During the 2022 legislative session, policymakers passed SSB 5821 that directs the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) to evaluate the state’s cardiac and stroke emergency response system. WSHA weighed in during the legislative session to improve the areas of the study outlined in the law. The law requires the DOH to provide a report to the legislature by Oct. 1, 2023, with recommendations that will inform the optimal state-wide strategy to improve cardiac and stroke emergency care.
The evaluation will contain an assessment of hospital and system capacity, including treatment resource availability, with particular attention to critical access and rural hospitals. It will also analyze costs related to data collection, data submission and analysis, and interoperability efforts. You can review all evaluation requirements here.
WSHA will provide input and guidance for the evaluation as a member of the DOH stakeholder workgroup, which commences Aug. 15, 2022, and will meet quarterly. We will keep you apprised of any updates throughout the process.
