This sounds wonderful. But why the hell are they rejoicing about putting in procedures that have only a 12% chance of success? You should be screaming at the absurdity of this. It may be the best they can do, but that best is f*cking appalling.
http://dailyadvocate.com/news/home_top-news/4509195/New-stroke-diagnostic-equipment-at-hospital
In cooperation with Wayne HealthCare, Premier Health is expanding its
Telestroke Network into Greenville to quickly diagnose patients who are
exhibiting signs of a stroke.
With the implementation of the
Telestroke Network, a stroke patient arriving at the Wayne HealthCare
emergency center can be examined via a computer linked to one of six
on-call stroke specialists practicing at Premier Health any time of the
day or night.
The telemedicine system is already in place at
all Premier Health emergency departments. The Premier Health hospitals
were the first in the Dayton area to introduce telemedicine to treat
stroke patients.
“As a rural healthcare facility, it is
imperative that we provide immediate treatment after a stroke occurs to
maximize rehabilitation and recovery for patients,” said Kim Freeman,
vice president of patient services at Wayne HealthCare.
The
staff at WayneHealtchare brought the equipment online Thursday at 8
a.m., and have been running drills using the equipmnt for the past
month.
Dawn Sweet, director of critical care services at Wayne
HealthCare has been influential with leading this process at Wayne
HealthCare.
In addition, Sweet said, “The virtual exam through
the Telestroke Network will help expedite the process of being assessed
by an expert neurologist who can order appropriate treatment from their
location within a Premier Health facility. Our nurses and clinical
staff have completed in-depth training and skills assessment for stroke
certification programs, based on the National Institutes of Health
Stroke Scale standards and are excited about the opportunity to add this
service for our patients and community.”
The Premier Health
Telestroke Network uses a rolling cart outfitted with a computer, video
monitor, camera and audio system to connect the on-call stroke
specialist with the patient. When a stroke patient arrives at the
emergency department, the system is wheeled to the patient’s bedside. A
staff member from the emergency center contacts the remote on-call
stroke specialist from one of the Premier hospitals.
The
specialist logs onto a computer and then can have two-way audio and
video communication with, the emergency physician, the nurse, patient
and family members. The specialist can “see” the patient, ask questions
and view CT scans - all in real-time - to help assess the patient’s
condition and help the emergency physician determine if the patient is a
candidate for acute stroke therapy.
This technology
dramatically increases the number of patients who can receive clot
dissolving medication. This medicine is only effective within the first
few hours after the stroke onset. Rapid administration can minimize the
damage to the brain.
Dr. Jacob Kitchener, a Premier Health
neurointerventional specialist who will be one of the physicians on-call
for the telemedicine program, says the benefit this technology brings
to patients is tremendous.
“Telemedicine enables physicians
specifically trained in acute stroke care to be electronically
transported to the patient’s bedside instantly, he says. He adds, “Such
timely interactions with the family, emergency physician and most
importantly, the patient, allow for a thorough and rapid patient
evaluation. We are thrilled to bring this technology to the patients of
Wayne HealthCare.”
In addition to Dr. Kitchener, the on-call
team includes Ahmed Fathy, MD, Bradley Jacobs, MD, Bryan Ludwig, MD,
Kiran Poudel, MD, and Robb Snider, MD.
Physicians believe that
telemedicine will result in faster delivery of care which can improve
patient outcomes. The possibilities for telemedicine are endless and
Premier Hospitals could use the program in other areas such as
cardiology in the future.
Big Whoopee.
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