THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY REICHLEY, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, D. COSTA, CUTLER, GILLESPIE, GRELL, HARKINS, JOSEPHS, MILNE, M. O'BRIEN, THOMAS, WATSON, BOBACK, KILLION AND SWANGER, MAY 24, 2011

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, MAY 24, 2011  

AN ACT

Establishing a Statewide stroke system of care by designating

primary stroke centers and directing the creation of

emergency medical services training and transport protocols.

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1)  The rapid identification, diagnosis and treatment of

stroke can save the lives of stroke patients and in some

cases can reverse neurological damage such as paralysis and

speech and language impairments, leaving stroke patients with

few or no neurological deficits.

(2)  Despite significant advances in the diagnosis,

treatment and prevention, stroke is the third leading cause

of death and the leading cause of disability with an

estimated 795,000 new and recurrent strokes occurring each

year in this country, and, with the aging of the population,

the number of persons who have strokes is projected to

increase.

(3)  Although treatments are available to improve the

clinical outcomes of stroke, many acute care hospitals lack

the necessary staff and equipment to optimally triage and

treat stroke patients, including the provision of optimal,

safe and effective emergency care for those patients.

(4)  An effective system to support stroke survival is

needed in our communities in order to treat stroke patients

in a timely manner and to improve the overall treatment of

stroke patients in order to increase survival and decrease

the disabilities associated with stroke. There is a public

health need for acute care hospitals in this Commonwealth to

establish primary stroke centers to ensure the rapid triage,

diagnostic evaluation and treatment of patients suffering a

stroke.

(5)  Primary stroke centers should be established for the

treatment of acute strokes. Primary stroke centers should be

established in as many hospitals as possible. These centers

would evaluate, stabilize and provide emergency and inpatient

care to patients with acute stroke.

(6)  Therefore, it is in the best interest of the

residents of this Commonwealth to establish a program to

facilitate development of stroke treatment capabilities

throughout the State. This program will provide specific

patient care and support services criteria that stroke

centers must meet in order to ensure that stroke patients

receive sage and effective care. Further, it is in the best

interest of the people of this Commonwealth to modify the

State's emergency medical response system to assure that

stroke patients may be quickly identified and transported to

and treated in facilities that have specialized programs for

providing timely and effective treatment for stroke patients.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

section 1.  Short title.

This act shall be known and may be cited as the Primary

Stroke Center Designation Act.

Section 2.  Definitions.

The following words and phrases when used in this act shall

have the meanings given to them in this section unless the

context clearly indicates otherwise:

"Department."  The Department of Health of the Commonwealth.

Section 3.  Designation of centers.

(a)  Designation.--Upon application by an accredited acute

care hospital, the department shall designate the hospital as a

primary stroke center if the hospital is certified as a primary

stroke center by the joint commission or another cabinet-

approved nationally recognized organization that provides

certification for stroke care. The designation shall last as

long as the hospital remains certified.

(b)  Suspension or revocation of designation.--The department

may suspend or revoke a primary stroke center designation if the

department determines that the hospital is not in compliance

with this act.

Section 4.  Emergency medical services.

(a)  List of primary stroke centers.--By June 1 of each year,

the department shall:

(1)  Send a list of primary stroke centers to the medical

director of each licensed emergency medical services provider

in this Commonwealth.

(2)  Maintain a copy of the list of primary stroke

centers in the office designated with the department to

oversee emergency medical services.

(3)  Post a list of primary stroke centers on the

department's Internet website.

(b)  Assessment.--The department shall adopt and distribute a

nationally recognized standardized stroke triage assessment tool

no later than July 1, 2011, or within 60 days of the effective

date of this act, whichever is later. The department shall:

(1)  Provide a copy to the medical directors of each

licensed emergency medical services provider in this

Commonwealth so that the directors can use the tool or a

substantially similar one to evaluate patients.

(2)  Post the assessment tool on its Internet website.

(c)  Protocols.--The department shall establish protocols

that are related to prehospital assessment, treatment and

transport of stroke patients by licensed emergency medical

services providers. The protocols shall include plans for triage

and transport of acute stroke patients to the closest primary

stroke center within a specified time frame from onset of

symptoms.

(d)  Training.--The department shall establish protocols to

ensure that licensed emergency medical services providers and

911 dispatch personnel receive regular training on the

assessment and treatment of stroke patients.

(e)  Compliance.--By July 1, 2011, or within 60 days of the

effective date of this act, whichever is later, each emergency

medical services provider must comply with all protocols and

regulations promulgated by the department under this act.

Section 5.  Effective date.

This act shall take effect in 60 days.