Telemedicine leads to better stroke treatment decisions

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego Medical Center say that a study of a telemedicine program which transports stroke specialists via computer to the patient's bedside, using highly sophisticated video, audio, and Internet technology, could have an immediate impact on the treatment of stroke patients. Researchers investigated the use of a site-independent telemedicine system when used to provide remote consultation leading to treatment decisions about stroke patients. The study was designed to determine if the "STRokE DOC" technology enabled physicians to make good treatment decisions, and better decisions than telephone consultations, when evaluating stroke patients across distant sites. The results showed that telemedicine evaluation led to better decision-making than telephone consultations in the care of patients.