HCS HB 1790 -- HEART ATTACK AND STROKE CENTERS (Cooper, 155) COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN: Committee on Health Care Policy Currently, a hospital can be designated as a trauma center, and severely injured patients will be transported to the nearest designated trauma center. This substitute changes the laws regarding hospital designation by the Department of Health and Senior Services to include a STEMI center and a stroke center if it meets the department's applicable level of STEMI or stroke center criteria. "ST-elevation myocardial infarction" (STEMI) is defined as a type of heart attack in which impaired blood flow to the heart is evidenced by findings in electrocardiogram analysis. The department is required to: (1) Compile and assess peer-reviewed and evidence-based clinical research and guidelines that provide or support recommended treatment standards; (2) Assess the capacity of the emergency medical services system and hospitals to deliver recommended treatments in a timely fashion; (3) Establish protocols for transporting STEMI patients to STEMI centers and stroke patients to stroke centers; (4) Establish regions within the state for coordinating the delivery of STEMI and stroke care; (5) Promote the development of regional or community-based plans for transporting STEMI and stroke patients to STEMI and stroke centers; and (6) Establish procedures for the submission of community-based or regional plans for department approval. A community-based or regional plan must be submitted to the department for approval. Plans must be based on clinical research and guidelines and the capacity assessment of emergency medical services. Patients who suffer a STEMI or stroke will be transported to the nearest STEMI or stroke center. FISCAL NOTE: No impact on state funds in FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 2011.Copyright (c) Missouri House of Representatives