<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".05" citation="COMAR 30.08.11.05" title_num="30" subtitle_num="08" chapter_num="11" heading="Stroke Team.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>The hospital shall establish one or more acute stroke teams which shall respond to the emergency department with coordinated services for the effective delivery of emergency and acute stroke treatment.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Presence at Bedside.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A member of the emergency department clinical staff shall evaluate each patient with stroke-like symptoms within 10 minutes of the patient’s arrival at the emergency department.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>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.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) shall be used for the initial and serial assessment of patients with acute stroke. Clinicians performing an NIHSS will have documented training in the completion of the NIHSS.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>The acute stroke team shall include at a minimum:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A physician with special competence in caring for the acute stroke patient who is Board certified or Board eligible in:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Neurology;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Critical care medicine;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Emergency medicine;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Family medicine; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Internal medicine; and</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>At least one additional health care provider with experience in caring for the acute stroke patient who may be:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>An emergency physician;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A family medicine physician;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>An internist;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>A neurology resident or fellow;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A registered nurse;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>A physician's assistant; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>A nurse practitioner.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>If the physician who satisfies §C(1) 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:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Telephone; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Audio/visual communication.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>