Amended Substitute House Bill 464 Summary

• Ohio Department of Health shall recognize hospitals as comprehensive stroke centers, primary stroke centers, or acute stroke ready hospitals based on certification by federally-approved accrediting organizations or organizations meeting nationally recognized certification guidelines.

• Hospitals cannot represent themselves as any type of stroke center without state health department recognition, though they may advertise affiliations with recognized stroke centers or out-of-state certified centers.

• Department of Health shall maintain and update a comprehensive list of recognized stroke centers on its website within 30 days of recognition or loss of recognition, and provide lists to emergency medical service organizations semi-annually by January 1 and July 1.

• Department shall end recognition of a hospital if its accrediting organization revokes, rescinds, terminates, or allows the hospital's certification to expire.

• Emergency medical service organizations must establish written protocols for assessment, treatment, and transport of stroke patients in consultation with local hospitals, and must provide protocol copies to the state board and regional directors of emergency medical services.