Telemedicine Improves Stroke Diagnosis in Rural Hospitals

A study conducted by the Mayo Clinic and the University of California, San Diego shows the benefit of telemedicine in stroke diagnosis. Six rural hospitals were connected to specialists at the two primary stroke centers using a video feed from a mobile robotic telemedicine camera system that was positioned near the patients’ beds. 276 patients with symptoms of stroke at their respective emergency departments were randomly assigned to telephone consultations versus two-way telemedicine consultations. Using telemedicine the correct diagnosis was made 96% of the time versus 83% by telephone. The percentage of patients eligible for thrombolysis was raised from 5% to 29%. In other words, the study confirmed that telemedicine is a viable evaluation tool for acute stroke. Results of the study were presented at the 2010 International Stroke Conference in San Antonio in February.
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