1. Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland
PATTERNS OF ACTIVITY AND RELIABILITY OF AN ACUTE STROKE TELEMEDICINE SERVICE –DUBLIN MIDLEINSTER STROKE NETWORK PARTNERSHIP
J Soh, C Offiah, T Coughlan, P O Brien, DJH McCabe, S Murphy, J McManus, D O’Neill, DR Collins
Adelaide & Meath Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland
Introduction:
Telemedicine can facilitate acute ischemic stroke treatment by immediate stroke-expert consultation particularly ‘out of hours’. The Dublin MidLeinster (DML) Stroke Network Partnership initiated a new telemedicine service (RP-7 InTouch Health) in 2010 with the aim of improving the delivery of acute stroke thrombolysis across a network of 3 regional stroke centers serving 760,000 people.
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Methods:
Prospective data analysis on 157 consecutive patients who were assessed for acute stroke
thrombolysis using the on-line consultation entry (Stroke Respond-In Touch Health)
3 acute hospital sites.
Secondary analysis of system reliability and patient / carer acceptability using a post consultation on-line proforma
Results:
157 complete telemedicine consultations using RP-7 system (InTouch Health).
Mean age: 66 years (range )
Female: male ratio =1:1
Mean time from symptom onset to presentation =107 minutes.
49.7% thrombolysed
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90.4% patients presented to ED outside normal working hours (n=141)
Post-consultation reliability proforma:
Successful log-in = 99.1%
Difficult log-in in 5.6 % consultations
22.4% reported loss of signal during
consultations
All patients / carers agreed that
telemedicine was acceptable form of
consultation
99.1% patients/carers reported that the
consulting physician was easily
understood and seen.
90.4% of patients presented to ED out of normal working hours including weekends (n=141)
Conclusions:
Telemedicine assessments within the DML stroke network partnership were associated with
high rates of positive thrombolysis treatment decisions.
The RP-7 system was very reliable regarding log- in.
All patients and carers found the system acceptable and clear.