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PJ J, AM T, RE S, LD S, R G, L B, C M, M E, EP P, J B, S K, C O, CT T, Guzik AK. Inpatient Telemedicine for Neurology Consultation at Satellite Hospitals: Patient and Provider Perspectives. Neurohospitalist 2022; 12:476-483. [PMID: 35755219 PMCID: PMC9214951 DOI: 10.1177/19418744221100364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Describe an inpatient teleneurology consultation service novel to our hospital system, and capture feedback from patients, ordering providers, and consulting neurologists. Methods: A single cohort of teleneurology consult patients was surveyed via telephone. Ordering and consulting providers completed online surveys. Quantitative survey data was reported using descriptive statistics and free-response survey data was summarized. Patient demographics and consult data were gathered via retrospective chart review. Results: Telephone survey was obtained from 25 of 53 patients receiving teleneurology consults from June 1-September 30, 2020. Patient-reported benefits included better understanding of condition (72%) and ability to remain close to home. Online surveys were completed by 11 ordering providers and by consulting neurologists on 20 telemedicine encounters. Ordering providers reported they were likely to use the service again (98.7%), agreed it added value to patient care (91%) and was valued by patients (82%), with concern for missed diagnosis (46%) and potential patient transfer (36%) without the service. In contrast, fewer consulting neurologists predicted need for transfer (5%) or missed diagnosis (10%) in the absence of teleneurology, though 20% indicated that length of stay may increase without the service. Conclusion: We confirm feasibility of an inpatient teleneurology service run by an academic medical center. Satisfaction was high among all key stakeholders, with few transfers to a tertiary care center. This service is valuable to patients, ordering providers, and potentially the hospital network, as a community based care model of neurological care, centered on the needs of the patient and hospitalist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juneja PJ
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tolczyk AM
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Strowd RE
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Strauss LD
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Graham R
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Burton L
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Michael C
- Wake Forest Baptist Health, Lexington Medical Center, Lexington, NC, USA
| | - Ezzeddine M
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Pharr EP
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Boggs J
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Kumar S
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - O’Donovan C
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Tegeler CT
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Amy K Guzik
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, USA
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Tumma A, Berzou S, Jaques K, Shah D, Smith AC, Thomas EE. Considerations for the Implementation of a Telestroke Network: A Systematic Review. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021; 31:106171. [PMID: 34735902 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The application of telestroke has matured considerably since its inception in 1999. The use of telestroke is now recommended in several published guidelines. Consequently, jurisdictions without a telestroke service are seeking practical information on the best approach to implement telestroke. French et al. (2013) reviewed the challenges of implementing a telestroke network including studies between 2000 and 2010. At the time, telestroke networks were largely limited to the UK, USA, Canada and Europe and only one process evaluation had been conducted. Given the prolific expansion of telestroke services since 2010, we conducted a systematic review to determine factors associated with successful establishment, management, and sustainability of a contemporary telestroke services. A comprehensive search of telestroke studies was conducted in July 2021. Empirical studies published between 2010 and 2021 were included if they contained descriptive, evaluation or operational data on the implementation of a telestroke network. Studies were subsequently evaluated using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The initial literature search revealed a total of 7415 potential studies; 38 of which met the inclusion criteria. The past decade of process evaluation studies has enabled a more nuanced investigations into how to implement and sustain a telestroke network. Pre-implementation planning is crucial to ensure clear telestroke processes, governance structures and stakeholder engagement. Sustainability of networks relies on securing long-term investment, providing adequate resources, and maintaining staff motivation and willingness. Recommendations are provided to overcome commonly identified barriers related to technology, staffing, planning and standardisation of processes, evaluation, and sustainability and scale-up. Further research needs to explore how new advancements in stroke care such as endovascular clot retrieval (EVT) and advanced brain imaging can be considered and planned for during the implementation of a new telestroke service.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abishek Tumma
- Department of Medicine, Queensland Health, Logan Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Souad Berzou
- Centre for Online Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Katherine Jaques
- Queensland Health, Clinical Excellence Queensland, Brisbane Australia
| | - Darshan Shah
- Department of Neurology, Queensland Health, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Anthony C Smith
- Centre for Online Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Centre for Innovative Technology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Emma E Thomas
- Centre for Online Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Centre for Health Services Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
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Guzik AK, Martin-Schild S, Tadi P, Chapman SN, Al Kasab S, Martini SR, Meyer BC, Demaerschalk BM, Wozniak MA, Southerland AM. Telestroke Across the Continuum of Care: Lessons from the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021; 30:105802. [PMID: 33866272 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.105802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
While use of telemedicine to guide emergent treatment of ischemic stroke is well established, the COVID-19 pandemic motivated the rapid expansion of care via telemedicine to provide consistent care while reducing patient and provider exposure and preserving personal protective equipment. Temporary changes in re-imbursement, inclusion of home office and patient home environments, and increased access to telehealth technologies by patients, health care staff and health care facilities were key to provide an environment for creative and consistent high-quality stroke care. The continuum of care via telestroke has broadened to include prehospital, inter-facility and intra-facility hospital-based services, stroke telerehabilitation, and ambulatory telestroke. However, disparities in technology access remain a challenge. Preservation of reimbursement and the reduction of regulatory burden that was initiated during the public health emergency will be necessary to maintain expanded patient access to the full complement of telestroke services. Here we outline many of these initiatives and discuss potential opportunities for optimal use of technology in stroke care through and beyond the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy K Guzik
- Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| | - Sheryl Martin-Schild
- Department of Neurology, Touro Infirmary and New Orleans East Hospital, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Prasanna Tadi
- Department of Neurology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Sherita N Chapman
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Sami Al Kasab
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Sharyl R Martini
- Department of Neurology, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Brett C Meyer
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Bart M Demaerschalk
- Department of Neurology, Center for Connected Care, and Center for Digital Health, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Marcella A Wozniak
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrew M Southerland
- Department of Neurology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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