On June 20, 2011, NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare began offering patients access to high-quality neurological care around the clock through its new clinical telemedicine program.
Clinical telemedicine allows physicians to quickly and accurately diagnose and treat patients suffering from neurological emergencies, including stroke.
The NeuroTexas Institute at the St. David’s HealthCare telemedicine program is available at St. David’s Georgetown Hospital, St. David’s Round Rock Medical Center and St. David’s South Austin Medical Center.
“The telemedicine program will provide patients with 24-hour access to board-certified neurologists,” said Philippe Bochaton, chief administrative officer of NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare. “In addition to providing timely medical treatment, it will also allow patients to receive exceptional care close to home, rather than sending them elsewhere for neurological expertise.”
NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare will offer this service using an evidence-based approach and adhering to strict standards of practice when discussing, diagnosing and recommending treatment options to hospital staff and patients.
With state-of-the-art videoconferencing technology and secure lines of communication, physicians can interact directly with hospital physicians, nurses, patients and their families in a manner that closely resembles an in-person bedside consultation.
“Because time is critical in preserving brain function, this will provide the best possible outcomes for stroke patients, as some treatment options have only a four- to eight-hour window for optimal effectiveness,” said Dr. Jeff Miley, a stroke/interventional neurologist and affiliate member of NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare. “Telemedicine will allow emergency medicine physicians in our affiliate hospitals to more accurately triage and transfer patients, if necessary. It will also improve treatment options.
“Stroke victims need a prompt and accurate diagnosis, since early intervention translates into better outcomes for patients. Acute stroke care must be coordinated so that appropriate treatment – ranging from clot-busting medicine to minimally invasive surgical treatment – can be administered as quickly as possible.”
NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare has partnered with Specialists On Call, Inc. to provide this service.
NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare
NeuroTexas Institute at St. David’s HealthCare, located near downtown Austin at 1015 East 32nd St., is dedicated to ensuring the best clinical outcomes for patients with conditions affecting the brain, spine and nerves, as well as providing exceptional neurological and neurosurgical care. The institute was founded to promote quality care, provide academic leadership and perform advanced research in the field of neuroscience. It includes 30 physicians of various subspecialties, all committed to its vision of quality care and research advances. The physicians, together with other neuroscience professionals, provide comprehensive, individualized and high-quality care, integrating the most advanced clinical protocols and surgical technologies. For more information, please visit www.neurotexasinstitute.com.
St. David’s HealthCare
With more than 60 sites across Central Texas, St. David’s HealthCare includes seven of the area’s leading hospitals, and is one of the largest health systems in Texas. Known for compassionate, high-quality care, the organization has been recognized with the Texas Award for Performance Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the state of Texas based upon world-class quality measures. Ranked as one of the top workplaces in 2010 by the Austin American-Statesman (as well as the top Austin-area employer among large companies at the Austin Business Journal’s annual Best Places to Work event in 2007, 2008 and 2009), St. David’s HealthCare is the third-largest private employer in the Austin area, with more than 7,100 employees. For more information, please visit http://www.stdavids.com.
