Dive Brief:
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Mayo Clinic are partnering to offer telestroke services via videoconferencing technology.
- Under the program, emergency department staffers communicate via video with the remote specialist, who interprets brain images, confirms diagnoses and provides recommendations for treatment.
- The first hospital to access this program is Catholic Medical Center of Manchester, NH; eventually, leaders expect the program to reach all of New Hampshire and Vermont.
Dive Insight:
Telestroke programs like these are becoming more popular, including among thought leaders like Brigham and Women's and Mass General Hospital. With research increasingly suggesting that telestroke consultations improve outcomes, reduce patient risk and lower costs, expect programs like these to become common over the next few years. And as telestroke programs proliferate, it's likely that programs built around other specialties that can be offered via video will emerge as well. This is definitely an area to watch.