Stroke is a medical emergency that requires early assessment and treatment by specialists. Treating acute stroke patients with thrombolytics – medicine that breaks down blood clots – is key to preventing stroke-related disability and improving patient outcomes. In fact, treatment with thrombolytics increases the patient’s chance of surviving without disability by 30 percent. However, this type of treatment is only effective if administered within the first few hours from the onset of stroke symptoms. Therefore, expedited evaluation by stroke specialists can lead to improved outcomes.
Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke. Every 40 seconds. That’s 2,160 strokes each day; and 15,120 strokes a week. When you combine the frequency that strokes occur with the importance of reversing the effects of stroke quickly, the MemorialCare Neuroscience Institute at Long Beach Memorial has implemented an innovative technological advancement to diagnose strokes instantaneously saving crucial minutes – TeleStroke.
TeleStroke is a videoconferencing program that offers 24-hour access to on-call neurological specialists who can help identify and assess stroke patients leading to improved outcomes. The program implemented in the emergency department, allows for quick access for the consulting neurologist to be able to talk to the patient about what symptoms the patient is experiencing, evaluate the patient’s motor skills, view a computed tomography (CT) scan, make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment instantly.
“We work to implement fool-proof processes to make sure we don’t miss anything,” says Angie West, RN, MSN, CCRN, CNRN program director, Stroke Center, Long Beach Memorial. “TeleStroke is just another strategy we use to improve our patient outcomes.”
If a patient is identified as a candidate for stroke consultation, a TeleStroke mobile unit is brought into the patient’s room, where a neurologist conducts a one-on-one stroke examination with the patient via video chat. Once the evaluation is complete, the specialist can communicate with the patient and care team to determine the best course of treatment and improve outcomes. This innovative program allows the emergency department access to a neurology expert at all times.
The MemorialCare Neuroscience Institute at Long Beach Memorial houses the Stroke Center, Division of Interventional Neuroradiology and the Sleep Disorders Center, bringing full-spectrum neurological care under one roof. Long Beach Memorial is a dedicated Stroke Receiving Center for Los Angeles County – providing patients with advanced treatment options and a highly trained stroke team on-hand 24/7, making fast response times and positive outcomes a reality. The Stroke Center is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission, which seeks to improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public. The Joint Commission certifies that approved programs like the Stroke Center at Long Beach Memorial follow national standards and guidelines to improve outcomes for patients.