Telestroke: a multi-site, emergency-based telemedicine service in Ontario.
A telestroke service was established in Ontario in 2002. Six neurologists on four campuses of two academic health centres of the University of Toronto participated in the call roster to support emergency physicians in two northern cities, North Bay and Sudbury. Videoconferencing units were provided in the hospitals and in the homes of the neurologists. PC workstations were used to access computed tomography (CT) images. In the first 34 months' operation, a total of 88 patient consultations were conducted. Twenty-six patients received tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). Although the number of consultations was relatively low, the feasibility of telemedicine for acute stroke care was demonstrated. The economics remain to be explored. The telestroke model is a viable alternative to the provision of acute stroke care for communities that have CT scanners, but no access to a resident neurologist.
Waite
Karen
K
NORTH Network, Sunnybrook and Women's College Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. kwaite@northnetwork.com
Silver
Frank
F
Jaigobin
Cheryl
C
Black
Sandra
S
Lee
Liesly
L
Murray
Brian
B
Danyliuk
Peter
P
Brown
Edward M
EM
D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D011859:Radiography; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D019112:Teleradiology / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049269:Videoconferencing
D010959:Tissue Plasminogen Activator