98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2013 and 2014
SB3520
 
Introduced 2/14/2014, by Sen. Heather A. Steans
 
SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:



30 ILCS 105/5.855 new
210 ILCS 50/3.116
210 ILCS 50/3.117
210 ILCS 50/3.117.5
210 ILCS 50/3.117.75 new
210 ILCS 50/3.118
210 ILCS 50/3.118.5
210 ILCS 50/3.119
210 ILCS 50/3.226

 Amends the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act. Provides that the Department of Public Health may designate a hospital as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital. Provides that a hospital that is certified as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital or Comprehensive Stroke Center by a nationally-recognized and Department-approved certifying body may be designated as such by the Department upon receipt of the certification and the payment of an annual fee. Provides that the fees collected for designation shall be used to support stroke care data collection and that any surplus funds from the fees shall be used to support the Department Stroke Coordinator's salary or for other stroke-care initiatives, including administrative oversight of stroke care. Amends the State Finance Act to create the Stroke Data Collection Fund as a special fund in the State treasury. Deletes provisions regarding designation of hospitals as Emergent Stroke-Ready Hospitals. Contains procedures regarding Department designation of Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals and Comprehensive Stroke Centers. 



LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY
 
 
A BILL FOR
 


SB3520LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b



1 AN ACT concerning regulation.


2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,

3represented in the General Assembly:



4 Section 5. The State Finance Act is amended by adding 
5Section 5.855 as follows:

6 (30 ILCS 105/5.855 new)
7 Sec. 5.855. The Stroke Data Collection Fund.

8 Section 10. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems 
9Act is amended by changing Sections 3.116, 3.117, 3.117.5, 
103.118, 3.118.5, 3.119, and 3.226 and by adding Section 3.117.75 
11as follows:

12 (210 ILCS 50/3.116)
13 Sec. 3.116. Hospital Stroke Care; definitions. As used in 
14Sections 3.116 through 3.119, 3.130, 3.200, and 3.226 of this 
15Act:
16 "Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital" means a hospital that has 
17been designated by the Department as meeting the criteria for 
18providing emergent stroke care. Designation may be provided 
19after a hospital has been certified or through application and 
20designation as such. 
21 "Certification" or "certified" means certification, using 
 
 
SB3520- 2 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1evidence-based standards, from a nationally-recognized 
2certifying body approved by the Department.
3 "Comprehensive Stroke Center" means a hospital that has 
4been certified and has been designated as such. 
5 "Designation" or "designated" means the Department's 
6recognition of a hospital as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, 
7Primary Stroke Center, or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent 
8Stroke Ready Hospital.
9 "Emergent stroke care" is emergency medical care that 
10includes diagnosis and emergency medical treatment of acute 
11stroke patients.
12 "Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital" means a hospital that has 
13been designated by the Department as meeting the criteria for 
14providing emergent stroke care. 
15 "Primary Stroke Center" means a hospital that has been 
16certified by a Department-approved, nationally-recognized 
17certifying body and designated as such by the Department.
18 "Regional Stroke Advisory Subcommittee" means a 
19subcommittee formed within each Regional EMS Advisory 
20Committee to advise the Director and the Region's EMS Medical 
21Directors Committee on the triage, treatment, and transport of 
22possible acute stroke patients and to select the Region's 
23representative to the State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee. At 
24minimum, the Regional Stroke Advisory Subcommittee shall 
25consist of: one representative from the EMS Medical Directors 
26Committee; one EMS coordinator from a Resource Hospital; one 
 
 
SB3520- 3 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1administrative representative or his or her designee from each 
2level of stroke care, including Comprehensive Stroke Centers 
3within the Region, if any, Primary Stroke Centers within the 
4Region, if any, and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals within the 
5Region, if any; one physician from each level of stroke care, 
6including one physician who is a neurologist or who provides 
7advanced stroke care at a Comprehensive Stroke Center in the 
8Region, if any, one physician who is a neurologist or who 
9provides acute stroke care at a Primary Stroke Center in the 
10Region, if any, and one physician who provides acute stroke 
11care at an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital in the Region, if any; 
12one nurse practicing in each level of stroke care, including 
13one nurse from a Comprehensive Stroke Center in the Region, if 
14any, one nurse from a Primary Stroke Center in the Region, if 
15any, and one nurse from an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital in the 
16Region, if any; one representative from both a public and a 
17private vehicle service provider that transports possible 
18acute stroke patients within the Region; the State-designated 
19regional EMS Coordinator; and a fire chief or his or her 
20designee from the EMS Region, if the region serves a population 
21of more than 2,000,000. The Regional Stroke Advisory 
22Subcommittee shall establish bylaws to ensure equal membership 
23that rotates and clearly delineates committee responsibilities 
24and structure. Of the members first appointed, one-third shall 
25be appointed for a term of one year, one-third shall be 
26appointed for a term of 2 years, and the remaining members 
 
