New service helps stroke victims

A new two-way video system will enable a stroke victim at the local hospital to receive an expert diagnosis and care from neurologists based at Research Medical Center in Kansas City through a program called Tele-Stroke.
Allen County Regional Hospital trustees learned of the new service Tuesday night that should be up and running by late July.
“Think of the benefits of having that access to physicians all over the country. Heck all over the world,” Harry Lee, board chairman, said of the new field of treating patients via telemedicine.
Patty McGuffin, director of nursing at ACRH, gave trustees a demonstration of how the video system works.
On the other end was Jackie Addington, a nurse who coordinates the Tele-Stroke program from Kansas City.
The biggest advantage of the service is that patients diagnosed with having a stroke can receive life-saving treatments in a matter of minutes. The technology is so sophisticated cameras can zoom in on a patient to detect symptoms of stroke, giving neurologists the ability to prescribe necessary procedures.
“I can count your eyelashes,” said Addington, as she zoomed the camera in on a board member.
The machine will be available for use around the clock in the emergency department. Physicians and staff at ACRH are being trained now to manage the protocols.
The faster a victim of stroke can be treated, the less damaging its effects. A stroke can be the result of a bleed in the brain or a blood clot. About 80 percent of strokes are caused by blood clots. 
“With the new system, the time from walking in the ER to receiving clot-busting medicine is about 30 minutes,” said Addington. “Our goal is 20 minutes.”
The program also allows neurologists at Research to consult with patients as to their progress.
Another benefit is that patients at a rural hospital may not necessarily need to be transferred to a metropolitan hospital, but can receive adequate care locally.
The machine is on loan from Research Medical Center, which is affiliated with Hospital Corporation of America, which formerly leased Allen County Hospital. Top management at ACRH also remains as employees of HCA.
A direct benefit to Research is that stroke patients at ACHR would be referred to the Kansas City hospital.
“The advantage is that if a patient needs to be transferred to Kansas City, the doctors there are already familiar with the patient,” said McGuffin.
Tele-pulmonology, for those with respiratory problems, and tele-psych programs are also in the works, said Ron Baker, chief executive officer of ACRH.
The tele-psych program will allow a psychiatrist to work with those enrolled with the Senior Life Solutions programs, which opened June 5.
Currently, a psychiatrist visits with participants on a weekly basis. The video conferencing capability will replace some of those in-person visits.
As for tele-pulmonology, it will likely begin later in the year, if not the beginning of next.
“It took nine months to get the tele-stroke program going,” said Baker.

IN OTHER news, Glenn Buchholz announced he is stepping down from the board of trustees.
“It’s the best public board I’ve ever served on,” he said. “It’s going to be hard to leave.”
Buchholz and his wife, Lori, are moving to El Dorado, in a career move for him with Emprise Bank.
He will be replaced by Loren Korte of PSI Insurance.
Also Tony Thompson, Goodland, has been hired to replace Baker as chief executive officer. He comes on in late July.