How does Telestroke work?

The TeleStroke process is one that is based off using Internet and computer technology to allow our stroke trained physicians to evaluate and identify patients in other remote hospitals that may not have the stroke trained individuals present. The way we do that is, we have, on our end a computer which allows the patient and the patient's family to see us through the computer connection with the local hospital having another computer station there. This computer model in their location is a cart which can be wheeled around the room and it can be directed by the stroke physician remotely on our computer to point it in directions, and focus the camera in to see the patient. But this intricate Internet connection between physician and patient allows us to be part of the team with the ER physicians. It allows us to discuss the care with the patient's family and with the patient. It allows us to examine the patient carefully. In fact the cameras that we use are very high definition cameras. Of course they are secured, protected environments so not anyone can see these. And they are never recorded. This is simply to connect the physician and patient together. But these cameras are so accurate so you can zoom in to the patient's pupils and actually see you their pupils constricting or dilating which gives us a whole host of information that you could never get by just talking to another physician on the traditional telephone. Once we implemented this computer connection between ourselves and the other hospitals within our Premier system and other hospitals outside Premier, it became abundantly clear that we could provide stroke therapy in a much faster clip than we were able to do so by either using the telephone or having the patient transferred from that hospital to our main hospital and losing all this time in the transfer that they could be receiving care that may make for a better outcome. So this has been well received in the individual hospitals that we work with because they feel more comfortable with the care provided, it's faster, and patients and families have certainly understood and, quite frankly given us compliments on this new system because it allowed their loved one to get care immediately right there, close to home.