Section 68-140-328 - Treatment of heart attack patients(a) The department shall recognize hospitals that meet the criteria of a ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) receiving center or STEMI referring center. Such recognition is limited to inclusion on a list, maintained by the department, of STEMI receiving centers and STEMI referring centers. The list shall be published on the department's division of emergency medical services' website.(b) The department may recognize certification or accreditation from a department-approved nationally recognized certifying or accrediting organization, as sufficient to recognize a hospital as a STEMI receiving center or a STEMI referring center.(c) To be recognized as a STEMI receiving center or a STEMI referring center by the department, a hospital must submit written notification to the board for licensing healthcare facilities and submit proof that the hospital meets the applicable criteria set forth by a department-approved nationally recognized certifying or accrediting organization.(d) If a hospital loses its certification or accreditation, it shall notify the board for licensing healthcare facilities. The department must then remove the hospital from the department's list.(e) Each ambulance service shall develop and implement pre-hospital care protocol plans related to the assessment, treatment, and transport of STEMI heart attack patients by licensed emergency medical services personnel. The protocol shall include plans for the triage and transport of STEMI heart attack patients to the closest or most appropriate STEMI receiving center, or, when appropriate, to a STEMI referring center, based on nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines. The emergency medical services board has the authority to promulgate rules to implement and enforce this section.(f) STEMI receiving centers are encouraged to coordinate, through agreement, with STEMI referring centers throughout the state to provide appropriate access to care for acute heart attack patients.Added by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 722,s 2, eff. 7/1/2018.