                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR STROKE CARE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT; SHARING OF DATA AND
INFORMATION (§ 32.1-111.15:1)

A. The Department shall be responsible for stroke care quality improvement
initiatives in the Commonwealth. Such initiatives shall include:

   1. Implementing systems to collect data and information about stroke care in
   the Commonwealth in accordance with subsection B;

   2. Facilitating information and data sharing and collaboration among hospitals
   and health care providers to improve the quality of stroke care in the
   Commonwealth;

   3. Requiring the application of evidence-based treatment guidelines for
   transitioning patients to community-based follow-up care following acute
   treatment for stroke; and

   4. Establishing a process for continuous quality improvement for the delivery
   of stroke care by the statewide system for stroke response and treatment in
   accordance with subsection C.

B. The Department shall implement systems to collect data and information
related to stroke care (i) that are nationally recognized data set platforms
with confidentiality standards approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services or consistent with the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke registry platform
from hospitals designated as comprehensive stroke centers, primary stroke
centers, or acute stroke-ready hospitals and emergency medical services agencies
in the Commonwealth and (ii) from every primary stroke center with supplementary
levels of stroke care distinction in the Commonwealth. Every hospital designated
as a comprehensive stroke center, primary stroke center, or primary stroke
center with supplementary levels of stroke care distinction shall report data
and information described in clauses (i) and (ii) to the Department. The
Department shall take steps to encourage hospitals designated as acute
stroke-ready hospitals and emergency medical services agencies to report data
and information described in clause (i) to the Department.

C. The Department shall develop a process for continuous quality improvement for
the delivery of stroke care provided by the statewide system for stroke response
and treatment, which shall include:

   1. Collection and analysis of data related to stroke care in the Commonwealth;

   2. Identification of potential interventions to improve stroke care in
   specific geographic areas of the Commonwealth; and

   3. Development of recommendations for improvement of stroke care throughout
   the Commonwealth.

D. The Department shall make information contained in the systems established
pursuant to subsection B and data and information collected pursuant to
subsection C available to licensed hospitals and the Virginia Stroke Systems
Task Force, and, upon request, to emergency medical services agencies, regional
emergency medical services councils, the State Emergency Medical Services
Advisory Board, and other entities engaged in the delivery of emergency medical
services in the Commonwealth to facilitate the evaluation and improvement of
stroke care in the Commonwealth.

E. The Department shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly annually
on July 1 on stroke care improvement initiatives undertaken in accordance with
this section. Such report shall include a summary report of the data collected
pursuant to this section.

F. Nothing in this article shall require or authorize the disclosure of
confidential information in violation of state or federal law or regulations,
including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 42 U.S.C.
&#xA7; 1320d et seq.

HISTORY: 2018, cc. 198, 276.