Telemedicine improves stroke care at hospitals

When a patient comes into the emergency room with symptoms of a stroke, access to a neurologist within minutes can make a big difference between whether they live, die or end up permanently disabled. Technology that hospital chain HCA's local TriStar Health System subsidiary plans to roll out next week at five of its Nashville-area hospitals aims to ensure there's a neurologist on hand instantly -- albeit virtually -- to make the right life-saving choices. TriStar's system can be used to determine whether the patient had a severe stroke and needs clot-dissolving drugs to prevent more damage.