§ 23-43-04 — Continuous improvement of quality of care for individuals with stroke - Recommendations - Report to legislative management

Recommendations - Report to legislative management.
1. The department of health and human services shall establish and implement a plan for
achieving continuous quality improvement in the quality of care provided under the
state comprehensive stroke system for stroke response and treatment. In
implementing this plan, the department of health and human services shall:

a. Maintain a statewide stroke database that compiles information and statistics on
stroke care which align with nationally recognized stroke consensus metrics. The
department of health and human services shall utilize a nationally recognized
data set platform with confidentiality standards no less secure than the stroke
registry data platform. The department of health and human services shall
coordinate with national voluntary health organizations involved in stroke quality
improvement to avoid duplication and redundancy.
b. Require comprehensive stroke centers and primary stroke centers and
encourage acute stroke-ready hospitals and emergency medical services
operations to report data consistent with nationally recognized guidelines on the
treatment of individuals with confirmed stroke within the state.
c. Encourage sharing of information and data among health care providers on ways
to improve the quality of care of stroke patients in this state.
d. Facilitate the communication and analysis of health information and data among
the health care professionals providing care for individuals with stroke.
e. Require the application of evidence-based treatment guidelines regarding the
transitioning of patients to community-based followup care in hospital outpatient,
physician office, and ambulatory clinic settings for ongoing care after hospital
discharge following acute treatment for stroke.
2. The department of health and human services shall establish a data oversight process
and implement a plan for achieving continuous quality improvement in the quality of
care provided under the state comprehensive stroke system for stroke response and
treatment which must:
a. Analyze data generated by the stroke registry on stroke response and treatment;
b. Identify potential interventions to improve stroke care in geographic areas or
regions of the state; and
c. Provide recommendations to the department of health and human services,
emergency medical services advisory council, and legislative assembly for the
improvement of stroke care and delivery in the state.
3. Data reported under this section must be made available to the department of health
and human services and to other government agencies, or contractors of government
agencies, which have responsibility for the management and administration of
emergency medical services throughout the state.
4. Before June first of each even-numbered year, the department of health and human
services shall provide a report to the legislative management regarding progress made
toward the recommendations provided in this chapter and any recommendations for
future legislation.