The bill aims to enhance cardiac and stroke care in Washington by implementing recommendations from a recent emergency assessment. It establishes a new chapter in Title 70 RCW, which outlines the responsibilities of the Department of Health in overseeing a coordinated statewide cardiac and stroke system. This includes developing care standards, categorizing stroke and cardiac centers, and evaluating performance through a statewide registry that collects data from emergency medical services and hospitals. The bill mandates that hospitals and emergency services submit data on a quarterly basis starting July 1, 2027, and requires the department to provide annual reports on the progress of care quality and patient outcomes.

Additionally, the bill emphasizes continuous quality improvement in cardiac and stroke response and treatment, with the department tasked to analyze data, provide technical assistance, and disseminate best practices. It also includes provisions for assisting rural and critical access hospitals in meeting data collection requirements and conducting public education on recognizing heart attack and stroke symptoms. Importantly, the bill ensures that individual patient data remains confidential and protected from public disclosure. Furthermore, it recodifies existing law (RCW 70.168.150) into the new chapter created by this act.