Healthcare Technology Featured Article

December 01, 2010

Healthcare Technology and News: Ochsner Health System, a REACH Customer Expands Telestroke Network


REACH Call, a high-tech provider of telemedicine solutions, revealed that its telemedicine solution is enabling Ochsner Medical Center to offer live, off-site stroke consultations to 10 hospitals in Southeast Louisiana.

The aforementioned hospitals previously had only limited or no access at all to specialized acute care but now with REACH they are realizing noticeable enhancements in patient care. The REACH Call solution will enable neurologists from New Orleans to conduct live stroke consults at underserved Ochsner and non-Ochsner hospitals.

“Ochsner Health System is a great example of how a telestroke network can serve suburban and urban hospitals effectively,” said Ken Rardin, president and CEO of REACH, in a press release. “It is not only rural and remote hospitals that are underserved. Many hospitals in cities or near cities don’t have a neurologist on staff. Our solution can bridge that gap and allow these hospitals to treat stroke patients at a reasonable cost and with favorable outcomes.”

REACH, which stands for Remote Evaluation of Acute isCHemic stroke, is a turnkey telestroke application different from all other solutions Using a hub and spoke model, neurologists can easily consult with patients from anywhere. The only requirements are a computer with webcam and a broadband internet connection. REACH makes it simple to intervene in those critical hours from home, hospital – even on vacation.

Ochsner Medical Center, a primary stroke center will be acting as a primary network hub for the adjoining regions and has employed two vascular neurologists to conduct off-site consults 24/7. Stroke is estimated as the third leading cause of death in the U.S. and if any cases of stroke occur, the center will able to use the telemedicine solution to offer immediate access to a neurologist who can diagnose and treat the condition can stave off brain damage, save lives, improve patient care and reduce long-term healthcare costs. Until now facilities had to transfer patients to other hospitals due to lack of access to neurologists.

Liz Allen, stroke coordinator at Ochsner Medical Center, commented that in some hospitals, patient transfers to other facilities have gone down from 100 percent to 35 percent. TPA utilization rates grew from less than 1 percent to more than 36 percent and the center has seen a significant increase in the number of patients who are being screened and evaluated.


Nathesh is a contributing editor for HealthTechZone. To read more of Nathesh's articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Jaclyn Allard
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