KRS 211.575: Statewide system for stroke response and treatment.

(1) As used in this section, "department" means the Department for Public Health.

(2) The Department for Public Health shall establish and implement a plan for

achieving continuous qua lity improvement in the quality of care provided under a

statewide system for stroke response and treatment. In implementing the plan, the

department shall:

(a) Maintain a statewide stroke database to compile information and statistics on

stroke care as follows:

1. The database shall align with the stroke consensus metrics developed

and approved by the American Heart Association, the American Stroke

Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the

Joint Commission;

2. The department shal l utilize the "Get With The Guidelines -Stroke"

quality improvement program maintained by the American Heart

Association and the American Stroke Association or another nationally

recognized program that utilizes a data set platform with patient

confidentiality standards no less secure than the statewide stroke

database established in this paragraph; and

3. Require certified stroke centers as established in KRS 216B.0425 to

report to the database each case of stroke seen at the facility. The data

shall be rep orted in a format consistent with nationally recognized

guidelines on the treatment of individuals within the state with

confirmed cases of stroke;

(b) To the extent possible, coordinate with national voluntary health organizations

involved in stroke quality improvement to avoid duplication and redundancy;

(c) Encourage the sharing of information and data among health care providers

on methods to improve the quality of care of stroke patients in the state;

(d) Facilitate communication about data trends and treatment developments

among health care professionals involved in the care of individuals with

stroke;

(e) Require the application of evidence -based treatment guidelines for the

transition of stroke patients upon discharge from a hospital following acute

treatment to community -based care provided in a hospital outpatient,

physician office, or ambulatory clinic setting; and

(f) Establish a data oversight process and a plan for achieving continuous quality

improvement in the quality of care provided under the statewide system for

stroke response and treatment, which shall include:

1. Analysis of the data included in the stroke database;

2. Identification of potential interventions to improve stroke care in

specific geographic regions of the state; and

3. Recommendations to the department and the Kentucky General

Assembly for improvement in the delivery of stroke care in the state.

(3) All data reported under subsection (2)(a) of this section shall be made availabl e to

the department and all government agencies or contractors of government agencies

which are responsible for the management and administration of emergency

medical services throughout the state.

(4) By September 1 of each year, the department shall prov ide a report of its data and

any related findings and recommendations to the Governor and to the Legislative

Research Commission for referral to the Interim Joint Committee on Health

Services. The report also shall be made available on the department's website.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the disclosure of confidential

information or data in violation of the federal Health Insurance Portability and

Accountability Act of 1996.