North Dakota Century Code Title 23. Health and Safety § 23-43-02. Designation of comprehensive stroke center, primary stroke centers, and acute stroke-ready hospitals

1. The department of health and human services shall identify hospitals that meet the criteria as a comprehensive stroke center, primary stroke center, or acute stroke-ready hospital. In order to receive a designation under this section, a hospital shall apply to the department of health and human services and shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the department the hospital meets the applicable criteria.

2. In order to qualify for designation as a comprehensive stroke center, an accredited acute care hospital must be certified as a comprehensive stroke center by a department-approved, nationally recognized guidelines-based organization, which provides comprehensive stroke center hospital certification for stroke care. As a condition of retaining designation as a comprehensive stroke center, an acute care hospital shall maintain its certification.

3. In order to qualify for designation as a primary stroke center, an accredited acute care hospital must be certified as a primary stroke center by a department-approved, nationally recognized guidelines-based organization, which provides primary stroke center certification for stroke care. As a condition of retaining designation as a primary stroke center, an acute care hospital shall maintain its certification.

4. In order to qualify for designation as an acute stroke-ready hospital, an accredited acute care hospital must be certified as an acute stroke-ready hospital by department-approved, nationally recognized guidelines-based criteria. As a condition of retaining designation as an acute stroke-ready hospital, an acute care hospital shall maintain its certification.

5. Through agreement, a comprehensive stroke center and primary stroke center may coordinate with an acute stroke-ready hospital to provide appropriate access to care for acute stroke patients. The coordinating stroke care agreement must be in writing and include, at a minimum:

6. If the department determines the hospital is not in compliance with the requirements set for designation level, after notice and a hearing, the department of health and human services may suspend or revoke a hospital's state designation as a comprehensive stroke center, primary stroke center, or acute stroke-ready hospital.

7. Any facility that is not designated, must have a predetermined plan for the triage of acute stroke patients. The plan must be filed annually with the department of health and human services, division of emergency medical services and trauma.