title: Stroke telemedicine.
abstract: Stroke telemedicine is a consultative modality that facilitates care of patients with acute stroke at underserviced hospitals by specialists at stroke centers. The design and implementation of a hub-and-spoke telestroke network are complex. This review describes the technology that makes stroke telemedicine possible, the members that should be included in a telestroke team, the hub-and-spoke characteristics of a telestroke network, and the format of a typical consultation. Common obstacles to the practice of telestroke medicine are explored, such as medicolegal, economic, and market issues. An example of a state-based telestroke network is thoroughly described, and established international telestroke networks are presented and compared. The opportunities for future advances in telestroke practice, research, and education are considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Hospital, 5777 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA. demaerschalk.bart@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Bart M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Demaerschalk
authors.forename: Madeline L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Miley
authors.forename: Terri-Ellen J
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Kiernan
authors.forename: Bentley J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Bobrow
authors.forename: Doren A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Corday
authors.forename: Kay E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Wellik
authors.forename: Maria I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ingall
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Dodick
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brazdys
authors.forename: Tiffany C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Phillip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Richemont
mesh_terms: D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D020521:Stroke / Q000628:therapy*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*