KRS 216B.0425: Certification designations for stroke care for acute care hospitals and

stroke centers.

(1) Except as otherwise provided, for purposes of this section:

(a) "Acute care hospital" means a licensed facility providing inpatient and

outpatient m edical or surgical services to an individual that seeks care and

treatment, regardless of the individual's ability to pay for services, on an

immediate and emergent basis through an established emergency department

and a continuous treatment basis on its p remises for more than twenty -four

(24) hours; and

(b) "Acute stroke ready hospital certification," "primary stroke center

certification," "thrombectomy -capable stroke center certification," and

"comprehensive stroke center certification" mean certification for acute care

hospitals issued by the Joint Commission, the American Heart Association, or

another cabinet -approved nationally recognized organization that provides

disease-specific certification for stroke care, that:

1. Complies with census-based national standards and safety goals;

2. Effectively uses evidence -based clinical practice guidelines to manage

and optimize care; and

3. Uses an organized approach to measure performance.

(2) The secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services shall des ignate as a

certified stroke center any acute care hospital which has received an acute stroke

ready hospital certification, a primary stroke center certification, a thrombectomy -

capable stroke center, or a comprehensive stroke center certification.

(3) The secretary shall suspend or revoke an acute care hospital's designation as an

acute stroke ready hospital, a primary stroke center, a thrombectomy -capable stroke

center, or a comprehensive stroke center if certification is withdrawn by the Joint

Commission, the American Heart Association, or another cabinet -approved

certifying organization.

(4) (a) The cabinet shall maintain a list of certified acute stroke ready hospitals,

primary stroke centers, thrombectomy -capable stroke centers, and

comprehensive stro ke centers and post the list on its Web site. The cabinet

shall provide the list and periodic updates to the Kentucky Board of

Emergency Medical Services.

(b) The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services shall share the list with

each local emergency m edical services provider at least annually, and as new

centers and hospitals are designated and certified.