When Mary Stansell had a stroke in 2005, her local hospital was unequipped to treat stroke victims.
Neurologists or stroke specialists are necessary to quickly evaluate risks and opportunities for the administration of new anti-clotting medication such as tPA, shown in some cases to be highly effective in preventing stroke-induced paralysis.
Fortunately, Mary Stansell’s hospital was a member of the Georgia REACH Telestroke Network program – a secure, Web-based system that allows on-call neurologists to evaluate stroke patients, 24/7, from the Medical College of Georgia. Within minutes of her arrival at the hospital, Dr. David Hess logged on to REACH in Augusta, 80 miles away. Within half an hour she was stabilized and feeling began returning to her arms and legs.
