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, SWANGER, DONATUCCI, DAY, TOOHIL, GEIST, SONNEY, MURT, KAUFFMAN, HENNESSEY, DENLINGER, RAPP, FARRY AND PASHINSKI, MAY 24, 2011

AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, OCTOBER 5, 2011   

AN ACT

Establishing a Statewide stroke system of care by designating 

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recognizing primary stroke centers and directing the creation

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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 minimize neurological damage such as

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paralysis and speech and language impairments, leaving stroke

patients with few or no minimal neurological deficits.

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(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

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throughout the State. This program will provide recognize

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accredited primary stroke centers whose criteria provide 

specific patient care and support services criteria that

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stroke centers that hospitals must meet in order to ensure

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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 stroke protocols for providing

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timely and effective treatment for stroke patients.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

section Section 1.  Short title.

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

Stroke Center Designation Recognition Act.

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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.

"Emergency medical services agency medical director."  As

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defined in 35 PA.C.S. § 8103 (relating to definitions).

"Joint commission."  An independent national not-for-profit

organization that develops and updates organizational standards

and performance measures, conducts on-site evaluations and

awards accreditation decisions to health care facilities,

including hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies and

ambulatory providers, that are accepted by the Federal

Government for the compliance of Conditions of Participation for

Medicare.

Section 3.  Designation Recognition of centers.

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(a)  Designation General rule.--Upon application by an

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accredited a licensed acute care hospital, the department shall

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designate recognize the hospital as a primary stroke center if

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the hospital is certified as a primary stroke center by the

joint commission or another cabinet-approved nationally

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recognized accrediting organization that provides certification

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for stroke care. The designation shall last as long as the

hospital remains certified as a primary stroke center.

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(b)  Suspension or revocation of designation recognition.--

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The department may suspend or revoke a primary stroke center

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designation recognition if the department determines that the

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hospital is not in compliance with provisions of this act 

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requiring accreditation as a primary stroke center.

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Section 4.  Emergency medical services.

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

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the The department shall:

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(1)  Send Make available a list of accredited primary

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stroke centers to the medical director of each licensed each 

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emergency medical services provider agency medical director 

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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 make available 

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and distribute a nationally recognized standardized stroke

triage assessment tool no later than July 1, 2011, or within 60

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days of the effective date of this act, whichever is later. The

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department shall:

(1)  Provide Make available a copy to the medical

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directors of each licensed each emergency medical services

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provider agency medical director in this Commonwealth so that

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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 or a facility that can provide appropriate

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treatment if the primary stroke center is not within a specified

time frame from onset of symptoms.

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

ensure that licensed certified emergency medical services

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providers and 911 dispatch personnel, within their scope of

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practice, receive regular training on the assessment and

treatment of stroke patients.

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

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

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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.