Stroke Telemedicine Program

Stroke Telemedicine Program Helping to Save Patients' Lives

The emergency medical team at Jefferson Regional Medical Center is saving the lives of stroke patients - and minimizing the devastating injuries that can result from a stroke - through the use of an innovative videoconferencing system known as stroke telemedicine.

Stroke telemedicine provides an opportunity for emergency physicians to access the expertise of specialists during the critical first few hours following a stroke. When patients are rushed to Jefferson Regional's Emergency Department, their prognosis for recovery is much improved if doctors can intervene promptly - generally within a three-hour window - to provide treatment and minimize damage to the brain.

The stroke telemedicine system uses state-of-the-art technology to link experts at UPMC Stroke Institute to Emergency Department physicians at Jefferson Regional. Special units featuring a computer monitor and remote-controlled camera allow for two-way audio and video communication with the stroke experts, who can "see" the patient, ask questions and view CT scans - all in real-time - to help assess his or her condition and help ED physicians to determine if the patient is a candidate for acute stroke therapy.

"Getting to our Emergency Department quickly makes all the difference in achieving a good outcome," said Richard Sullivan, MD, emergency physician at Jefferson Regional. "We can provide world-class expertise and treatment in less time than it takes to drive downtown."