Massachusetts is set to improve stroke care for patients with a new triage framework for emergency medical services, reports State House News Service reporter A
The state Department of Public Health has been mandated to develop a tiered system within 180 days, allowing patients to be transported to hospitals with specific designations for stroke care. This includes the capability to treat severe strokes.
The shift in policy, embedded in a $56 billion budget signed by Gov. Maura Healey, deviates from the previous requirement of taking patients to the nearest hospital, even if it lacks adequate stroke treatment facilities, reports the newspaper.
The American Stroke Association applauded this change in a statement from volunteer medical expert Dr. Lester Leung, a neurologist at Tufts Medical Center. Leung emphasized the potential for improved patient outcomes.
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