What is Telestroke Medicine?

Telestroke medicine is an advanced and increasingly important model of care that enables stroke experts to assess and guide the treatment of stroke patients remotely. In this article, we explore telemedicine in more detail and the impact it may have on stroke patients locally.

What is telestroke medicine?

In telestroke medicine, also known as virtual stroke care, stroke specialists can assess and guide the treatment of people who have had a stroke in a different location.

A type of telemedicine – the use of technology that allows healthcare at a distance rather than face to face – telestroke allows stroke specialists to work with emergency doctors at a different location to recommend a diagnosis and treatment.

The stroke experts can communicate with other healthcare providers via digital cameras, smartphones, tablets, and other technology.

What is a stroke?

A stroke is a serious medical emergency. It happens when blood flow to part of your brain stops. Stroke symptoms include sudden loss of balance, dizziness, sudden visual changes, facial drooping, speech difficulty, and arm and leg weakness. The signs of a stroke should never be ignored. Every minute without treatment increases the risk of stroke-related disability.

There are different types of stroke, and an ischemic stroke is the most common. This is when a blood clot blocks a vessel in the brain.

How does telestroke medicine work?

Telestroke medicine operates with an ‘originating site’ and a ‘distant site’. The distant site is where the stroke experts and specialists will be based. It is usually a large, multidisciplinary hospital that has been designated as a Stroke Center of Excellence. The originating site is where the patient has been brought for emergency treatment following a stroke.

Why is telestroke medicine important?

Not all hospitals have stroke specialists on call to recommend the most appropriate stroke care. Telestroke medicine allows stroke specialists, at a distant site, to communicate with healthcare providers and patients in another location in real time.

This is important because it allow rapid diagnosis and treatment recommendations – which is vital after a stroke.

What are the benefits of telestroke medicine?

Telestroke medicine offers a number of benefits, including:

• Faster treatment: By connecting emergency doctors with stroke specialists, expert evaluations can begin immediately, and vital treatments can be given sooner.
• Reduced risk of stroke-related disability: When stroke treatment is given sooner, the risk of stroke-related disability can be reduced.
• Better access to stroke specialists: Patients in more locations have access to stroke experts.
• Reduced need for transfers: Patients can be assessed without the need to transfer them to larger facilities.

Remember! If you think someone is having a stroke, B.E. F.A.S.T.

• Balance: Are they experiencing sudden loss of balance or coordination?
• Eyes: Has there been sudden vision loss or double vision?
• Face: Are they able to smile fully? Is their face drooping on one side?
• Arms: Can they raise both arms or does one arm drop?
• Speech: Are they able to speak? Is their speech slurred or strange?
• Time: Call 999 immediately if you see any of these signs.

A stroke is a medical emergency. Early treatment can save lives and limit brain damage or prevent death.