Mobile Videoconferencing Expedites Stroke Diagnosis and Treatment to Save
Lives and Prevent Brain Loss
When someone has a stroke, the timing of intervention can make the difference
between life or death and debilitating loss of brain function. Studies
have shown that prompt access to a neurologist reduces mortality or the
long-term disabling effects of a stroke. To ensure round-the-clock stroke
coverage is available to South Bay patients, Torrance Memorial Medical
Center’s Lundquist Cardiovascular Institute has collaborated with
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to develop a Telestroke program to offer 24/7
access to stroke specialists and expedite the transfer of patients when
higher-level intervention is needed.
The program’s launch at Torrance Memorial is made possible by a $250,000
gift to the
Torrance Memorial Foundation from Francesca and Doug Deaver of Redondo Beach.
“This partnership will facilitate instant collaboration between health
care providers and stroke neurologists to produce a high accuracy diagnosis
and result in the most effective treatment,”
Eric Nakkim, co-medical director, Emergency Department, Torrance Memorial Medical
Center, said. “Research shows that Telestroke improves outcomes,
reduces patient risks, decreases ambulance transport, shortens hospital
stays and lowers costs through more timely and accurate diagnosis. We’re
very excited to offer this continuum of care to our patients.”
Through Telestroke, videoconferencing technology will enable specialists
at Cedars-Sinai to communicate with Torrance Memorial’s emergency
room team to examine the patient, interpret brain images, confirm the
diagnosis and provide recommendations just as if they were at the bedside.
The evaluating physician will recommend in the case of ischemic stroke
(which occurs as a result of an obstruction within a blood vessel supplying
blood to the brain) whether tissue plasminogen activator (TPA), a clot-busting
medication is needed. According to the American Heart Association, each
15-minute span between the onset of ischemic stroke (the cause of nine
of 10 strokes) and the delivery of TPA is an average of one month of disability-free
life lost for that patient. Immediate intervention in the case of hemorrhage
stroke is just as critical.
In 2015, Neurologists
Jeffrey Kim, MD, and
Ben Tseng, MD, joined the
Torrance Memorial Physician Network to provide rapid daytime access to the more than 450 stroke patients who enter
Torrance Memorial’s Emergency Department each year. In the event neither doctor is immediately accessible at bedside,
one of four Cedars-Sinai Neurologists Patrick Lyden, MD, Shlee S. Song,
MD, Konrad Schlick, MD, or Mani Nezhad, MD, are available to instantly
assess the patient via two-way audiovisual communication.
“Strokes can occur at any time and it is important to have access
to urgent neurologic evaluations by experts that can help decide whether
patients are eligible for TPA or other interventions as quickly as possible.
We’ve all seen the data and patients have a greater chance for better
outcome and independence with early treatment,” said Song. “Time
is brain.”
The Deavers’ gift helped bring to Torrance Memorial the RP-Lite®,
Mobile Remote Presence Solution, a robot-like system that includes a camera,
monitor and laptop station affixed to a stand on wheels. Its patented
design facilitates immersive two-way audiovisual communication between
a patient and physician. When positioned adjacent to the bed, The RP-Lite’s
design allows a camera and directional microphone to fully engage the
patient and doctor in face-to-face interactions. The system, used in combination
with InTouch Health’s work-flow solution and cloud connectivity
maximizes the real-time interactivity and instant transport of vital,
life-saving information.
“As a proud resident of the South Bay, I am aware of how fortunate
I am to have had opportunities in business and to raise a family in this
community,” said Francesca Deaver. “My father was active in
his support of our community hospital, Torrance Memorial, which has become
a thriving medical center. Our children and grandchildren were also born
there. Our personal philosophy is simple; we have a responsibility to
do what we are able for our community at all times. We feel fortunate
and humble to be a part of the legacy of Torrance Memorial Medical Center.”
In 2009, Torrance Memorial Medical Center became the first hospital in
Torrance to receive The Joint Commission's Certificate of Distinction
as a Primary
Stroke Center. This designation recognizes centers that make exceptional efforts to
foster better outcomes for stroke care. In addition, for the third straight
year, Torrance Memorial has also received the American Heart Association/American
Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines® Stroke Gold Plus
Quality Achievement Award. The award honors the hospital’s commitment
and success to ensuring stroke patients receive the most appropriate treatment
according to nationally recognized, research-based guidelines.
Cedars-Sinai has earned Comprehensive Stroke Center status, the highest
quality achievement possible under The Joint Commission guidelines. Awarded
to centers that pass a rigorous on-site review and a thorough examination
of the program and patient care, the certification recognizes the center’s
commitment to following national standards and guidelines that can significantly
improve outcomes for stroke patients.