced stroke care,” said Nicolle Davis, Ph.D., R.N., director of the UF Health Mobile Stroke Program. “Time is of the essence, and the mobile stroke treatment unit brings expert stroke care directly to patients faster. By reducing time to treatment, we can make a meaningful difference in patients’ recovery, giving them the best opportunity for better outcomes.” 

Currently, the UF Health network of mobile stroke treatment units delivers time-sensitive stroke treatment directly to patients in Gainesville, Jacksonville and Central Florida. Expanding this innovative program to the Town of Palm Beach demonstrates UF Health’s commitment to bringing advanced patient-centered services to communities across the state. 

“The dedication, compassion and unwavering patient focus of our mobile stroke program team members make this level of treatment possible,” said Stephen J. Motew, M.D., M.H.A., FACS, UF Health president and system CEO. “Together with our partners, we can extend access to lifesaving stroke intervention and helping ensure more people receive the right treatment at the right time.”  
 

For more information, review the presentation by UF Health or watch the Town Council meeting recording from Tuesday, September 8. 

For any questions, please contact Assistant Fire Chief Joe Sekula at (561)227-6435 or jsekula@townofpalmbeach.com.