ER Wait Time: 58 Minutes 
Teleneurology at Baptist
Making minutes matter with TeleStroke
Acute neurological symptoms can indicate a serious problem like stroke, concussion, aneurysm, or trauma. Minutes matter during a stroke. Getting care immediately is critical.
- 2 million brain cells die every minute during stroke, increasing the chance for brain damage, disability or even death.
- Approximately 795,000 strokes occur each year.
- Every four minutes, a life ends in the U.S. due to stroke.
With Baptist's teleneurology services, treatment is immediate and helps overcome traditional barriers such as distance and time. This advanced neurological care is now offered at 10 Baptist Memorial Hospital locations.
Now, patients can quickly receive specialized neurological care faster and close to home.
New Stroke Technology Breakthrough
FOX reporter puts herself in a stroke patient's shoes to show Mid-South viewers Baptist's newest technology to treat stroke patients, telestroke.
How does it work?
When a patient arrives in our emergency department with neurological symptoms, our team will immediately assess their condition. We then connect with the telemedicine cart, a video communication technology designed to allow a neurologist to provide 24/7 consultation from an off-site location.
Our board-certified neurologist will communicate directly with the patient, family and local doctor to determine the appropriate care. The neurologist will help the on-site team by:
- Providing a diagnosis
- Recommending and providing oversight for tPA, a stroke medicine given through an IV
- Developing a plan of care
- Transfer the patient to a higher level of care, if needed
The remote physician is on the video within 5 minutes. When an intervention plan happens early, patients generally experience better long-term recovery.
Medical Breakthrough For Stroke Patients
Channel 5's Jessica Holley explains how telestroke gives stroke patients access to faster care closer to home.
What are the benefits?
TeleStroke allows for faster intervention and crucial access to care, especially for patients in rural or remote areas. TeleStroke provides:
- Board-certified vascular neurologists who support local ERs
- A team of neurologists who are available 24/7 for consultation
- Immediate interventions allowing patients to remain close to home
- Technical expertise and guidance to ER doctors in rural or remote areas
- Efficient, consistent communication among doctors and patients through MyChart, the electronic health record technology available online at mychart.baptistonecare.org
Stroke patients in the Mid-South area now have access to faster care closer to home with Baptist's new telestroke technology.
Do you know F.A.S.T.?
Learn to recognize early signs of a stroke. If treatment occurs within three hours of the first symptoms, the risk of long-term disability can be significantly reduced.
FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side droop?
ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one side drift downward?
SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?
TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.