 
SB3520- 4 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. The terms of 
2subsequent appointees shall be 3 years. The Regional Stroke 
3Advisory Subcommittee shall consist of one representative from 
4the EMS Medical Directors Committee; equal numbers of 
5administrative representatives, or their designees, from 
6Primary Stroke Centers within the Region, if any, and from 
7hospitals that are capable of providing emergent stroke care 
8that are not Primary Stroke Centers within the Region; one 
9neurologist from a Primary Stroke Center in the Region, if any; 
10one nurse practicing in a Primary Stroke Center and one nurse 
11from a hospital capable of providing emergent stroke care that 
12is not a Primary Stroke Center; one representative from both a 
13public and a private vehicle service provider which transports 
14possible acute stroke patients within the Region; the State 
15designated regional EMS Coordinator; and in regions that serve 
16a population of over 2,000,000, a fire chief, or designee, from 
17the EMS Region.
18 "State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee" means a standing 
19advisory body within the State Emergency Medical Services 
20Advisory Council.

21(Source: P.A. 96-514, eff. 1-1-10.)

22 (210 ILCS 50/3.117)
23 Sec. 3.117. Hospital Designations.
24 (a) The Department shall attempt to designate Primary 
25Stroke Centers in all areas of the State.
 
 
SB3520- 5 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1  (1) The Department shall designate as many certified

2 Primary Stroke Centers as apply for that designation 
3 provided they are certified by a nationally-recognized 
4 certifying body, approved by the Department, and 
5 certification criteria are consistent with the most 
6 current nationally-recognized, evidence-based stroke 
7 guidelines related to reducing the occurrence, 
8 disabilities, and death associated with stroke.
9  (2) A hospital certified as a Primary Stroke Center by 
10 a nationally-recognized certifying body approved by the 
11 Department, shall send a copy of the Certificate and annual 
12 fee to the Department and shall be deemed, within 30 
13 business days of its receipt by the Department, to be a 
14 State-designated Primary Stroke Center.
15  (3) A center designated as a Primary Stroke Center 
16 shall pay an annual fee as determined by the Department 
17 that shall be no less than $100 and no greater than $500. 
18 All fees shall be deposited into the Stroke Data Collection 
19 Fund.
20  (3.5) With respect to a hospital that is a designated 
21 Primary Stroke Center, the Department shall have the 
22 authority and responsibility to do the following:
23   (A) Suspend or revoke a hospital's Primary Stroke 
24 Center designation upon receiving notice that the 
25 hospital's Primary Stroke Center certification has 
26 lapsed or has been revoked by the State recognized 
 
 
SB3520- 6 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 certifying body.
2   (B) Suspend a hospital's Primary Stroke Center 
3 designation, in extreme circumstances where patients 
4 may be at risk for immediate harm or death, until such 
5 time as the certifying body investigates and makes a 
6 final determination regarding certification.
7   (C) Restore any previously suspended or revoked 
8 Department designation upon notice to the Department 
9 that the certifying body has confirmed or restored the 
10 Primary Stroke Center certification of that previously 
11 designated hospital.
12   (D) Suspend a hospital's Primary Stroke Center 
13 designation at the request of a hospital seeking to 
14 suspend its own Department designation.
15  (4) Primary Stroke Center designation shall remain 
16 valid at all times while the hospital maintains its 
17 certification as a Primary Stroke Center, in good standing, 
18 with the certifying body. The duration of a Primary Stroke 
19 Center designation shall coincide with the duration of its 
20 Primary Stroke Center certification. Each designated 
21 Primary Stroke Center shall have its designation 
22 automatically renewed upon the Department's receipt of a 
23 copy of the accrediting body's certification renewal.
24  (5) A hospital that no longer meets 
25 nationally-recognized, evidence-based standards for 
26 Primary Stroke Centers, or loses its Primary Stroke Center 
 
