"REACH" system provides healthcare to rural areas

New York Neurological specialists are now available to help stroke patients in rural areas via the Internet. Using the "REACH" (Rural Evaluation of Acute Ischemic Stroke) system, patients at Cortland Regional Medical Center and Schuyler Hospital can connect with specialists in Syracuse without having to make the trip by ambulance. The system uses a computer placed near the patient, and an on-call neurologist in Syracuse then can log on from any computer with Internet access. From the computer, the neurologist can recommend a treatment plan for the patient.