Telestroke Guidelines Released for Clinicians

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) has released the latest guidelines for telestroke care.

The guidelines are published inTelemedicine and e-Health, and are designed to help clinicians use the latesttelemedicinecommunication technologies to provide remote care for patients with symptoms of acute stroke.

“The authors are to be commended for this outstanding work,” said Charles R. Doarn, MBA, co-editor-in-chief of the journal. “These guidelines will be of great value to clinicians and the patients they treat.”

The guidelines dive into the network of audio-visual communication technologies and computer systems available that help link expert stroke teams with a stroke physician at a distant site and the clinicians caring for a remote stroke patient—in addition to providing telestroke clinical services.

According to the ATA, the timing of treatment delivery is a critical factor in ischemic stroke because a rapid diagnosis and treatment can improve outcomes.

“The telestroke guidelines are the culmination of best evidence, clinical experience, and consensus amongst many experts,” Bart M. Demaerschalk, MD, MSc, FAHA, FRCP(C), director of telemedicine care at the Mayo Clinical Center for Connected Care, said in a press release. “Once implemented, the guidelines will enable more patients with acute stroke to receive timely expert assessments and treatments no matter their geographic location.”