 
SB3520- 7 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 certification, shall immediately notify the Department and 
2 the Regional EMS Advisory Committee within 5 business days.
3 (a-5) The Department shall attempt to designate 
4Comprehensive Stroke Centers in all areas of the State.
5  (1) The Department shall designate as many certified 
6 Comprehensive Stroke Centers as apply for that 
7 designation, provided that the Comprehensive Stroke 
8 Centers are certified and are approved by the Department, 
9 and provided that the certifying body's certification 
10 criteria are consistent with the most current 
11 nationally-recognized and evidence-based stroke guidelines 
12 for reducing the occurrence of stroke and the disabilities 
13 and death associated with stroke.
14  (2) A hospital certified as a Comprehensive Stroke 
15 Center shall send a copy of the Certificate and annual
fee 
16 to the Department and shall be deemed, within 30
business 
17 days of its receipt by the Department, to be a

18 State-designated Comprehensive Stroke Center.
19  (3) A hospital designated as a Comprehensive Stroke 
20 Center shall pay an annual fee as determined by the 
21 Department that shall be no less than $100 and no greater 
22 than $500. All fees shall be deposited into the Stroke Data 
23 Collection Fund.
24  (4) With respect to a hospital that is a designated 
25 Comprehensive Stroke Center, the Department shall have the 
26 authority and responsibility to do the following:
 
 
SB3520- 8 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1   (A) Suspend or revoke the hospital's Comprehensive 
2 Stroke Center designation upon receiving notice that 
3 the hospital's Comprehensive Stroke Center 
4 certification has lapsed or has been revoked by the 
5 State recognized certifying body.
6   (B) Suspend the hospital's Comprehensive Stroke 
7 Center designation, in extreme circumstances in which 
8 patients may be at risk
for immediate harm or death, 
9 until such time as the certifying body investigates and 
10 makes a final determination regarding certification.
11   (C) Restore any previously suspended or revoked 
12 Department designation upon notice to the Department 
13 that the certifying body has confirmed or restored the 
14 Comprehensive Stroke Center certification of that 
15 previously designated hospital.
16   (D) Suspend the hospital's Comprehensive Stroke 
17 Center designation at the request of a hospital seeking 
18 to suspend its own Department designation.
19  (5) Comprehensive Stroke Center designation shall 
20 remain valid at all times while the hospital maintains its 
21 certification as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, in good 
22 standing, with the certifying body. The duration of a 
23 Comprehensive Stroke Center designation shall coincide 
24 with the duration of its Comprehensive Stroke Center 
25 certification. Each designated Comprehensive Stroke Center 
26 shall have its designation automatically renewed upon the 
 
 
SB3520- 9 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 Department's receipt of a copy of the certifying body's 
2 certification renewal.
3  (6) A hospital that no longer meets 
4 nationally-recognized, evidence-based standards for 
5 Comprehensive Stroke Centers, or loses its Comprehensive 
6 Stroke Center certification, shall notify the Department 
7 and the Regional EMS Advisory Committee within 5 business 
8 days. 
9 (b) The Department shall attempt to designate hospitals as 
10Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals 
11capable of providing emergent stroke care in all areas of the 
12State. Designation may be approved by the Department after a 
13hospital has been certified as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
14or through application and designation by the Department. 
15  (1) (Blank). The Department shall designate as many 
16 Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals as apply for that 
17 designation as long as they meet the criteria in this Act.
18  (2) Hospitals may apply for, and receive, Acute 
19 Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital 
20 designation from the Department, provided that the 
21 hospital attests, on a form developed by the Department in 
22 consultation with the State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee, 
23 that it meets, and will continue to meet, the criteria for 
24 Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital designation and pays an annual 
25 fee Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital designation.
26  A hospital designated as an Acute Stroke-Ready 
 
 
SB3520- 10 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 Hospital shall pay an annual fee as determined by the 
2 Department that shall be no less than $100 and no greater 
3 than $500. All fees shall be deposited into the Stroke Data 
4 Collection Fund. 
5  (2.5) A hospital may apply for, and receive, Acute 
6 Stroke-Ready Hospital designation from the Department, 
7 provided that the hospital provides proof of current Acute 
8 Stroke-Ready Hospital certification and the hospital pays 
9 an annual fee. 
10   (A) Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital designation shall 
11 remain valid at all times while the hospital maintains 
12 its certification as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital, 
13 in good standing, with the certifying body.
14   (B) The duration of an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
15 designation shall coincide with the duration of its 
16 Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital certification.
17   (C) Each designated Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
18 shall have its designation automatically renewed upon 
19 the Department's receipt of a copy of the certifying 
20 body's certification renewal and Request for 
21 Department Acute Stroke-Ready Designation Form.
22   (D) A hospital must submit a copy of its 
23 certification renewal from the certifying body as soon 
24 as practical but no later than 30 business days after 
25 that certification is received by the hospital. Upon 
26 the Department's receipt of the renewal certification, 
 
