A new program being developed at the Charlottesville-based University of Virginia Health System will use telemedicine to help paramedics identify stroke victims on the scene to speed treatment and improve outcomes.
The health system is currently raising funds to outfit 12 ambulances with the iTREAT mobile telemedicine kit. Containing a tablet, secure videoconferencing technology, a high-speed modem and a magnetic antenna to mount outside the ambulance, the kit will allow paramedics to connect directly with UVA neurologists to diagnose stroke patients. The receiving hospital can then prepare for the incoming patient, allowing for faster treatment.
The program is expected to be especially beneficial to rural patients, who often live 30 minutes or more from the nearest hospital. "iTREAT is really designed to help support patients from rural communities to get the care they need quickly," said David Cattell-Gordon, director of the UVA Office of Telemedicine, in a news release. "Every minute in a stroke matters."
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