Analysing the Use of a Telestroke Service

• Main Authors: Kari Dyb, Terje Solvoll, Ellen Rygh, Tove Sørensen
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Norway; Nordland; Northern Norway
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.680.4576; http://www.thinkmind.org/download.php?articleid%3Dlifsci_v5_n34_2013_8

Abstract—Telestroke can facilitate remote cerebrovascular specialty consults from virtually any location within minutes of attempted contact, adding greater expertise to the care provided to any individual patient. In 2010, a Telestroke service was established between the three hospitals that constitute the Nordland Hospital in Northern Norway. The Telestroke service connected the neurological department at the central hospital with two small, local hospitals. The aim of our study was to implement a Telestroke service and explore if the benefits reported internationally could be achieved in the North Norwegian healthcare context. The study presented herein was based on Telestroke log data, field observations, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with the health personnel involved. After more than two years of operation, Telestroke consultations were described as successful. However, the frequency of use was much lower than the estimate before implementation, and the Telestroke service was terminated with the project conclusion. In this article, we ask why the service was terminated, and focus on the significance of the local context when establishing telemedicine services. Keywords- Telestroke; video-teleconferencing; consultation; cerebral stroke; local hospitals; local context I.