Premier Health Launches Nonemergency Neurology Telemedicine Program

Premier Health has launched a new telemedicine program, NEUROne, at Miami Valley Hospital South, Miami Valley Hospital North, and Upper Valley Medical Center to provide patients who have neurological conditions with greater access to nonemergency evaluation and care.

Through the program, Premier Health will give local hospitals seamless access to inpatient teleneurology services – in other words, remote telemedicine access to the expertise of a neurologist for a far greater range of neurological conditions than in the past.

Premier Health is the only health system in the Dayton area that offers NEUROne teleneurology technology. The program is suitable for patients with general neurological conditions, including headache, seizure, stroke and neuro-muscular disorders. This service is in addition to the Premier Health TeleStroke Network that provides emergent services for acute stroke treatment.

Telemedicine is an emerging health care trend that puts patients in contact remotely with highly trained specialists. This access offers a care option close to home with quick access to the expertise of a neurologist, reducing the need to transfer patients to a hospital outside of their local community.

“The intent of the program is to provide efficient, cost-effective, high quality, and accessible care not only to our hospitals but to regional and rural hospitals in the area,” said Bryan Ludwig, MD, chair of Premier Health’s Clinical Neuroscience Institute.

The new service launched in October.

At locations offering NeurOne, an advanced practice provider trained specifically for neurology care will work with the hospitalist team to determine if a remote neurology consultation is needed. If so, the off-site neurologist – with assistance from an advanced practice provider at the bedside – will collaborate to provide neurology care to the patient. The service currently is provided Monday through Friday with a goal to expand coverage.

The system uses a live video and audio over a secure internet line to connect the patient and caregivers at Miami Valley Hospital South, Miami Valley Hospital North, and Upper Valley Medical Center with Eleina Mikhaylov, MD, a board-certified neurologist. Dr. Mikhaylov has been on the medical staff of Premier Health since 2014.

“This service will not replace the team at the bedside but enhances their efforts to ensure patients receive a high level of care at their local hospital,” said Jennifer Hauler, DO, Premier Health’s chief medical officer. 

Back to the November 2018 issue of Premier Pulse