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Newswise When the clock starts ticking after the onset of stroke symptoms, access to a neurologist is crucial. Quickly diagnosing a stroke allows for the administration of lifesaving tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) in patients who quality for this treatment. tPA is a clot busting drug that can restore blood flow to the brain; if given to the patient within three to four hours of the onset of a stroke, tPA can improve the chances of recovering from a stroke.
Baylor Health Care System is bringing advanced neurologic stroke expertise to its community-based medical centers via a portable robot communication system or telemedicine.
This telemedicine system allows a neurologist to look at, talk to and examine the patient, and help make treatment decisions, said Dion Graybeal, M.D., medical director for Baylor Health Care Systems hub-and- spoke stroke program.
Neuro-hospitalists based at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas use IPads or laptop computers to connect with other Baylor medical centers whenever a call comes from their emergency departments. Currently Baylor Medical Centers at Irving, Garland, Waxahachie, Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano, and Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth utilize the hub-and-spoke stroke program.
Roll in the neurologist For Judy Buck, the neurologists virtual presence in the emergency department helped save her life. She arrived at Baylor Medical Center at Irving after experiencing a sudden heaviness in her left side. The emergency physician ran tests and then rolled in the neurologist via the portable robot communication system.
Buck was impressed.
It was like the doctor was standing right there, she said. It was like science fiction.
Time is brain Dr. Graybeal and the Baylor Irving emergency department physician determined that Buck was having a stroke, and lifesaving tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) was begun.
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