1.    The department of health and human services shall establish and implement a plan for achieving continuous quality improvement in the quality of care provided under the state comprehensive stroke system for stroke response and treatment. In implementing this plan, the department of health and human services shall:

Terms Used In North Dakota Code 23-43-04

  • following: when used by way of reference to a chapter or other part of a statute means the next preceding or next following chapter or other part. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
  • Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
  • year: means twelve consecutive months. See North Dakota Code 1-01-33

a.    Maintain a statewide stroke database that compiles information and statistics on stroke care which align with nationally recognized stroke consensus metrics. The department of health and human services shall utilize a nationally recognized data set platform with confidentiality standards no less secure than the stroke registry data platform. The department of health and human services shall coordinate with national voluntary health organizations involved in stroke quality improvement to avoid duplication and redundancy.

b.    Require comprehensive stroke centers and primary stroke centers and encourage acute stroke-ready hospitals and emergency medical services operations to report data consistent with nationally recognized guidelines on the treatment of individuals with confirmed stroke within the state.

c.    Encourage sharing of information and data among health care providers on ways to improve the quality of care of stroke patients in this state.

d.    Facilitate the communication and analysis of health information and data among the health care professionals providing care for individuals with stroke.

e.    Require the application of evidence-based treatment guidelines regarding the transitioning of patients to community-based followup care in hospital outpatient, physician office, and ambulatory clinic settings for ongoing care after hospital discharge following acute treatment for stroke.

2.    The department of health and human services shall establish a data oversight process and implement a plan for achieving continuous quality improvement in the quality of care provided under the state comprehensive stroke system for stroke response and treatment which must:

a.    Analyze data generated by the stroke registry on stroke response and treatment; b.    Identify potential interventions to improve stroke care in geographic areas or regions of the state; and

c.    Provide recommendations to the department of health and human services, emergency medical services advisory council, and legislative assembly for the improvement of stroke care and delivery in the state.

3.    Data reported under this section must be made available to the department of health and human services and to other government agencies, or contractors of government agencies, which have responsibility for the management and administration of emergency medical services throughout the state.

4.    Before June first of each even-numbered year, the department of health and human services shall provide a report to the legislative management regarding progress made toward the recommendations provided in this chapter and any recommendations for future legislation.