Here’s the latest from the American Heart Association.
A Review of the Evidence for the Use of Telemedicine Within Stroke Systems of Care
- Few patients receive treatment benefit with evidence-based and FDA-approved tissue plasminogen activator, partly due to lack of access to this treatment.
- Stroke Telemedicine (Telestroke, Teleconsultation) provides an opportunity to increase access to specialist expertise (neurological) in areas where disparities exist for stroke care (urban and rural).
- Telemedicine is an important care modality in the stroke systems of care model.
Recommendations for the Implementation of Telemedicine Within Stroke Systems of Care
- Telemedicine technology provides specialists with the data necessary to assist clinicians at the bedside in stroke-related decision making for patients presenting at distant or under-equipped facilities.
- The reported numbers of telestroke consultations overall and those that lead to thrombolysis show that the use of telemedicine is feasible and has already impacted local stroke care.
- Barriers to effective telestroke implementation include licensure and liability laws, technology assessment and deployment, community outreach/education, assuring confidentiality of information shared, and processes of requesting and delivering telemedicine consultations.