S.J.R. 14

1

JOINT RESOLUTION ON STROKE
2 AWARENESS
3 2005 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This joint resolution of the Legislature urges that public and private entities partner
10 with the Legislature to establish a stroke care system in the state.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 . urges that public and private entities work with the Legislature to establish a
14 cohesive statewide system of stroke care in Utah; and
15 . urges that the stroke care system be designed for all state residents stricken by
16 stroke.
17 Special Clauses:
18 None
19
20 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
21 WHEREAS, the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart
22 Association, is promoting a public awareness campaign "Time Lost = Brain Lost" to offer
23 advocates for stroke awareness an opportunity to educate the public and policymakers about the
24 devastating effects of stroke;
25 WHEREAS, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, striking
26 approximately 700,000 Americans each year and accounting for more than 6,000
27 hospitalizations per year in Utah;

28 WHEREAS, stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability in the United
29 States with approximately 4.8 million stroke survivors today;
30 WHEREAS, of the 25,387 Utahns who report having had a stroke, only 50% return to
31 routine or self-care and 900 die each year from stroke;
32 WHEREAS, in 2004 the estimated direct and indirect cost of stroke was approximately
33 $53.6 billion;
34 WHEREAS, in Utah the annual cost of hospitalization due to stroke has increased by
35 43% since 1993;
36 WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Science has
37 concluded that the fragmentation of the delivery of health care services frequently results in
38 suboptimal treatment, safety concerns, and inefficient use of health care resources;
39 WHEREAS, the Institute of Medicine has recommended the establishment of
40 coordinated systems of care that integrate preventative and treatment services and promote
41 patient access to evidence-based care;
42 WHEREAS, the Utah Department of Health and the American Stroke Association Task
43 Force are working on a systems approach that is necessary to effectuate true change in the way
44 stroke is treated statewide, so that patients have access to the most advanced treatment in
45 centers that are best designed and equipped to deal with the critical and time sensitive needs of
46 stroke patients; and
47 WHEREAS, the main purpose of a statewide system of stroke treatment is to establish
48 an effective approach to dealing with stroke patients, including assessing center designations,
49 emergency medical service protocols and field triage, interfacility stroke transfer, and stroke
50 data collection:
51 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
52 urges that public and private entities work with the Legislature to establish a cohesive
53 statewide system of stroke care for all state residents stricken by stroke.
54 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the American
55 Stroke Association Task Force within the American Heart Association, the Institute of
56 Medicine of the National Academy of Science, and the Utah Department of Health.

Legislative Review Note
as of 2-2-05 10:38 AM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel