Date of Award
2024
Degree Name
Healthcare Administration
College
College of Business
Type of Degree
M.S.
Document Type
Research Paper
First Advisor
Alberto Coustasse
Abstract
Introduction: In 2011, an estimated 20% of U.S. residents lacked timely access to stroke care. As of 2019, that number plummeted to 4% of patients. A reason for this improved access was the implementation of telestroke services. Telestroke services have utilized remote stroke specialists to help guide local emergency department physicians in reviewing imaging, diagnosing, treating, or transferring patients appropriately.
Purpose: The purpose of this research was to analyze the impact of telestroke implementation in the hospital setting. The study hypothesized the implementation of telestroke services in the hospital setting maintained an accurate stroke diagnosis, decreased inappropriate hospital transfers, reduced time to mechanical or intravenous thrombolytic intervention, increased rates of thrombolysis, and decreased post-stroke patient mortality.
Methodology: This study utilized a literature review of articles identified using PubMed. PRISMA was used and 13 articles were referenced in the results of this research. The results were supported by a semi-structured interview of a fellowship-trained stroke specialist.
Results: The results showed that implementation of telestroke services in the hospital maintained an accurate stroke diagnosis, decreased inappropriate hospital transfers, reduced time to mechanical or intravenous thrombolytic intervention, increased rates of thrombolysis, and decreased post-stroke patient mortality.
Discussion/Conclusion: The findings of this literature review and interview of a fellowship-trained stroke specialist supported the discussion that telestroke service implementation in the hospital setting improved the above listed patient outcomes by maintaining accurate stroke diagnosis rates, reducing inappropriate hospital transfers, decreasing the time to mechanical or intravenous thrombolytic therapy, increasing the rates of thrombolysis, and decreasing 90-day post-stroke mortality.
Subject(s)
Health services administration.
Health facilities -- Business management.
Cerebrovascular disease -- Diagnosis.
Telecommunication in medicine.
Mortality.
Recommended Citation
Baum, Dustin, "The impact of telestroke services on diagnosis, patient outcomes, and treatment" (2024). Theses, Dissertations and Capstones. 1843.
https://mds.marshall.edu/etd/1843
Included in
Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Health and Medical Administration Commons, Neurology Commons, Telemedicine Commons