 
SB3520- 11 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 the Department shall renew the hospital's Acute 
2 Stroke-Ready Hospital designation.
3   (E) A hospital designated as an Acute Stroke-Ready 
4 Hospital shall pay an annual fee as determined by the 
5 Department that shall be no less than $100 and no 
6 greater than $500. All fees shall be deposited into the 
7 Stroke Data Collection Fund. 
8  (3) Hospitals seeking Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
9 Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital designation that do not have 
10 certification shall develop policies and procedures that 
11 are consistent with consider nationally-recognized, 
12 evidence-based protocols for the provision of emergent 
13 stroke care. Hospital policies relating to emergent stroke 
14 care and stroke patient outcomes shall be reviewed at least 
15 annually, or more often as needed, by a hospital committee 
16 that oversees quality improvement. Adjustments shall be 
17 made as necessary to advance the quality of stroke care 
18 delivered. Criteria for Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
19 Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital designation of hospitals 
20 shall be limited to the ability of a hospital to:
21   (A) create written acute care protocols related to 
22 emergent stroke care;
23   (A-5) participate in the data collection system 
24 provided in Section 3.118, if available; 
25   (B) maintain a written transfer agreement with one 
26 or more hospitals that have neurosurgical expertise;
 
 
SB3520- 12 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1   (C) designate a director of stroke care, which may 
2 be a clinical member of the hospital staff or the 
3 designee of the hospital administrator, to oversee the 
4 hospital's stroke care policies and procedures;
5   (C-5) staff an acute stroke team in accordance with 
6 national guidelines; 
7   (D) administer thrombolytic therapy, or 
8 subsequently developed medical therapies that meet 
9 nationally-recognized, evidence-based stroke 
10 guidelines;
11   (E) conduct brain image tests at all times;
12   (F) conduct blood coagulation studies at all 
13 times; and
14   (G) maintain a log of stroke patients, which shall 
15 be available for review upon request by the Department 
16 or any hospital that has a written transfer agreement 
17 with the Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital; Emergent Stroke 
18 Ready Hospital.
19   (H) admit stroke patients to a stroke unit or 
20 transfer stroke patients to an Acute Stroke-Ready 
21 Hospital, Primary Stroke Center, or Comprehensive 
22 Stroke Center with a stroke unit available; and
23   (I) demonstrate compliance with 
24 nationally-recognized quality indicators. 
25  (4) With respect to Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
26 Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital designation, the Department 
 
 
SB3520- 13 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 shall have the authority and responsibility to do the 
2 following:
3   (A) Require hospitals applying for Acute 
4 Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital 
5 designation to attest, on a form developed by the 
6 Department in consultation with the State Stroke 
7 Advisory Subcommittee, that the hospital meets, and 
8 will continue to meet, the criteria for an Acute 
9 Stroke-Ready a Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital.
10   (A-5) Require hospitals applying for Acute 
11 Stroke-Ready Hospital designation via national Acute 
12 Stroke-Ready Hospital certification to provide proof 
13 of current Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital certification, 
14 in good standing. 
15   The Department shall require a hospital that is 
16 already certified as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital to 
17 send a copy of the Certificate to the Department.
18   Within 30 business days of the Department's 
19 receipt of a hospital's Acute Stroke-Ready Certificate 
20 and Request for Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
21 Designation Form that indicates that the hospital is a 
22 certified Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital, in good 
23 standing, the hospital shall be deemed a 
24 State-designated Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital. The 
25 Department shall send a designation notice to each 
26 hospital that it designates as an Acute Stroke-Ready 
 
 
SB3520- 14 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 Hospital and shall add the names of designated Acute 
2 Stroke-Ready Hospitals to the website listing 
3 immediately upon designation. The Department shall 
4 immediately remove the name of a hospital from the 
5 website listing when a hospital loses its designation 
6 after notice and, if requested by the hospital, a 
7 hearing.
8   The Department shall develop a Request for Acute 
9 Stroke-Ready Hospital Designation form that contains a 
10 statement that "The above named facility meets the 
11 requirements for Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
12 Designation as provided in Section 3.117 of the 
13 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems Act" and 
14 shall instruct the applicant facility to provide: the 
15 hospital name and address; the hospital CEO or 
16 Administrator's typed name and signature; the hospital 
17 Stroke Medical Director's typed name and signature; 
18 and a contact person's typed name, email address, and 
19 phone number. 
20   The Request for Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
21 Designation form shall contain a statement that 
22 instructs the hospital to "Provide proof of current 
23 Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital certification from a 
24 nationally-recognized certifying body approved by the 
25 Department". 
26   (B) Designate a hospital as an Acute Stroke-Ready 
 
