New Jersey § 26:2h-12

§ 26:2h-12.

The Commissioner of Health shall designate hospitals that meet the criteria set forth

in this section as primary , thrombectomy-capable, or comprehensive stroke centers or acute stroke ready hospitals . a. A hospital shall apply to the commissioner for designation and shall demonstrate

to the satisfaction of the commissioner that the hospital has been certified as a primary , thrombectomy-capable, or comprehensive stroke center or as an acute stroke ready hospital , respectively , by the Joint Commission, the American Heart Association, DNV GL, or another organization

that provides such certifications as may be approved by the commissioner. A facility designated as a primary or comprehensive stroke center prior to the effective

date of P.L.2019, c. 476 ( C.26:2H-12.28a et al.) 1 shall retain such designation by obtaining, and providing the commissioner with documentation

of, the appropriate certification by the Joint Commission, the American Heart Association,

DNV GL, or other approved organization within three years of the effective date of P.L.2019, c. 476 ( C.26:2H-12.28a et al.), except that the commissioner may grant the facility up to two one-year extensions

to obtain the appropriate certification, provided the facility certifies that the

additional time is necessary to obtain the appropriate certification. Failure to meet the requirements of this subsection shall be deemed a voluntary

surrender of the hospital's prior designation as a primary or comprehensive stroke

center. A hospital that has its certification by the Joint Commission, the American Heart

Association, DNV GL, or other certifying organization revoked shall report the revocation

to the Department of Health no later than five days after the date the hospital receives

notice of the revocation from the certifying entity. b. The commissioner shall designate as many hospitals as primary stroke centers as

apply for the designation, provided that the hospital meets the certification requirements set forth in subsection a. of this section . c. The commissioner shall designate as many hospitals as thrombectomy-capable stroke

centers as apply for the designation, provided that the hospital meets the certification

requirements set forth in subsection a. of this section. d. The commissioner shall designate as many hospitals as comprehensive stroke centers

as apply for the designation, provided that the hospital meets the certification requirements set forth in subsection a. of this section . e. The commissioner shall designate as many hospitals as acute stroke ready hospitals

as apply for the designation, provided that the hospital meets the certification requirements

set forth in subsection a. of this section. f. The commissioner shall appropriately recognize stroke centers that have attained

a level of stroke care distinction recognized by the Joint Commission, the American

Heart Association, DNV GL, or another nationally-recognized, guidelines-based organization

that provides such distinctions and is approved by the commissioner. Stroke centers that have attained a distinction that shall be recognized pursuant

to this subsection may include, but shall not be not limited to, centers that offer

mechanical endovascular therapies. g. The commissioner may suspend or revoke a hospital's designation as a stroke center or acute stroke ready hospital , after notice and hearing, if the commissioner determines that the hospital is not

in compliance with the requirements of this act. h. The commissioner shall encourage primary, thrombectomy-capable, and comprehensive

stroke centers to coordinate, by written agreement, with acute stroke ready hospitals

throughout the State to provide appropriate access to care for acute stroke patients. Agreements made pursuant to this subsection shall include: (1) transfer agreements

for the transport to and acceptance of stroke patients by stroke centers for the provision

of stroke treatment therapies an acute stroke ready hospital is unable to provide;

and (2) any communication criteria and protocols as shall be necessary to effectuate

the agreement. i. Each hospital that is not a designated comprehensive stroke center shall, no later

than 180 days after the effective date of P.L.2019, c. 476 ( C.26:2H-12.28a et al.), enter into an agreement with at least one State-designated comprehensive

stroke center, which agreement shall, at a minimum: (1) include protocols for engaging in prompt telephonic or video consultation to assess

and make treatment recommendations for suspected stroke patients; (2) provide, where most clinically appropriate, consistent with patient safety and

patient consent, for the effective and efficient transfer of patients needing the

services of the comprehensive stroke center, particularly in time-sensitive cases

including, but not limited to, large vessel occlusion; and (3) include a provision to access educational resources available from the comprehensive

stroke center to expand the knowledge base of providers at the acute care general

hospital. The agreement shall be filed with the Department of Health within 30 days. j. The Commissioner of Health shall prepare, maintain, and make available on the Department

of Health website a list of facilities designated as primary stroke centers, thrombectomy-capable

stroke centers, comprehensive stroke centers, and acute stroke ready hospitals. A current copy of the list shall be transmitted to each emergency medical services

provider, as defined in subsection e. of section 3 of P.L.2019, c. 476 ( C.27:5F-27.1 ), no later than June 1 of each year. k. (1) Primary, thrombectomy-capable, and comprehensive stroke centers and acute stroke

ready hospitals shall, on a quarterly basis, submit to the department data concerning

stroke care that are deemed appropriate by the Department of Health, and that, at

a minimum, align with the stroke consensus measures jointly supported by the Joint

Commission, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Paul Coverdell

National Acute Stroke Registry, American Heart Association, and the American Stroke

Association. (2) Data submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be compiled

by the department into a Statewide stroke database, which shall be made available

on the department website. (3) Data submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection shall not contain

or be construed to require disclosure of confidential or personal identifying information. 1

L.2019, c. 476, eff. Jan. 21, 2020.