INTRODUCTION: Currently, clinical benefits of stroke units and thrombolysis in ischaemic stroke are evidence-based. However, inequities in coverage and in treatment provided to these patients still persist due to geographical differences in residence, technological capacity and organization among health care systems. Telestroke is considered to be an effective tool for reducing inequities in coverage and health outcomes of stroke patients. DEVELOPMENT: This paper reviews the requirements of implementation of telestroke units, their deployment in the Health Service of the Balearic Islands, and the main experiences reported so far. Further, preliminary results of an ongoing formal assessment of effectiveness and safety of telestroke relative to conventional stroke treatment are advanced. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a telestroke system is feasible and allows increasing specialized treatment coverage. The Health Service of the Balearic Islands is fulfilling its goal of improving thrombolysis coverage by means of telestroke. Its effectiveness and safety appear to be similar to those of conventional treatment.
INTRODUCTION: Currently, clinical benefits of stroke units and thrombolysis in ischaemic stroke are evidence-based. However, inequities in coverage and in treatment provided to these patients still persist due to geographical differences in residence, technological capacity and organization among health care systems. Telestroke is considered to be an effective tool for reducing inequities in coverage and health outcomes of strokepatients. DEVELOPMENT: This paper reviews the requirements of implementation of telestroke units, their deployment in the Health Service of the Balearic Islands, and the main experiences reported so far. Further, preliminary results of an ongoing formal assessment of effectiveness and safety of telestroke relative to conventional stroke treatment are advanced. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of a telestroke system is feasible and allows increasing specialized treatment coverage. The Health Service of the Balearic Islands is fulfilling its goal of improving thrombolysis coverage by means of telestroke. Its effectiveness and safety appear to be similar to those of conventional treatment.
Authors: Patricia Martínez-Sánchez; Ambrosio Miralles; Rosa Sanz de Barros; Daniel Prefasi; Borja E Sanz-Cuesta; Blanca Fuentes; Gerardo Ruiz-Ares; Marta Martínez-Martínez; Elena Miñano; Juan José Arévalo-Manso; Elisa Correas-Callero; Andrés Cruz-Herranz; Exuperio Díez-Tejedor Journal: J Neurol Date: 2014-06-24 Impact factor: 4.849
Authors: Sunil A Sheth; Tzu-Ching Wu; Anjail Sharrief; Christy Ankrom; James C Grotta; Marc Fisher; Sean I Savitz Journal: Stroke Date: 2020-05-18 Impact factor: 7.914
Authors: Carlos Parra; Francisco Jódar-Sánchez; M Dolores Jiménez-Hernández; Eduardo Vigil; Alfredo Palomino-García; Francisco Moniche-Álvarez; Francisco Javier De la Torre-Laviana; Patricia Bonachela; Francisco José Fernández; Aurelio Cayuela-Domínguez; Sandra Leal Journal: Interact J Med Res Date: 2012-11-15