 
SB3520- 15 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 Hospital Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital no more than 30 
2 20 business days after receipt of an attestation that 
3 meets the requirements for attestation, unless the 
4 Department, within 30 days of receipt of the 
5 attestation, chooses to conduct an onsite survey prior 
6 to designation. If the Department chooses to conduct an 
7 onsite survey prior to designation, then the onsite 
8 survey shall be conducted within 90 days of receipt of 
9 the attestation.
10   (C) Require annual written attestation, on a form 
11 developed by the Department in consultation with the 
12 State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee, by Acute 
13 Stroke-Ready Hospitals Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals 
14 to indicate compliance with Acute Stroke-Ready 
15 Hospital Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital criteria, as 
16 described in this Section, and automatically renew 
17 Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent Stroke Ready 
18 Hospital designation of the hospital.
19   (D) Issue an Emergency Suspension of Acute 
20 Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital 
21 designation when the Director, or his or her designee, 
22 has determined that the hospital no longer meets the 
23 Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent Stroke Ready 
24 Hospital criteria and an immediate and serious danger 
25 to the public health, safety, and welfare exists. If 
26 the Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent Stroke Ready 
 
 
SB3520- 16 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 Hospital fails to eliminate the violation immediately 
2 or within a fixed period of time, not exceeding 10 
3 days, as determined by the Director, the Director may 
4 immediately revoke the Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
5 Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital designation. The Acute 
6 Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital 
7 may appeal the revocation within 15 business days after 
8 receiving the Director's revocation order, by 
9 requesting an administrative hearing.
10   (E) After notice and an opportunity for an 
11 administrative hearing, suspend, revoke, or refuse to 
12 renew an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent Stroke 
13 Ready Hospital designation, when the Department finds 
14 the hospital is not in substantial compliance with 
15 current Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent Stroke 
16 Ready Hospital criteria.
17 (c) The Department shall consult with the State Stroke 
18Advisory Subcommittee for developing the designation, 
19re-designation, and de-designation processes for Comprehensive 
20Stroke Centers, for Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute 
21Stroke-Ready Hospitals Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals.

22 (d) The Department shall consult with the State Stroke 
23Advisory Subcommittee as subject matter experts at least 
24annually regarding stroke standards of care. 
25(Source: P.A. 96-514, eff. 1-1-10; revised 11-12-13.)

 
 
SB3520- 17 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 (210 ILCS 50/3.117.5)
2 Sec. 3.117.5. Hospital Stroke Care; grants.
3 (a) In order to encourage the establishment and retention 
4of Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, and 
5Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals 
6throughout the State, the Director may award, subject to 
7appropriation, matching grants to hospitals to be used for the 
8acquisition and maintenance of necessary infrastructure, 
9including personnel, equipment, and pharmaceuticals for the 
10diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke patients. Grants may be 
11used to pay the fee for certifications by Department approved 
12nationally-recognized certifying bodies or to provide 
13additional training for directors of stroke care or for 
14hospital staff.
15 (b) The Director may award grant moneys to Comprehensive 
16Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready 
17Hospitals Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals for developing or 
18enlarging stroke networks, for stroke education, and to enhance 
19the ability of the EMS System to respond to possible acute 
20stroke patients.
21 (c) A Comprehensive Stroke Center, Primary Stroke Center, 
22or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital, 
23or a hospital seeking certification as a Comprehensive Stroke 
24Center, Primary Stroke Center, or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
25or designation as an Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital, Emergent 
26Stroke Ready Hospital may apply to the Director for a matching 
 
 
SB3520- 18 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1grant in a manner and form specified by the Director and shall 
2provide information as the Director deems necessary to 
3determine whether the hospital is eligible for the grant.
4 (d) Matching grant awards shall be made to Comprehensive 
5Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, Acute Stroke-Ready 
6Hospitals Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals, or hospitals 
7seeking certification or designation as a Comprehensive Stroke 
8Center, Primary Stroke Center, or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital 
9designation as an Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital. The 
10Department may consider prioritizing grant awards to hospitals 
11in areas with the highest incidence of stroke, taking into 
12account geographic diversity, where possible.

