More people who suffer from strokes will have better outcomes thanks to state-of-the-art technology called teleneurology. It allows emergency room physicians to have round-the-clock access to neurologists via real-time, two-way audio and video communication.
Virtua is the first in New Jersey to offer this innovative emergency room teleneurology system.
Across the country, many individuals aren't able to receive necessary time-sensitive stroke treatments because there aren't enough neurologists to staff every emergency room. Virtua found a solution through its teleneurology program, which puts an emergency neurologist at the patient's bedside through an interactive two-way audiovisual connection.
Virtua's neurologists work with emergency room physicians to consult with patients and their families, view patients' CT scans and recommend appropriate treatments. The teleneurology system enables them to effectively evaluate a patient from off site and decide if tissue plasminogen (tPA)—the only approved treatment for acute ischemic stroke—should be administered within a three-hour window of symptom onset.
This speedy access to diagnosis and treatment can increase the likelihood of stroke patients maintaining functional independence.