Ohio Senate Passes Antonio, Eklund Bill Improving Stroke Treatment and Care
December 2, 2020
Nickie J. Antonio News
COLUMBUS – Today, state Senators Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) and John Eklund (R-Munson Township) announced the Senate's unanimous passage of Senate Bill 302. SB 302 would require the State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services to develop statewide guidelines for the assessment, triage, and transport to hospitals of stroke patients.
“Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in Ohio,” said Antonio. “With someone in the United States experiencing a stroke every 40 seconds, SB 302’s standardization will help save lives throughout the state.”
Senate Bill 302 builds on House Bill 464 from the previous General Assembly, which created a three-tiered designation system for hospitals based on their capabilities to treat strokes factoring in experience, training and caseload. Often, transferring a patient to the closest hospital can lead to them being transferred multiple times. This bill allows local EMS protocol to be flexible in order to transport the patient to the hospital that can best treat them.
“I am humbled to have worked with my colleague, Senator Nickie Antonio, on this crucial and purposeful legislation. Senate Bill 302 strikes an appropriate balance in creating standardized guidelines for best practices in stroke triage and transport, without being overly prescriptive and allowing for flexibility when needed,” said Eklund. “The bill would also promote those practices and further help first responders to make the best decisions possible to save a patient's life.”
The bill now heads to the Ohio House of Representatives for referral to a committee.
“Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in Ohio,” said Antonio. “With someone in the United States experiencing a stroke every 40 seconds, SB 302’s standardization will help save lives throughout the state.”
Senate Bill 302 builds on House Bill 464 from the previous General Assembly, which created a three-tiered designation system for hospitals based on their capabilities to treat strokes factoring in experience, training and caseload. Often, transferring a patient to the closest hospital can lead to them being transferred multiple times. This bill allows local EMS protocol to be flexible in order to transport the patient to the hospital that can best treat them.
“I am humbled to have worked with my colleague, Senator Nickie Antonio, on this crucial and purposeful legislation. Senate Bill 302 strikes an appropriate balance in creating standardized guidelines for best practices in stroke triage and transport, without being overly prescriptive and allowing for flexibility when needed,” said Eklund. “The bill would also promote those practices and further help first responders to make the best decisions possible to save a patient's life.”
The bill now heads to the Ohio House of Representatives for referral to a committee.