13(Source: P.A. 96-514, eff. 1-1-10.)

14 (210 ILCS 50/3.117.75 new)
15 Sec. 3.117.75 . Stroke Data Collection Fund.
16 (a) The Stroke Data Collection Fund is created as a special 
17fund in the State treasury.
18 (b) Moneys in the fund shall be used by the Department to 
19support the data collection provided for in Section 3.118 of 
20this Act. Any surplus funds beyond what are needed to support 
21the data collection provided for in Section 3.118 of this Act 
22shall be used by the Department to support the salary of the 
23Department Stroke Coordinator or for other stroke-care 
24initiatives, including administrative oversight of stroke 
25care.

 
 
SB3520- 19 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 (210 ILCS 50/3.118)
2 Sec. 3.118. Reporting.
3 (a) The Director shall, not later than July 1, 2012, 
4prepare and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a 
5report indicating the total number of hospitals that have 
6applied for grants, the project for which the application was 
7submitted, the number of those applicants that have been found 
8eligible for the grants, the total number of grants awarded, 
9the name and address of each grantee, and the amount of the 
10award issued to each grantee.
11 (b) By July 1, 2010, the Director shall send the list of 
12designated Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke 
13Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals designated Emergent 
14Stroke Ready Hospitals to all Resource Hospital EMS Medical 
15Directors in this State and shall post a list of designated 
16Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, and 
17Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals 
18on the Department's website, which shall be continuously 
19updated.
20 (c) The Department shall add the names of designated 
21Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, and 
22Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals 
23to the website listing immediately upon designation and shall 
24immediately remove the name when a hospital loses its 
25designation after notice and a hearing.
 
 
SB3520- 20 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 (d) Stroke data collection systems and all stroke-related 
2data collected from hospitals shall comply with the following 
3requirements:
4  (1) The confidentiality of patient records shall be 
5 maintained in accordance with State and federal laws.
6  (2) Hospital proprietary information and the names of 
7 any hospital administrator, health care professional, or 
8 employee shall not be subject to disclosure.
9  (3) Information submitted to the Department shall be 
10 privileged and strictly confidential and shall be used only 
11 for the evaluation and improvement of hospital stroke care. 
12 Stroke data collected by the Department shall not be 
13 directly available to the public and shall not be subject 
14 to civil subpoena, nor discoverable or admissible in any 
15 civil, criminal, or administrative proceeding against a 
16 health care facility or health care professional.
17 (e) The Department may administer a data collection system 
18to collect data that is already reported by designated 
19Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, and 
20Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals to their certifying body, to 
21fulfill Primary Stroke Center certification requirements. 
22Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, and 
23Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals may provide data used in 
24submission complete copies of the same reports that are 
25submitted to their certifying body, to satisfy any Department 
26reporting requirements. The Department may require submission 
 
 
SB3520- 21 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1of data elements in a format that is used State-wide. In the 
2event the Department establishes reporting requirements for 
3designated Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke 
4Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals, the Department 
5shall permit each designated Comprehensive Stroke Center, 
6Primary Stroke Center, or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital to 
7capture information using existing electronic reporting tools 
8used for certification purposes. Nothing in this Section shall 
9be construed to empower the Department to specify the form of 
10internal recordkeeping. Three years from the effective date of 
11this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the 
12Department may post stroke data submitted by Comprehensive 
13Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready 
14Hospitals on its website, subject to the following:
15  (1) Data collection and analytical methodologies shall 
16 be used that meet accepted standards of validity and 
17 reliability before any information is made available to the 
18 public.
19  (2) The limitations of the data sources and analytic 
20 methodologies used to develop comparative hospital 
21 information shall be clearly identified and acknowledged, 
22 including, but not limited to, the appropriate and 
23 inappropriate uses of the data.
24  (3) To the greatest extent possible, comparative 
25 hospital information initiatives shall use standard-based 
26 norms derived from widely accepted provider-developed 
 
