The Florida Legislature recently passed “CS/CS/SB 1460: Stroke Centers,” a bill that seeks to improve first responders’ access to hospitals that provide thrombectomy.
W. Christopher Fox, M.D., associate professor of neurosurgery, was among five physicians specializing in stroke around the state who met with state legislators to discuss the importance of the bill and explain the state of stroke care in Florida.
The new bill will require Florida’s Department of Health to send a list of thrombectomy-capable stroke centers to EMS.
“It’s critical that patients and emergency medical services identify the best hospitals for comprehensive stroke treatment, and this bill will ensure that happens,” said Fox.
The bill is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2019.
“Severe stroke patients who receive thrombectomy leave the hospital sooner and are twice as likely to be independent within 90 days,” said Dr. Adam S. Arthur, president of the Society of NeuroInterventional Surgery in a PR Newswire release. “Florida is now part of the growing movement recognizing that patients deserve appropriate care by trained neurointerventionalists at high-volume stroke centers.”
Read a PR Newswire release about the bill.
Learn more about stroke in this video by Brian Hoh, M.D., chair of neurosurgery.