Bill > S2213

This bill aims to improve stroke care by establishing a system for designating hospitals as Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, or Acute Stroke Capable Centers, with the Department of Public Health responsible for identifying and certifying these facilities based on criteria set by nationally recognized organizations like the American Heart Association and The Joint Commission. The bill also mandates that these designated centers coordinate with each other through written agreements that include protocols for transferring patients and communication. Furthermore, it requires Emergency Medical Services (EMS) providers to develop pre-hospital care protocols for assessing, treating, and transporting stroke patients to the appropriate designated stroke center within a specified timeframe, and to use a standardized stroke triage assessment tool provided by the Department of Public Health. Finally, the bill mandates the creation of a centralized statewide stroke database to collect data on stroke care, which will be used for continuous quality improvement, identifying areas for improvement, and making recommendations to the department and legislature to enhance stroke response and treatment across the state.