An increasing number of medical facilities in New York are using telemedicine to treat stroke patients remotely, the Buffalo News reports.
In 2006, New York launched a telemedicine initiative aimed at addressing the shortage of neurologists and neurosurgeons in rural areas. The program uses a technology called REACH, or Remote Evaluation of Acute Ischemic Stroke, to connect hospitals and assess patients' risks.
Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo serves as the hub with connections to 10 smaller hospitals in the area.
The state has other REACH telemedicine systems in Syracuse, Rochester and Cooperstown.
Early evidence indicates that telemedicine can improve patients' chance of surviving a stroke and avoiding paralysis and other problems.
Stroke Telemedicine a 'Work in Progress'
Stroke telemedicine systems can be expensive, and smaller facilities might question whether it is that much more valuable than having emergency department physicians consult with stroke specialists by phone, the News reports.
While studies have found value in telemedicine, there has been little research on its effectiveness. In addition, there are not yet standard national guidelines for stroke telemedicine.
Meanwhile, private health insurance companies have not yet created separate reimbursements for telemedicine that can cover the cost of equipment and technical support (Davis, Buffalo News, 4/21).