I27 -- July 2008 -- Stroke Telemedicine

Intro: When it comes to stroke, time is brain. That's because you only have a three hour window after symptoms start to receive medication that's known to help. But people living in small towns may not have access to this medication, because their hospitals may not have staff trained to administer it. Mayo Clinic is hoping to change that. They're studying telemedicine to help stroke victims in rural hospitals get the treatment they need.

A.J. BATES REMEMBERS WHEN THE STROKE HIT. A CLOT CUT OFF BLOOD SUPPLY TO HER BRAIN.

"I COULDN'T TALK. I COULDN'T WRITE IN CURSIVE. "

A.J.'S LOCAL HOSPITAL IS WELL STAFFED, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE DOCTORS TRAINED TO USE THE CLOT-BUSTING DRUG CALLED T.P.A.

"BUT A.J. DID GET THE TREATMENT SHE NEEDED THANKS TO TECHNOLOGY THAT GAVE HER ACCESS TO MAYO CLINIC STROKE SPECIALISTS 200 MILES AWAY."

"I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE SOME TROUBLE EXPRESSING YOURSELF."

TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION ALLOWS DR. BART DEMAERSCHALK TO TALK TO AND EVALUATE PATIENTS.

"TOUCH YOUR FINGER THEN YOUR NOSE AND GO BACK AND FORTH."

HE CAN ALSO CONSULT WITH PHYSICIANS IN THE E.R.

"WE SENT HIM YOUR CAT SCANS SO HE CAN LOOK AT THE SAME IMAGES WE DID."

DR. DEMAERSCHALK AND HIS TEAM ARE STUDYING THIS TECHNOLOGY TO SEE IF IT'S BETTER THAN CONSULTING WITH E.R. PHYSICIANS ON THE PHONE. THIS IS THEIR HYPOTHESIS:

"THE TWO-WAY AUDIO/VIDEO SYSTEM IS GOING TO BE BETTER IN MAKING DECISIONS REGARDING THE ELIGIBILITY FOR THESE CLOT-BUSTING DRUGS."

DECIDING WHO GETS TPA CAN BE TRICKY. THAT'S BECAUSE TPA IS EFFECTIVE, BUT VERY RISKY. IF THE DRUG IS GIVEN MORE THAN THREE HOURS AFTER SYMPTOMS START, PATIENTS ARE AT RISK OF BLEEDING IN THE BRAIN. ACCESS TO STROKE EXPERTS MAY HELP E.R. DOCTORS BE SURE THEY'RE GIVING PATIENTS THE RIGHT TREATMENT.

"IT ALLOWS US TO HAVE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF CARE AVAILABLE."

"TO HAVE SOMEONE LIKE THAT ON YOUR SIDE AND TO KNOW THAT THEY'RE THERE JUST BY TURNING ON THE TV, THE VIDEO IS AMAZING."

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.








Anchor tag: The hospital in this story is in Kingman, Arizona. The Mayo Clinic site is located in Phoenix.

Dr. Demaerschalk says if the study proves that telemedicine helps stroke victims, he will work to expanding the program nationwide.

And again, time is brain, if you experience sudden onset of numbness or weakness on one side of your body, unexplained severe headache, visual disturbances or the inability to communicate, call 911 and get to a stroke center fast.

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