A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH TO APPOINT A STROKE TASK FORCE TO EVALUATE POTENTIAL STRATEGIES FOR STROKE AWARENESS, PRE-HOSPITAL AND ACUTE STROKE TREATMENT AND TO DEVELOP A STATEWIDE NEEDS ASSESSMENT OUTLINING RELEVANT RESOURCES FOR RESPONSE, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT IN PRE-HOSPITAL AND ACUTE CARE SETTINGS.

WHEREAS, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States today, ranking behind only heart disease and cancer, with nearly one hundred seventy-five thousand Americans dying each year from stroke; and

WHEREAS, stroke is the leading cause of severe long-term disability in the United States and each year more than seven hundred fifty thousand Americans suffer a new or recurrent stroke; and

WHEREAS, stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in New Mexico, killing two New Mexicans every day and disabling over three thousand New Mexicans every year; and

WHEREAS, adults with diabetes and Hispanic populations are at a higher risk in general for stroke; and

WHEREAS, currently available treatments may reduce the number of deaths and disabilities caused by strokes; and

WHEREAS, there are five links in the stroke chain of survival:

A. rapid recognition and reaction to stroke warning signs;

B. rapid start of pre-hospital care;

C. rapid emergency medical services system transport and hospital pre-notification;

D. rapid diagnosis and treatment at the hospital; and

E. appropriate rehabilitation; and

WHEREAS, the American stroke association believes that by strengthening the chain of survival the outcomes for many stroke patients can be improved; and

WHEREAS, Americans will pay approximately forty-nine billion dollars ($49,000,000,000) in the coming year for stroke-related medical and disability costs that may be reduced through improved response, diagnosis and treatment for stroke;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the secretary of health be requested to appoint a stroke task force to evaluate potential strategies for stroke awareness, pre-hospital and acute stroke treatment and develop a statewide needs assessment, outlining relevant resources for response, diagnosis and treatment in pre-hospital and acute care settings; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force be composed of eighteen members as follows:

A. one stroke survivor;

B. one stroke family caregiver;

C. six physicians actively involved in stroke care, such as representatives from the following specialties: primary care, emergency medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and physiatry;

D. three allied health professionals actively involved in acute or rehabilitative stroke care, such as representatives of the following: occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech language pathology and registered nursing;

E. one pre-hospital emergency medical services person;

F. one urban and one rural hospital administrator;

G. one health insurance administrator or representative; and

H. three representatives from interested nonprofit groups, such as the following: the New Mexico medical review association, the American stroke association and the brain injury association of New Mexico; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the duties of the task force include:

A. the completion of a statewide comprehensive stroke awareness and stroke treatment needs assessment, including:

(1) stroke awareness at the public, emergency medical services and hospital levels for prevention, early response and public and professional education;

(2) stroke treatment at the emergency medical services, emergency department or facility and rehabilitation levels;

(3) access to rapid transport, state-of-the-art diagnostic technologies and treatments and consistent diagnosis and treatment; and

(4) optimal utilization of resources for efficiency and effectiveness;

B. the development of recommendations for

New Mexico based on the evaluation of state-of-the-art stroke treatments in all stages of the stroke care continuum practiced outside New Mexico for:

(1) potential implementation strategies for stroke therapies, including a stroke center system, based on medical evidence; and

(2) creation of a statewide comprehensive, consistent system of stroke care that will provide rapid and appropriate stroke treatment in all stages of the stroke care continuum to optimize outcomes;

C. a projection of the health, quality of life and economic benefits of optimal stroke treatment; and

D. an exploration of funding opportunities to support implementation of the task force recommendations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force report its findings and recommendations to the department of health, the legislative health and human services committee and the governor prior to the first session of the forty-seventh legislature; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the governor and the secretary of health.