KRS 211.341: Statewide system for heart attack response and treatment -- Care levels

and standards.

(1) The department shall establish and implement a plan for achieving continuous

quality improvement in the quality of care provided under a statewide syst em for

heart attack response and treatment by designating licensed hospitals as:

(a) Level I Comprehensive Cardiac Center;

(b) Level II Primary Heart Attack Center; or

(c) Level III Acute Heart Attack Ready.

(2) A hospital may apply to the department in or der to be recognized as Level I

Comprehensive Cardiac Center, Level II Primary Heart Attack Center, or Level III

Acute Heart Attack Ready hospital. If a hospital applies for recognition, it shall

demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the department, that the hospital meets the

applicable criteria set forth in KRS 211.340 to 211.343.

(3) (a) A Level I Comprehensive Cardiac Center is a hospital that is certified as a

Comprehensive Cardiac Center hospital by any certifying body which is a

nationally recognized g uidelines-based organization that provides

comprehensive cardiac center certification for heart attack care. Each hospital

shall maintain an active certification.

(b) The department shall recognize any hospital as a Level I Comprehensive

Cardiac Center if it meets the criteria established in this subsection.

(4) (a) A Level II Primary Heart Attack Center is a hospital that is certified as a

Primary Heart Attack Center by any certifying body which is a nationally

recognized guidelines -based organization that provides primary heart attack

center certification for heart attack care. Each hospital shall maintain an active

certification.

(b) The department shall recognize any hospital as a Level II Primary Heart

Attack Center if it meets the criteria established in this subsection.

(5) (a) A Level III Acute Heart Attack Ready hospital is a hospital that is certified as

Acute Heart Attack Ready by any certifying body which is a nationally

recognized guidelines -based organization that provides acute heart attack

ready certification for heart attack care. Each hospital shall maintain an active

certification.

(b) The department shall recognize any hospital as a Level III Acute Heart Attack

Center if it meets the criteria established in this subsection.

(6) Level I Comprehensive Cardiac Centers, Level II Primary Heart Attack Centers, and

Level III Acute Heart Attack Ready hospitals are encouraged to coordinate, through

a coordinating heart attack care agreement, within their service area to provide

appropriate access to care for acute heart attack patients. A coordinating heart attack

care agreement shall be in writing and include at a minimum:

(a) Transfer protocols for the transport and acceptance of heart attack patients for

treatment therapies which the transferring facility is not capable of providing;

and

(b) Communication criteria and protocols that include but are not limited to

telemedicine systems.

(7) The department may suspend or revoke a hospital's designation as Level I

Comprehensive Cardiac Center, Level II Primary Heart Attack Center, or Level III

Acute Heart Attack Ready if the department determines that the hospital is not in

compliance with the requirements of KRS 211.340 to 211.343.