Feb. 08, 2017
HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives this week approved legislation authored by state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-Berks/Lehigh) to improve stroke care for victims all across the Commonwealth.
“Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and they are the leading cause of serious long-term disability,” said Mackenzie. “We know the quicker a person receives appropriate treatment for a stroke, the better the outcome can be in terms of survival and reduced long-term complications and disability. That is why I have drafted legislation that will help direct stroke victims to the appropriate health care facility to treat their specific type of stroke.”
Passage of
House Bill 23 is especially important in order to take optimal advantage of new federal guidelines that create three specific levels of certified stroke centers to treat patients based on their individual needs. The three levels of certification are primary stroke centers, acute stoke-ready hospitals, and comprehensive stroke centers.
Mackenzie’s legislation would direct emergency responders to use this information when deciding where to take stroke victims for treatment, so they receive the best care possible for the severity and type of stroke occurring.
“With more than 800,000 people suffering from strokes each year in the United States, it is vital we put into action a plan to deliver patients the best possible care to ensure better health outcomes,” said Mackenzie. “I appreciate the priority consideration my legislation has received as one of the first bills to be approved by the House in 2017. I am hopeful the Senate will also recognize the importance of this legislation and take it up for a vote in the very near future.”
Both the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association and the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania support House Bill 23.
Representative Ryan Mackenzie
134th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Tricia Lehman
717.772.9840
tlehman@pahousegop.com
RepMackenzie.com /
Facebook.com/RepMackenzie