Stroke Telehealth

Bringing Advanced Stroke Care to Mid-Missouri

Time is critical when a stroke occurs. The stroke telehealth program connects emergency room patients at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Jefferson City to the stroke experts at SSM Health DePaul Hospital and SSM Health St. Clare Hospital - Fenton, enabling us to provide advanced stroke care.

How Stroke Telehealth Works

For patients experiencing an ischemic stroke, prompt administration of the life-saving medication tissue plasminogen activator, or tPA, can limit the debilitating effects of stroke and result in a faster, more significant recovery. tPA must be administered within three hours of the onset of stroke symptoms to be effective, making rapid evaluation and diagnosis an essential part of how we care for stroke patients.

Our telehealth services connect our patients to remote neurology specialists through the use of high-quality video, audio and file transfers in real time. This allows us to rapidly evaluate stroke patients and determine the best course of treatment, including whether the use of tPA is appropriate. Our telemedicine technology makes possible:

• The review of CT scans performed at our location by neurology experts at SSM Health DePaul Hospital and SSM Health St. Clare Hospital to determine the type and severity of stroke.
• The performance of a remote exam to determine if a patient is a candidate for tPA.
• Collaboration between our physicians and the remote team of experts to ensure our patients receive the highest quality care.

Our Commitment to Accessible, Quality Care

At SSM Health, we are proud of our telehealth programs because they improve access to expert care in communities throughout Mid-Missouri. The stroke telehealth program enhances our ability to rapidly evaluate and treat stroke, resulting in better outcomes for our patients. When time is critical, you can be assured that SSM Health has the tools necessary to offer life-saving stroke care, regardless of location.