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P003: Epidemiology Response Division (FY18)

P003: Percent of NM hospitals certified for stroke care

Current Value

16.2%

FY 2018

Definition

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Story Behind the Curve

  • In the US and New Mexico (NM), stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability.
  • One way to try to reduce the impact that strokes have on New Mexicans is the development of hospital stroke centers. Hospitals with these certifications will have a dedicated stroke-focused program, staffed by qualified medical professionals with specific stroke care education. The standards that these hospitals meet will help with the provision of the best care possible for patients suffering from a stroke.     
  • Seven out of 43 acute care hospitals in NM are certified for stroke care.
  • Stroke center designation cannot be awarded until stroke data is submitted to a national registry. The Epidemiology and Response Division (ERD) Emergency Management System (EMS) Bureau Stroke Program contacted and met with representatives from these hospitals, communicating the standards, obtaining their commitment, and assisting with the initiation of data submission through the reimbursement of data licensing fees. 
  • For the 4th Quarter the EMS Bureau Stroke program continued to work with two hospitals identified in the 3rd quarter that are capable of becoming certified as a stroke center.
  • For FY19 the Program will continue to work with the two hospitals until full certification is achieved.

Partners

  • New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH)
  • New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), Air Quality Bureau
  • Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Health Status Workgroup
  • Acute care hospitals
  • Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies
  • American Heart Association (AHA)
  • University of New Mexico Telemedicine

What Works

  • Patients receiving care at primary stroke centers have a higher rate of survival and recovery than those treated in hospitals without this type of specialized care.  
  • A hospital obtaining stroke center accreditation and certification has many benefits for the community, including assurance that the hospital adheres to stroke prevention and treatment measures that have been agreed upon by the American Heart and Stroke Associations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and national accrediting bodies. 
  • Adherence to stroke prevention and treatment measures reduces disability and death associated with stroke.  
  • Accreditation and certification will help assure that the hospitals are appropriately reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid, and third-party payers for the improved care delivered to stroke patients.

Strategy

The NMDOH Epidemiology and Response Division EMS Bureau Stroke Program will work with the current hospitals to maintain or elevate their current accreditation and certification level.  These efforts will be geared at increasing the number of communities with hospitals that have accreditation and certification for stroke care, which provides the benefits of:

  • Improving the quality of patient care by reducing variation in clinical processes;
  • Creating a dedicated, well-educated, and cohesive clinical stroke team;
  • Strengthening community confidence in the quality and safety of care, treatment, and services from their hospital and EMS agencies.

Action Plan

The NMDOH EMS Bureau Stroke Program will perform outreach to primarily rural areas, communicating the standards and steps necessary for hospital stroke center certification, and work with the state’s EMS agencies to improve their stroke care.

  • Q1: Make sure the national accreditation of one additional rural hospital, Rehoboth McKinley Christian Health Services (RMCH), initiates the process to designate RMCH as a New Mexico Acute Stroke Ready Hospital.  Completed. 
  • Q2: Determine if one New Mexico hospital is prepared for national accreditation and New Mexico designation as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. Incomplete.
  • Q3: Identify at least one additional hospital capable of becoming either a primary stroke center, or an acute stroke ready.  Completed.  
  • Q4: Work with statewide stakeholders to develop the statewide EMS stroke treatment protocol and publish this protocol by the end of FY18.  Incomplete.

FY18 Annual Progress Summary

Despite setbacks, the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Bureau Stroke Program was able to achieve half of its milestones and more importantly, currently 7 out of 43 acute care hospitals are stroke certified in New Mexico. There has been outreach specifically to southeast hospitals because this is the region with the highest cardiovascular disease death rates in the state.  With FY18 ending and FY19 starting, the Stroke Program is continually engaged in identifying and working with other hospitals toward stroke certification. 

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