Stroke Care
At Randolph Health the Stroke Management Program has been enhanced with the use of telestroke. Telestroke is transforming the way stroke care is being delivered, making it easier for people to connect with specialized physicians, neurologists, through electronic communications.
Through the use of a moving cart with a pan-tilt-zoom camera, display screen, and a computer, which can be positioned at the site of patient care, a neurologist at a distant site can connect, control the camera, communicate, examine and interact with the patient, family members and attending caregivers.
So how does the Stroke Management Program at Randolph Health work?
As EMS is dispatched to a call and a diagnosis of stroke has been made, it is immediately relayed to the Randolph Health Emergency Department, where a skilled team meets EMS at the door to receive the patient. The Emergency Department physician brings up telestroke and consults with a neurologist to get an initial assessment. The patient is taken to have a CT and labs completed, and then is placed in a room for a more detailed exam with the neurologists through telestroke. An intervention is identified, such as a clot-dissolving medicine and this can be administered within one hour of arrival.