Telestroke refers to providing medical care to a patient using remote diagnostic imaging technology. Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs might benefit from the radiologist’s interpretation and comments when they are sent remotely using digital technology known as teleradiology. “Telemedicine” refers to the electronic transmission and sharing of healthcare data between distant parties. For many years, teleradiology has provided a low-cost alternative for rural and remote areas to get high-quality medical treatment when no specialists or hospitals are available.

Because of this, medical care may be provided to the patient even when the doctor is not there. So that no aspect of care is overlooked, they consult with specialists in various fields. Patients who get therapy remotely tend to be more cooperative than those who undergo more intrusive procedures. Patients in rural areas have better outcomes because they are less likely to seek medical attention elsewhere.

How do Doctors Treat Patients through Telestroke?

Telestroke uses teleradiology technology, which enables medical professionals to see pictures of a patient’s brain in real-time. This improves their ability to respond to urgent medical situations. Patients needing emergency treatment and suffering symptoms of a stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage, hydrocephalus, or intracerebral hematoma may benefit from telestroke technology.

The telestroke device consists of a catheter with a telescopic rod attached. This rod can be bent to various angles and is secured in place by a clamp. A second-rod end is inserted into an artery in the region that is near the injection site. It is a minimally invasive surgery that does not involve making any cuts or punctures on the outside of the body and has a minimal impact on blood flow. Thanks to surgical robots, the surgeon can perform precise movements without touching the patient while operating via a tiny incision in the patient’s skin.

How does Telestroke Technology Work?

The telestroke service and tools help neurologists diagnose stroke victims accurately and provide immediate treatment from a distance. A combination of hardware and software solutions is offered as part of this help and adjustment.

Who Invented Telestroke?

The term Telestroke was first used in 1999 by Levine and Gorman to describe the application of video telecommunications to the facilitation of cerebrovascular consultations to distant locations where their presence would bring invaluable specialized knowledge to the treatment of stroke patients.

Telestroke: Different Ways to Use it

A situation may arise when a doctor cannot quickly reach a patient in need, or the patient’s life is in imminent danger. This is an example of why telestroke might be helpful. Using high-definition, three-dimensional imagery and any medical technology that can communicate data through an electronic network, such as ultrasound and X-rays, telestroke enables surgeons to conduct surgery on a patient from a distance. According to their goals, doctors use telestroke in a variety of ways.

• Telestroke allows doctors to evaluate a possible emergency without entering the operating room.
• The technique of telestroke might be helpful for medical professors. They could even use it for research!
• The pediatric cardiology department is one example of a healthcare setting where telestroke is routinely included in inpatient treatment.
• The technique is taught to medical students and residents for educational reasons. 
• Non-pregnant women may also benefit from the treatment, which may help doctors determine their overall health.

Does Telehealth Improve Patient Outcomes?

Telehealth consultations for outpatients have been shown to increase accessibility, decrease the need for office visits and hospitalizations, and, in some cases, even enhance clinical or mental results. 

Why is Telestroke Preferred?

Stroke telemedicine involves your primary care physician and another physician specializing in the diagnosis of strokes at a remote location working together to treat you in your local neighborhood. When this occurs, you may get the treatment you need for a stroke right in your community. The best stroke treatment is not always provided because many smaller hospitals lack on-call neurologists. In telestroke, experts in stroke medicine meet with local physicians and patients experiencing acute strokes. 

Stroke-related impairment may be lowered if clot-dissolving medicines (thrombolytics) are administered quickly after a diagnosis is made and a suitable course of therapy is recommended. Clot-dissolving medication must be administered intravenously within 4.5 hours of stroke symptoms.  Clot-dissolving treatments can be administered within the first 24 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms. Still, they must be transported from the stroke’s epicenter to the affected area. Telestroke makes this possible, which is why it is preferred and saves lives.

What are the Basics of a Telestroke System?

The primary arrangement of a Telestroke system initiates its processing by establishing an efficient and secure method of audio/visual communication that connects a patient or faculty to the specialized neurologist.

A functional Telestroke program is equipped with a high-speed and reliable internet connection as its foundation, capable of handling the kind of real-time, high-resolution video conferencing solutions that allow nursing staff, neurologists, and patients to communicate seamlessly, without any interruption.

The fundamental reason behind implementing a Telestroke system is to allow the attending neurologist to evaluate the patient and expedite diagnosis and treatment administration remotely. Attending neurologists typically assess the severity of a patient’s symptoms, remotely view their CT scan, observe motor function and skills, and other similar processes.

Since there is only a three-hour window for administering treatment after a stroke, time is crucial for stroke patients. The chances of patient recovery and reversible brain damage plummet drastically after the three-hour window expires

One study showed that stroke victims who were administered anti-clot medicines within the first ninety minutes of their episode showed nearly a 250% better chance of recovery after three months than those who did not receive this treatment within the prescribed time. This makes an adequately equipped Telestroke system that works seamlessly extremely crucial.

Telestroke: A Few Benefits

Individuals who have had a massive stroke may now get therapy using a novel method known as telestroke. The benefits of telestroke include:

• Telestroke provides medical care without the presence of a medical professional.
• Patients who have had a massive stroke but are still conscious may benefit from this treatment. 
• The patient’s likelihood of recovery improves.
• Cost-savings for patients are higher.

What to Expect during a Telestroke Consultation

A physician specializing in emergency care from your area’s hospital will check you during a stroke telemedicine session. Suppose your doctor thinks you’re having a stroke. In that case, they may contact a remote hospital equipped with a stroke telemedicine hotline and specialists available around the clock every day of the year. Within five minutes, the far-off site’s on-call physician will contact you. 

The CT scan is done in the first hospital, then the stroke specialist at the remote location consults with you live, in real-time, using video and sound, so that you can see, hear, and communicate with them. The specialized stroke physician may want to review your medical records and examine your laboratory findings.

The stroke expert will assess you, consult with your primary care physician to establish the best course of therapy, and then electronically communicate that advice to the hospital where you first received care.

Consult NeuroX if you or a family member might be experiencing stroke symptoms. NeuroX offers affordable mental health and neurological services at home and can provide medical and emotional assistance. To get an online consultation within 24–48 hours, visit NeuroX and get in touch with a board-certified neurologist of your choice.