Teleneurology
Delivering speciality care to stroke patients 24/7.
Telemedicine is again improving the delivery of care provided
by Sarah Bush Lincoln. This time, stroke patients benefit.
For many years, the clot-busting drug tPA has been available to
patients who arrive at the hospital following a stroke. Medical
protocol requires that a neurologist assess a patient before the
drug is administered and, with few exceptions, tPA must be
given within three hours of a stroke to improve the chances of
recovery. Because neurologists aren’t always available in rural
areas such as this, medical staff members call other hospitals
when necessary to consult with neurologists who can determine
if tPA should be administered. Patients are then transferred to
cooperating hospitals.
patients don’t have to be transferred to other hospitals, family
members managing the care of their loved ones are freed from the
complexity and expense of travel.”
Specialists On Call has performed more than 200,000 neurology
and psychiatric consultations in more than 400 hospitals over
the last eight years. The staff practices evidenced-based, protocol-
driven medicine, reducing variability and raising the standard of
care. All physicians are board certified, U.S.-trained, established
and experienced staff.
Sarah Bush Lincoln Neurology Clinic at SBL Family Medical Center in Mattoon
Because seconds count in stroke recovery, Sarah Bush Lincoln
has partnered with Specialists On Call, a company that
provides teleneurology services around the clock, to ensure the
best possible outcomes for stroke patients. Specialists On Call
primarily works with Emergency Department medical staff to
better care for people presenting with stroke symptoms. The
partnership will eliminate the need to transfer many patients to
other organizations, and therefore enable them to receive care
close to home.
Fatima Alao, MD
Jim Hildebrandt, DO, SBL vice president of Medical Affairs,
explained that, with this telemedicine service, a doctor and
nurse examine the patient while an off-site neurologist observes
via computer. The staff sends test results through the computer
for the neurologist to review, so he can determine the efficacy of
administering tPA. Because the telemedicine service is available
via mobile devices, Specialists On Call can be easily accessed
throughout the hospital, wherever a neurologist consultation is
needed.
Dr. Hildebrandt explained that Specialists On Call will also
help Sarah Bush Lincoln by providing inpatient neurology
consultations by helping to manage people with complicated
seizures, those who experience acute strokes while hospitalized,
neuromuscular disorders, people with a