Virtual care is changing how stroke patients and those with complex brain and nervous system disorders are being treated and managed. This blog examines the adoption of tele-stroke programs and other tele-neurology use cases that are helping healthcare providers improve patient access and outcomes.
The important role that telemedicine plays in supporting acute care intervention through programs like tele-stroke is well documented. The research is clear: “Alerting neurologists via telemedicine that a patient with suspected acute stroke is en route to the hospital significantly enhances the speed at which thrombolysis is administered and increases the number of patients who receive timelier, potentially lifesaving treatment.”
Case in Point: In research exploring the impact of tele-neurology pre-notification during stroke cases, 50.4% of patients whose care team received a tele-neurology pre-notification received treatment within 30 minutes of arrival versus 18.9% of patients in the no pre-notification group.
High-acuity patient threats such as strokes demand rapid response and intervention to prevent severe brain damage and disability. Here are just a few examples of the ways leading healthcare organizations are improving patient care through tele-stroke programs:
- Mayo Clinic has expanded its TeleStroke Network services across multiple states, ensuring that stroke expertise is just a video call away. The program has dramatically increased the timely use of thrombolytic therapies in rural hospitals. Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s tele-stroke network services.
- Bringing tele-stroke into their digital-first approach, Kaiser Permanente’s integrated tele-stroke service offers immediate stroke assessments, reducing the time to treatment. Their model showcases a significant reduction in door-to-needle times and improved patient outcomes. Discover more about Kaiser Permanente’s integrated tele-stroke approach.
- Cleveland Clinic developed a robust statewide tele-stroke network that serves patients across Ohio, ensuring rapid diagnosis and treatment. The network has been crucial in streamlining stroke care protocols and enhancing the accessibility of specialist consultations. Read more about Cleveland Clinic’s tele-stroke network.
Increasingly, providers are amplifying efforts around tele-neurology to extend the benefits of the virtual care model to patients who are recovering from strokes or other traumatic brain injuries. These patients often require closer monitoring and more frequent interventions due to memory impairment.
Telehealth programs like Virtual Patient Observation support around-the-clock care for these high-acuity patient populations, helping to reinforce patient safety and support. Virtual visits are also ideal for fielding follow-up care visits and symptom management for many neurological conditions.
And the field is ripe for further innovation. The incorporation of technologies like eye-tracking and computer vision into virtual care will unlock new possibilities in the field of remote clinical diagnostics for neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s, autism, and Parkinson’s, where problems in the brain can often be detected in eye function.
The evolution of virtual care in neurology marks a pivotal shift in how strokes, brain injuries, and neurological disorders are treated and managed. Advances in technology have enabled widespread adoption of tele-stroke services, making specialist care immediately accessible, even in remote locations. As we continue to innovate, the potential to further decrease response times and improve outcomes through tele-neurology looks increasingly promising.