Sec. 30.08.11.10. Qualifications of Stroke Center Director and Clinicians

A. The stroke center director shall be a physician with special competence in caring for the acute stroke patient who is Board certified or Board eligible in:

(1) Neurology;

(2) Family medicine; or

(3) Internal medicine.

B. The stroke center director's qualifications shall include two or more of the following:

(1) Completion of a stroke fellowship;

(2) Participation in at least one regional, national, or international stroke conference annually;

(3) Five or more peer-reviewed publications on stroke;

(4) 4 or more hours of continuing medical education per year in the area of cerebrovascular disease which may include but is not limited to:

(a) Formal in-hospital morbidity and mortality reviews; and

(b) Formal journal continuing medical education;

(5) Certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in vascular neurology as approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

C. Qualifications for stroke center physicians who care for acute stroke patients shall include one or more of the following:

(1) Completion of stroke fellowship;

(2) Participation in at least one regional, national, or international stroke conference annually;

(3) Five or more peer-reviewed publications on stroke;

(4) 4 or more hours of continuing medical education per year in the area of cerebrovascular disease which may include but is not limited to:

(a) Formal in-hospital morbidity and mortality reviews; and

(b) Formal journal continuing medical education;

(5) Certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in vascular neurology as approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

D. Training for nonphysician stroke center professional staff who care for acute stroke patients shall include:

(1) At least 4 hours per year of continuing education in areas related to cerebrovascular disease; or

(2) An equivalent amount of nursing education credit related to cerebrovascular disease.