Stroke expertise available in rural areas, thanks to technology

The Upstate Comprehensive Stroke Center at Upstate University Hospital partners with the following 11 hospitals (locations shown above) to provide stroke care using telemedicine: Canton-Potsdam Hospital, Carthage Area Hospital, Claxton Hepburn Medical Center, Clifton-Fine Hospital, Gouverneur Hospital, Guthrie Cortland Regional Medical Center, Lewis County General Hospital, River Hospital, Rome Memorial Hospital, Samaritan Medical Center and Upstate Community Hospital.

Central New Yorkers who live far from Syracuse can tap into the expertise of the stroke specialists at Upstate University Hospital's comprehensive stroke center at several regional hospitals that partner with Upstat

In those outlying hospitals, interactive computer videoconferencing via a secure internet network allows for an Upstate neurologist and the patient, family and rural health care provider to hear and see each other in real time.

(Would you recognize a stroke in progress?)

(Three stroke survivors share their stories.)

Working together with the emergency physician, the neurologist can complete an assessment and begin treatment.

If appropriate, the patient can be transferred to Upstate.

This article is from the winter 2020 issue of Upstate Health magazine.