Section 31-11-113. Certification; application process; inspections

   (a) A hospital identified as a primary stroke center shall be certified as such by a nationally recognized health care accreditation body. Any hospital wishing to receive official identification under this Code section must submit a written application to the department, providing adequate documentation of the hospital's valid certification as a primary stroke center by the commission.

(b) Remote treatment stroke centers shall be certified and identified by the department through an application process to be determined by the department. Said process shall contain, at minimum, the following requirements:

   (1) Remote treatment stroke center certifications and identifications by the department are limited to those hospitals that utilize current and acceptable telemedicine protocols relative to acute stroke treatment as defined by the department;

   (2) Upon receipt of complete and proper application for certification as a remote treatment stroke center, the department shall schedule and conduct an inspection of the applicant's facility no later than 90 days after receipt of application; and

   (3) Any hospital, upon certification by the department as a remote treatment stroke center, shall automatically be identified as a remote treatment stroke center and shall be added to the list of such hospitals as defined in subsection (a) of Code Section 31-11-115.

(c) Primary stroke centers are encouraged to coordinate, through agreement, with remote treatment stroke centers throughout the state to provide appropriate access to care for acute stroke patients. The coordinating stroke care agreements shall be in writing and include at minimum:

   (1) Transfer agreements for the transport and acceptance of all stroke patients seen by the remote treatment stroke center for stroke treatment therapies which the remote treatment stroke center is not capable of providing; and

   (2) Communication criteria and protocols with the remote treatment stroke centers.

Code 1981, § 31-11-113, enacted by Ga. L. 2008, p. 1102, § 2/SB 549; Ga. L. 2012, p. 337, § 6/SB 361.