Stroke telemedicine brings expert evaluation, quick treatment for local patients

Farrell and Greenville, PA — When faced with a stroke, every minute counts. Prompt diagnosis and treatment improve the likelihood of experiencing a full recovery and reduce the risks of long-term effects from a stroke.

Through the Stroke Institute of UPMC, UPMC Horizon hospitals now have immediate access to advanced neurological care through a new and innovative telemedicine program. UPMC Horizon physicians have instant access to a team of neuroscience and stroke care experts in Pittsburgh utilizing sophisticated videoconferencing equipment.

Goals of the Stroke Telemedicine Program are to provide immediate access to stroke care experts, provide prompt medical evaluation, and initiate timely treatment to improve outcomes and reduce risks and complications from a stroke.

“Timely recognition, evaluation and treatment for those affected by a stroke are the best opportunities for minimizing long-term effects and disability,” says Linda Dudjak, PhD, vice president of Patient Care Services at UPMC Horizon. “I see this initiative as another example of how we’re able to leverage the expertise and resources of a tertiary health care system like UPMC within a community hospital. It provides our patients, as well as our local neurologists and emergency room physicians, access to the UPMC Stroke Institute 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

In addition to the telemedicine technology, specialists at the UPMC Stroke Institute are able to view CT scan images from UPMC Horizon using STENTOR technology. STENTOR, which has been available at UPMC Horizon for several years, enables physicians to view x-ray and other images online and share them with other clinicians throughout the health system. This advanced technology enables physicians in Pittsburgh to become virtual “on-site” consultants for UPMC Horizon staff.

“This program is an excellent example of the way UPMC is using technology in coordinating its substantial resources. That this is happening with stroke, a problem that is growing as the number of people at risk for stroke rises, is very gratifying. We of Horizon Neurology are pleased to be part of the strong UPMC neuroscience program,” says Michael Matthews, MD, medical director of UPMC Horizon Neurology and chairman of the hospital’s Department of Medicine.

The stroke telemedicine initiative also includes a comprehensive education program for medical staff, nursing staff, ancillary personnel, and pre-hospital care providers. Later this summer, local EMS providers will undergo specialized education with Maxim Hammer, MD, neurologist with the UPMC Stroke Institute.

“Pre-hospital providers will learn the very latest on stroke assessment, pre-hospital treatment, and the improved continuity of care patients will receive at UPMC Horizon,” says Albert Boland, director of Pre-hospital Care Services and Community Initiatives at UPMC Horizon.

Contact: Erin Palko, public relations manager, 724-589-8107