 
SB3520- 22 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 practice guidelines.
2  (4) Comparative hospital information and other 
3 information that the Department has compiled regarding 
4 hospitals shall be shared with the hospitals under review 
5 prior to public dissemination of the information. 
6 Hospitals have 30 days to make corrections and to add 
7 helpful explanatory comments about the information before 
8 the publication.
9  (5) Comparisons among hospitals shall adjust for 
10 patient case mix and other relevant risk factors and 
11 control for provider peer groups, when appropriate.
12  (6) Effective safeguards to protect against the 
13 unauthorized use or disclosure of hospital information 
14 shall be developed and implemented.
15  (7) Effective safeguards to protect against the 
16 dissemination of inconsistent, incomplete, invalid, 
17 inaccurate, or subjective hospital data shall be developed 
18 and implemented.
19  (8) The quality and accuracy of hospital information 
20 reported under this Act and its data collection, analysis, 
21 and dissemination methodologies shall be evaluated 
22 regularly.
23  (9) None of the information the Department discloses to 
24 the public under this Act may be used to establish a 
25 standard of care in a private civil action.
26  (10) The Department shall disclose information under 
 
 
SB3520- 23 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 this Section in accordance with provisions for inspection 
2 and copying of public records required by the Freedom of 
3 Information Act, provided that the information satisfies 
4 the provisions of this Section.
5  (11) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, under 
6 no circumstances shall the Department disclose information 
7 obtained from a hospital that is confidential under Part 21 
8 of Article VIII of the Code of Civil Procedure.
9  (12) No hospital report or Department disclosure may 
10 contain information identifying a patient, employee, or 
11 licensed professional.

12(Source: P.A. 96-514, eff. 1-1-10.)

13 (210 ILCS 50/3.118.5)
14 Sec. 3.118.5. State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee; triage 
15and transport of possible acute stroke patients.
16 (a) There shall be established within the State Emergency 
17Medical Services Advisory Council, or other statewide body 
18responsible for emergency health care, a standing State Stroke 
19Advisory Subcommittee, which shall serve as an advisory body to 
20the Council and the Department on matters related to the 
21triage, treatment, and transport of possible acute stroke 
22patients. Membership on the Committee shall be as 
23geographically diverse as possible and include one 
24representative from each Regional Stroke Advisory 
25Subcommittee, to be chosen by each Regional Stroke Advisory 
 
 
SB3520- 24 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1Subcommittee. The Director shall appoint additional members, 
2as needed, to ensure there is adequate representation from the 
3following:
4  (1) an EMS Medical Director;
5  (2) a hospital administrator, or designee, from a 
6 Comprehensive Stroke Center Primary Stroke Center;
7  (3) a hospital administrator, or designee, from a 
8 hospital capable of providing emergent stroke care that is 
9 not a Primary Stroke Center;
10  (3.5) a hospital administrator, or designee, from an 
11 Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital;
12  (3.10) a registered nurse from a Comprehensive Stroke 
13 Center; 
14  (4) a registered nurse from a Primary Stroke Center;
15  (5) a registered nurse from an Acute Stroke-Ready 
16 Hospital a hospital capable of providing emergent stroke 
17 care that is not a Primary Stroke Center;
18  (5.5) a physician providing advanced stroke care from a 
19 Comprehensive Stroke center; 
20  (6) a a physician providing stroke care neurologist 
21 from a Primary Stroke Center;
22  (7) a physician providing stroke care from an Acute 
23 Stroke-Ready Hospital an emergency department physician 
24 from a hospital, capable of providing emergent stroke care, 
25 that is not a Primary Stroke Center;
26  (8) an EMS Coordinator;
 
 
SB3520- 25 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1  (9) an acute stroke patient advocate;
2  (10) a fire chief, or designee, from an EMS Region that 
3 serves a population of over 2,000,000 people;
4  (11) a fire chief, or designee, from a rural EMS 
5 Region;
6  (12) a representative from a private ambulance 
7 provider; and
8  (12.5) a representative from a municipal EMS provider; 
9 and 
10  (13) a representative from the State Emergency Medical 
11 Services Advisory Council.
12 (b) Of the members first appointed, 9 7 members shall be 
13appointed for a term of one year, 9 7 members shall be 
14appointed for a term of 2 years, and the remaining members 
15shall be appointed for a term of 3 years. The terms of 
16subsequent appointees shall be 3 years.
17 (c) The State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee shall be 
18provided a 90-day period in which to review and comment upon 
19all rules proposed by the Department pursuant to this Act 
20concerning stroke care, except for emergency rules adopted 
21pursuant to Section 5-45 of the Illinois Administrative 
22Procedure Act. The 90-day review and comment period shall 
23commence prior to publication of the proposed rules and upon 
24the Department's submission of the proposed rules to the 
25individual Committee members, if the Committee is not meeting 
26at the time the proposed rules are ready for Committee review.
 
