Telemedicine for Stroke Care

Believe it or not the US only has 4 neurologists for each 100,000 people. This is rarely a problem in most large cities, but it is a major one in the rest of the country, especially in rural areas where stroke victims may not see a neurologist for several days. This has had many people in the public health sector scratching their heads.

The good news is that telemedicine has become an increasingly attractive idea to tackle the problem.

Telemedicine would allow a neurologist in New York to examine a stroke patient in Indiana or anywhere else thorough the help of live video feed. The idea has been tested and it is so attractive that authorities in the field have now come up with a scientific statement that an neurological examination through videoconferencing is as effective as doing it in person.

A similar technology allows the neurologist to examine brain imaging (CT or MRI) and thus to dictate what the best medical plan is for a particular patient.

A lot still needs to be accomplished before this wonderful plan can be completely implemented, including the drafting of new laws which mandate that health insurance reimburses telemedicine, and coming up with ways to train and certify those who will participate. In the end, this great system will provide a real solution to the dearth of neurologists in rural America.