Claxton-Hepburn

V15N2

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by a grant from the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization and allows stroke specialists to diagnose and talk with patients in real time. "Using a dual monitor screen that is equipped with a high-tech camera, a Claxton-Hepburn emergency department physician can bring a stroke specialist directly into a patient's room, where the neurologist can evaluate the patient as the emergency department physician assists from the bedside," Sciorra says. "The neurologist is able to talk with patients and their families, and explain possible treatment options directly to them. It's like having the big Upstate Stroke Center right here." As a service that's offered all day and night, there is always a neurologist on call. This neurologist is provided a laptop so that he or she can easily access the telestroke videoconference system and remotely view computerized tomography (CT) scan results. Access to this kind of information allows specialists to perform an exam on stroke patients and quickly decide whether they are candidates for time-sensitive treatments. For example, the clot busting drug—known as tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)—can save brain cells and reduce the chance of the patient developing a disability related to stroke. However, tPA can also do severe damage to those who aren't qualied for it—which is why decisions about tPA use are best left up to board-certied neurologists. Many treatments, such as tPA through an IV line, can be administered at Claxton-Hepburn. However, if the specialist decides the patient needs more advanced treatments such as clot retrieval and advanced neurosurgery, the patient is transferred to Upstate. "We are very pleased with how well the telestroke program has worked so far," Sciorra says. "Once we have stroke down, we will be able to use this technology to treat everything from trauma cases to infectious diseases. There are just so many uses for telemedicine's ability to bring specialists directly to Claxton-Hepburn's emergency department." Visit www.upstate.edu/stroke to learn more about the Comprehensive Stroke Center at Upstate Medical University. continues on page 2 Win hiking poles and a backpack! See page 2 for details. well VOLUME 15 NUMBER 2 C l a x t o n - H e p b u r n M e d i c a l C e n t e r living Stroke Care Comes Home Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center has partnered with The Comprehensive Stroke Center at Upstate Medical University to bring faster stroke care to the community. TRY TO IMAGINE that you or a loved one suddenly starts having a stroke. The region's only comprehensive stroke care facility is a two-and-a-half hour car ride away—assuming there is no trafc and snow isn't blanketing the highways. What do you do? The number one thing to do during a stroke is act as quickly as possible. The longer it takes to nd proper treatment, the more damage that occurs to the brain. Without a doubt, the best way to diminish the long-term effects of a stroke is to get treatment as quickly as possible. Fortunately, Claxton-Hepburn—with the help of Upstate— can now provide stroke patients with the treatments they need immediately from within their own community. On March 29, Claxton-Hepburn kicked off the Telestroke Program, which uses video technology to supply the hospital and surrounding communities with immediate expertise and resources that come from Upstate. "The Telestroke Program provides us with neurology support 24hours a day, seven days a week," says Julianne Sciorra, RN, director of emergency services at Claxton-Hepburn. "Simply knowing that there is always a specialist available to assist with stroke treatment instills so much more condence in our emergency department." CAPITALIZING ON TECHNOLOGY Neurologists located at Upstate in Syracuse are able to use the latest teleconferencing equipment to come face to face with patients who are many miles away. This equipment was provided ll SUMMER 2016 Tomorrow is worth defending.

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