(h) “Regional stroke system” means an organized group comprised of the local MCA within a
region, that integrates into existing regional trauma network or regional systems of care authority
and is responsible for appointing a regional stroke advisory council and creating a regional stroke
plan.
(i) “Regional systems of care authority” means an organization recognized by the department,
comprised of approved MCAs within a region, also approved as the Regional Trauma Network,
which provides clinical oversight for the regional trauma system, regional stroke system and
regional STEMI system within the region.
(j) “Statewide stroke care advisory subcommittee” means a stroke care advisory subcommittee
that acts as the department’s subject matter experts for the clinical and operational components of
stroke care. As the system matures and signals readiness to capitalize on efficiencies, the system
will merge into the statewide stroke care advisory subcommittee and the statewide STEMI care
advisory subcommittee into the statewide cardiovascular care advisory subcommittee.
(k) “Statewide stroke registry” means a system for collecting data that the department manages,
analyzes, and disseminates results.
(l) “Statewide stroke system of care” means a comprehensive and integrated arrangement of
emergency services personnel, stroke centers, equipment, services, communications, MCAs, and
organizations necessary to provide stroke care to all patients within a particular geographic region.
(m) “STEMI” means an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction defined by symptoms of
myocardial infarction associated with an ST-segment elevation on an ECG.
(n) “Stroke” means a cerebrovascular disease that causes a sudden interference in the blood
supply to the brain causing neuronal injury with neurological symptoms. This occurs when a blood
vessel in the brain is blocked by a clot or a vessel rupture.
(o) “Stroke bypass” means to forego EMS transport of a patient to the nearest healthcare facility
for facility whose resources are more appropriate to the stroke patient, pursuant to direction given
to pre-hospital EMS by online medical direction or predetermined triage criteria, as established by
department-approved protocols.
(p) “Stroke care” means diagnostic evaluation, triage, acute intervention, emergency transport
and other acute care services for stroke patients who potentially require emergent medical or
surgical intervention or treatment, and may include education, risk reduction, and subacute stroke
management.
(q) “Stroke center” means a healthcare facility designated by the department as having met the
criteria set forth by a department-approved, CMS-recognized professional certifying organization
as being any of the following:
(i) Level I or comprehensive stroke center.
(ii) Level II or thrombectomy capable stroke center.
(iii) Level III or primary stroke center.
(iv) Level IV or acute stroke ready center.
(r) “Stroke diversion” means the re-routing of a stroke patient from a stroke care facility that has
1 or more of its essential resources currently functioning at maximum capacity, or is otherwise
unavailable, to an alternate stroke care facility to serve the best interests of the stroke patient.
(s) “Stroke response” means an individual who has been identified as a potential stroke patient
and requires the utilization of the stroke care system.
(t) “Triage” means classifying patients according to the severity of their medical conditions.
(u) “Verification” means an evaluation process conducted by a national professional certifying
organization to verify resources and improve stroke care.
Page 3