 
SB3520- 26 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1 (d) The State Stroke Advisory Subcommittee shall develop 
2and submit an evidence-based statewide stroke assessment tool 
3to clinically evaluate potential stroke patients to the 
4Department for final approval. Upon approval, the Department 
5shall disseminate the tool to all EMS Systems for adoption. The 
6Director shall post the Department-approved stroke assessment 
7tool on the Department's website. The State Stroke Advisory 
8Subcommittee shall review the Department-approved stroke 
9assessment tool at least annually to ensure its clinical 
10relevancy and to make changes when clinically warranted.
11 (d-5) Each EMS Regional Stroke Advisory Subcommittee shall 
12submit recommendations for continuing education for 
13pre-hospital personnel to that Region's EMS Medical Directors 
14Committee. 
15 (e) Nothing in this Section shall preclude the State Stroke 
16Advisory Subcommittee from reviewing and commenting on 
17proposed rules which fall under the purview of the State 
18Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council. Nothing in this 
19Section shall preclude the Emergency Medical Services Advisory 
20Council from reviewing and commenting on proposed rules which 
21fall under the purview of the State Stroke Advisory 
22Subcommittee.
23 (f) The Director shall coordinate with and assist the EMS 
24System Medical Directors and Regional Stroke Advisory 
25Subcommittee within each EMS Region to establish protocols 
26related to the assessment, treatment, and transport of possible 
 
 
SB3520- 27 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1acute stroke patients by licensed emergency medical services 
2providers. These protocols shall include regional transport 
3plans for the triage and transport of possible acute stroke 
4patients to the most appropriate Comprehensive Stroke Center, 
5Primary Stroke Center, or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital Emergent 
6Stroke Ready Hospital, unless circumstances warrant otherwise.

7(Source: P.A. 96-514, eff. 1-1-10.)

8 (210 ILCS 50/3.119)
9 Sec. 3.119. Stroke Care; restricted practices. Sections in 
10this Act pertaining to Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary 
11Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals Emergent 
12Stroke Ready Hospitals are not medical practice guidelines and 
13shall not be used to restrict the authority of a hospital to 
14provide services for which it has received a license under 
15State law.

16(Source: P.A. 96-514, eff. 1-1-10.)

17 (210 ILCS 50/3.226)
18 Sec. 3.226. Hospital Stroke Care Fund.
19 (a) The Hospital Stroke Care Fund is created as a special 
20fund in the State treasury for the purpose of receiving 
21appropriations, donations, and grants collected by the 
22Illinois Department of Public Health pursuant to Department 
23designation of Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke 
24Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals Emergent Stroke 
 
 
SB3520- 28 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1Ready Hospitals. All moneys collected by the Department 
2pursuant to its authority to designate Comprehensive Stroke 
3Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, and Acute Stroke-Ready 
4Hospitals Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals shall be deposited 
5into the Fund, to be used for the purposes in subsection (b).
6 (b) The purpose of the Fund is to allow the Director of the 
7Department to award matching grants:
8  (1) to hospitals that have been certified as 
9 Comprehensive Stroke Centers, Primary Stroke Centers, or 
10 Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals;
11  (2) to hospitals that seek certification or 
12 designation or both as Comprehensive Stroke Centers, 
13 Primary Stroke Centers, or Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals;
14  (3) to hospitals that have been designated Acute 
15 Stroke-Ready Hospitals;
16  (4) to hospitals that seek designation as Acute 
17 Stroke-Ready Hospitals; and
18  (5) for the development of stroke networks.
19 Hospitals may use grant funds to work with the EMS System 
20to improve outcomes of possible acute stroke patients.
21 (b) The purpose of the Fund is to allow the Director of the 
22Department to award matching grants to hospitals that have been 
23certified Primary Stroke Centers, that seek certification or 
24designation or both as Primary Stroke Centers, that have been 
25designated Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals, that seek 
26designation as Emergent Stroke Ready Hospitals, and for the 
 
 
SB3520- 29 -LRB098 18128 RPS 53257 b


1development of stroke networks. Hospitals may use grant funds 
2to work with the EMS System to improve outcomes of possible 
3acute stroke patients.
4 (c) Moneys deposited in the Hospital Stroke Care Fund shall 
5be allocated according to the hospital needs within each EMS 
6region and used solely for the purposes described in this Act.
7 (d) Interfund transfers from the Hospital Stroke Care Fund 
8shall be prohibited.

9(Source: P.A. 96-514, eff. 1-1-10.)