Section  515.5050  Acute Stroke-Ready Hospital (ASRH) Designation without National Certification 

a)         The Department recognizes that diagnostic capabilities and treatment modalities for the care of stroke patients will change because of rapid advances in science and medicine.  Nothing in this Part shall prohibit a hospital, without designation, from providing emergency stroke care.  Requirements pertaining to Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals shall not be used to restrict the authority of a hospital to provide services for which it has received a license under State law.

b)         Upon receipt of hospital applications, the Department shall attempt to designate hospitals as Acute Stroke-Ready Hospitals in all areas of the State. For any hospital that is designated as an Emergent Stroke Ready Hospital at the time that the Department begins the designation of ASRHs, the Emergent Stroke Ready designation shall remain intact for the duration of the 12 month period. (Section 3.117(b) of the Act) The ESRH will convert to ASRH at the time of the hospital's renewal application or annual attestation to the Department.

c)         The Department shall attempt to designate hospitals as ASRHs in all areas of the State as long as they meet the criteria in this Section.  (Section 3.117(b) of the Act)

d)         Any hospital seeking designation as an ASRH shall apply for and receive ASRH designation from the Department, provided that the hospital attests, on an application available through the Department (see Section 515.5060), that it meets, and will continue to meet, the criteria for ASRH designation and pays an annual fee. (Section 3.117(b)(2) of the Act) The Department will post and maintain ASRH designation instructions, including the request form, on its website.

e)         Upon receipt of a completed application available through the Department attesting that the hospital meets the criteria set forth in the Act and this Part, signed by a hospital administrator or designee, the Department will designate a hospital as an ASRH no more than 30 business days after receipt of an attestation that meets the requirements for attestation in Section 515.5070(a), unless the Department, within 30 days after receipt of the attestation, chooses to conduct an onsite survey prior to designation.  If the Department chooses to conduct an onsite survey prior to designation, then the onsite survey shall be conducted within 90 days after receipt of the attestation. (Section 3.117(b)(4)(B) of the Act) The Department will notify the hospital of the designation in writing.  The Department has the authority to conduct on-site visits to assess compliance with this Part.

f)         The Department shall add the names of designated ASRHs to the website listing immediately upon designation (Section 3.118(c) of the Act) and shall immediately remove the name of a hospital from the website listing when a hospital loses its designation after notice and, if requested by the hospital, a hearing (Section 3.117(b)(4)(A-5) of the Act).

g)         The Department will require annual written attestation by ASRHs to indicate compliance with ASRH criteria, as described in the Act and this Part, and will automatically renew ASRH designation of the hospital.  (Section 3.117(b)(4)(C) of the Act)  The hospital shall provide the attestation, along with any necessary supporting documentation. Supporting documentation shall include any documents supporting the attestation that have changed significantly since the previous annual attestation.

h)         ASRH designation requires annual written attestation, on a Department form, by an ASRH to indicate compliance with ASRH criteria, as described in this Part.  The Department, after determining that the ASRH meets the requirements for attestation, will automatically renew the ASRH designation of the hospital.  (Section 3.117(b)(4)(C) Within 30 business days, the Department will provide written acknowledgment of the hospital's designation renewal.  (Section 3.117(b)(4)(B) of the Act).

(Source:  Amended at 40 Ill. Reg. 8274, effective June 3, 2016)