§ 16B-3-18 — Designation of comprehensive, primary, acute, and thrombectomy capable stroke-ready hospitals; reporting requirements; rulemaking

(a) A hospital, as that term is defined in §16B-3-1et seq. of this code, shall be recognized by the Office of Emergency Medical Services as a comprehensive stroke center (CSC), thrombectomy-capable stroke center (TSC), primary stroke center (PSC), or an acute stroke-ready hospital (ASRH), upon submitting verification of certification as granted by the American Heart Association, the joint commission, or other nationally recognized organization to the Office of Emergency Medical Services. A hospital shall immediately notify the Office of Emergency Medical Services of any change in its certification status.

(b) The Office of Emergency Medical Services shall gain access to, and utilize, a nationally recognized stroke database that compiles information and statistics on stroke care that align with the stroke consensus metrics developed and approved by the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association, for the purpose of improving stroke care and access across the State of West Virginia. The Office of Emergency Medical Services shall, upon request, provide the data accessed and utilized relating to comprehensive stroke centers, thrombectomy-capable stroke centers, primary stroke centers, and acute stroke-ready hospitals to the advisory committee in §16B-3-18(d) of this code.

(c) The Office of Emergency Medical Services shall provide annually, by June 1, a list of all hospitals recognized pursuant to the provisions of §16-3-18(a) of this code to the medical director of each licensed emergency medical services agency in this state. This list shall be maintained by the Office of Emergency Medical Services and shall be updated annually on its website.

(d) The Secretary of the Department of Health shall continue a stroke advisory committee which shall function as an advisory body to the secretary and report no less than biannually at regularly scheduled meetings. Its functions shall include:

(1) Increasing stroke awareness;

(2) Promoting stroke prevention and health policy recommendations relating to stroke care;

(3) Advising the Office of Emergency Medical Services on the development of stroke networks;

(4) Utilizing stroke care data to provide recommendations to the Office of Emergency Medical Services to improve stroke care throughout the state;

(5) Identifying and making recommendations to overcome barriers relating to stroke care; and

(6) Review and make recommendations to the State Medical Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services regarding prehospital care protocols including:

(A) The assessment, treatment, and transport of stroke patients by licensed emergency medical services agencies; and

(B) Plans for the triage and transport, within specified time frames of onset symptoms, of acute stroke patients to the nearest comprehensive stroke center, thrombectomy-capable stroke center, primary stroke center, or acute stroke-ready hospital.

(e) The advisory committee as set forth §16B-3-18(d) of this code shall consist of no more than 14 members. Membership of the advisory committee shall include:

(1) A representative of the Department of Health;

(2) A representative of an association with the primary purpose of promoting better heart health;

(3) A registered emergency medical technician;

(4) Either an administrator or physician representing a critical access hospital;

(5) Either an administrator or physician representing a teaching or academic hospital;

(6) A representative of an association with the primary purpose of representing the interests of all hospitals throughout the state; and

(7) A clinical and administrative representative of hospitals from each level of stroke center certification by a national certifying body (CSC, TSC, PSC, and ASRH).

(f) Of the members first appointed, three shall be appointed for a term of one year, three shall be appointed for a term of two years, and the remaining members shall be appointed for a term of three years. The terms of subsequent appointees shall be three years. Members may be reappointed for additional terms.

(g) Nothing in this section may permit the Office of Emergency Medical Services to conduct inspections of hospitals in relation to recognition as a stroke center as set forth in this section:Provided, That nothing in this section may preclude inspections of hospitals by the Office of Emergency Medical Services which are otherwise authorized by this code.

Legislative History

2024 Reg. Sess., SB300