Sec. 30.08.11.06. Stroke Team

A. The hospital shall establish one or more operational acute stroke teams which shall respond to the emergency department with coordinated services for the effective delivery of emergency and acute stroke treatment.

B. Presence at Bedside.

(1) At least one member of the acute stroke team shall be present at the patient's bedside to provide care and to treat an acute stroke patient within 15 minutes of notification.

(2) The member of the acute stroke team fulfilling the requirement in §B(1) of this regulation may be currently on duty in the emergency department.

(3) If the member of the acute stroke team fulfilling the requirement in §B(1) of this regulation is currently on duty in the emergency department, then a member of the acute stroke team not currently on duty in the emergency department shall be immediately available upon request to be present at the patient's bedside to provide care and to treat an acute stroke patient.

C. Other requested members of the acute stroke team shall be present at the patient's bedside to treat an acute stroke patient within 60 minutes of notification.

D. The acute stroke team shall include at a minimum:

(1) A physician with special competence in caring for the acute stroke patient who is Board certified or Board eligible in:

(a) Neurology;

(b) Family medicine; or

(c) Internal medicine; and

(2) At least one additional health care provider with experience in caring for the acute stroke patient who may be:

(a) An emergency physician;

(b) A family medicine physician;

(c) An internist;

(d) A registered nurse;

(e) A physician's assistant; or

(f) A nurse practitioner.

E. If the physician who satisfies §D(1)(b) or (c) of this regulation is not Board certified or Board eligible in neurology, a Board certified or Board eligible neurologist shall be available within 15 minutes for consultation under the terms of a written agreement by:

(1) Telephone; or

(2) Audio/visual communication.