Telestroke technology allows stroke patients to be evaluated in their homes or at their local emergency department. It’s a powerful tool for treating stroke patients and saving lives. In this article, we’ll explain telestroke and why it’s important for treating stroke patients who can’t travel far from home.
Telestroke: Remote Stroke Evaluation by a Neurologist
Telestroke is when a neurologist evaluates a stroke patient remotely. This allows the neurologist to see the patient’s symptoms and make a diagnosis, as well as send out a team to the location of their patient’s hospitalization.
In some cases, telestroke has also been used for neurological testing and other procedures requiring immediate access to complex computer-based technology. The following are just some of the most significant ways that telestroke has revolutionized stroke testing, treatment, and recovery.
Telestroke is like Skype, but better
Telestroke technology is based on videoconferencing, but it’s more sophisticated than Skype. For example, telestroke uses a computer-generated patient image as they speak with their doctor. This allows doctors to see what the patient sees and hear what they hear—so that both parties can hear any communication between them.
Telestroke also has other advantages over Skype: it allows for 3D graphics of what might otherwise be difficult for patients to understand (such as brain scans); it offers real-time translation into different languages, and its use is not limited by geographic distance or time zones like traditional video conferencing systems do (making it easier for stroke patients who live in remote areas).
Evaluates and recommend patients
A telestroke unit allows the stroke team to evaluate patients and make recommendations to emergency departments or primary care providers. The team can advise on treatment options and help determine each patient’s best course of action.
The device is a portable tool that can be used in the emergency room, but most often, it’s placed on an ambulance stretcher so that doctors don’t have to move their patients from place to place with every test or procedure they need done during their trip from the ER back home.
Speeds up stroke treatment
It is no secret that telestroke has the potential to save lives and enhance stroke treatment in many ways. You can be sure you will get the best treatment for your patient using this technology.
Telestroke is not always necessary, but it can help reduce the time between the moment a person has a stroke and the time it takes to receive the best possible treatment. There are some cases where telestroke may be used even before symptoms develop (e.g., during pregnancy), although this is rare.
Connects hospitals and specialists via HD video
Using HD video technology, the telestroke system makes it possible for hospitals and specialist teams to connect via HD video. In other words, a patient can be in one location, but the hospital at which they are being treated may be in a different location.
In many cases, it is necessary to transfer a patient to another country to undergo surgery or treatment following an emergency operation in one country. If this happens, they will have to be taken by an ambulance as soon as possible after being admitted to the hospital to avoid their condition worsening due to delay once they are out of public care (which could result in valuable time being lost due to delays).
Accelerates treatment decisions
Telestroke can allow treatment decisions to be made faster. Time is critical in stroke treatment, and every second counts, so you must make your decision as soon as possible. You may have a specialist in the exact location or even at the same hospital who specializes in your type of stroke, but if this isn’t possible or if there are any delays with getting approval, then waiting hours or days before making a decision could mean losing precious time with your loved ones during this time of need.
Telestroke also allows specialists who aren’t located nearby (or even on the same continent) but still want access to their patient’s medical records. This allows them to provide better care based on those records rather than relying solely on word-of-mouth recommendations which might not always be accurate.
Cuts stroke recovery time by 50%.
Telestroke has the potential to save lives by reducing the time between having a stroke and getting the best medical care possible. Patients receiving telestroke treatment within three hours of suffering a stroke are more likely to have their clot-busting drug, such as tPA or thrombolysis, administered within the next six hours, which will significantly increase their chances of survival by almost 40%. Without immediate treatment, patients are less likely to survive than those treated within three hours.
Why Choose Telestroke?
The use of telestroke in treating stroke patients is a powerful tool. You can save lives, reduce your risk of disability and death, and even improve your quality of life if you get the proper treatment!
Telestroke has several benefits:
- There is a strong correlation between reducing your chances of dying or having another stroke and living longer. By using telestroke, you may be able to prevent another stroke from happening in the future if you have been diagnosed with a stroke or have already had one in the past.
As a result, medications can be administered to the patient while under anesthetic so that they don’t interfere with the blood circulation during the operation (which would otherwise cause damage to the patient).
- It also helps save money on health care costs because there are fewer complications associated with these procedures than if they were performed using traditional methods like open-heart surgery or other invasive procedures involving general anesthesia—which means less time spent recovering afterward!
Conclusion
Telestroke technology has revolutionized the treatment of strokes in the past few years. The system enables hospitals to make treatment decisions quicker, leading to better patient outcomes. This technology can save lives when used correctly by reducing the time between having a stroke and receiving the best care that can be provided.
NeuroX focuses on booking appointments with board certified neurologists. To schedule an appointment with a physician, visit NeuroX. A virtual appointment can be scheduled within 48 hours after you choose a physician. You can receive professional medical care without visiting a clinic or hospital with a few clicks.
