• In the US, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability. There are three levels of stroke center certification recognized nationally. Stroke is a leading cause of death and severe disability in New Mexico. Six out of 43 acute care hospitals (14%) in NM are certified for stroke care, and four of the six submit their data to the American Heart Association (AHA) Get with the Guidelines Stroke Registry.
  
• A benefit to communities is for patients to be directed in a timely manner to the nearest certified stroke care hospital. Adherence to stroke prevention and treatment measures reduces disability and death associated with a stroke. Stroke care center designation cannot be awarded until stroke data is submitted to a national registry, which enables facilities to analyze and improve healthcare outcomes in stroke patients.
• In Q1 of FY17, Memorial Medical Center and Rehoboth McKinley Christian Healthcare Services expressed a goal of attaining stroke center certification.
• The Emergency Medical Systems (EMS) Bureau Stroke Program assisted these two hospitals by initiating their data registry registration in preparation for their national accreditation process.
• Continued outreach at quarterly meetings will be held throughout the state.

• NMDOH Public Health Division (PHD) Chronic Disease Bureau, Million Hearts Program
• NMDOH Epidemiology and Response Division (ERD) Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Bureau
• NMDOH ERD Environmental Health Epidemiology Bureau (EHEB), Environmental Public Health Tracking Program (EPHTP)
• New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) Air Quality Bureau
• Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Health Status Workgroup
• Acute Care Hospitals in New Mexico
• Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Agencies
• American Heart Association
• American College of Cardiology

• 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.

• Continue reporting on the number of hospitals which are nationally accredited and achieve NMDOH certification as stroke centers.
• Collect data on stroke patients in accordance with national guidelines, which will improve health care outcomes in stroke patients.
• Once data is being submitted, NMDOH will work with the hospitals in achieving other aspects required for stroke center designation.
• The NMDOH will then, in accordance with NMDOH rules, certify an acute care hospital as a:
  • Primary Stroke Center
  • Comprehensive Stroke Center
  • Acute Stroke Hospital

The EMS Bureau will continue to work to increase the percent of NM hospitals certified in stroke care from the already achieved FY17 target of 14% as follows:

• Q1: Assist 2 hospitals in the southern and central regions with national data registry and participation in stroke system of care activities. Completed for Q1.
• Q2: Assist at least 2 new hospitals in the southern or central region not reporting to Get with the Guidelines (GWTG) will begin reporting their data directly to the EMSB for quality improvement within system workgroup, and benchmarking.
• Q3: Identify at least 1 hospital capable of becoming acute stroke ready by working with UNM Telemedicine.
• Q4: Continue outreach at quarterly meetings and document success stories to disseminate to hospitals for their internal use.