The Role of Telemedicine in Improving Stroke Management

Abstract

The growing demand for timely and high-quality medical services had driven the emergence of telemedicine as an innovative healthcare solution. Telemedicine was defined as the use of technology to deliver patient care remotely, enabling physicians to communicate with and manage patients in distant locations through telecommunications systems without the need for in-person visits. Stroke is recognized as a medical emergency requiring prompt diagnosis and treatment to improve survival and functional outcomes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of telemedicine in enhancing stroke management within the U.S. healthcare system. A systematic review of 16 peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2006 and 2019 was conducted. The selected studies focused exclusively on data derived from the United States. Findings from the review showed that telemedicine significantly reduced treatment times for stroke patients, resulting in better clinical outcomes. It also proved to be a cost-effective approach to delivering rapid and efficient stroke care. The analysis further revealed that approximately 55% of Americans had access to primary stroke care centers within 60 minutes; however, only about half of these hospitals had an on-site neurologist. Telestroke, or stroke-specific telemedicine, emerged as a key strategy for bridging this gap by connecting non-specialized hospitals with neurologists and specialized stroke centers in real time. Despite its effectiveness, further efforts were required to address persistent challenges such as interstate licensing restrictions and technical issues encountered during remote consultations.