September 11, 2009
Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard teams with Mass. General for Stroke Telemedicine
WEBSTER, Mass. Sept. 11 2009 - Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard is pleased to announce a new collaboration with Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and Partners TeleStroke Center to continue offering advanced stroke services in the Webster Emergency Department.
"Our emergency facility has a solid history of providing treatment for stroke-related illnesses to the community," said Administrator Tom Hijeck. "During the transition to Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard, we had to reevaluate our equipment and training in order to continue certification with the Department of Public Health."
The designation as a Primary Stroke Center confirms Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard is equipped to offer diagnostic and therapeutic services to anyone exhibiting signs or symptoms of stroke, 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
"I am proud the Webster and Southbridge campuses of Harrington are Primary Stroke Centers affiliated with Mass. General," said Ed Moore, Harrington President and CEO. "It is an indication of how dedicated we are to providing critical and advanced patient care services to this community. We want everyone to know we can and will treat them locally. Our staff works hard at being trained and prepared for emergency situations."
The process of being a Primary Stroke Center links the Emergency Room to a telemedicine system, which acts like a virtual consult via videoconference. The partnership allows ER physicians and nurses to communicate instantly with neurologists at MGH. The communication between emergency facilities is in real time and has proven successful in hospitals across the country.
During the video consult, the neurologist can see and hear everything that is going on inside the Emergency Room, allowing for direct communication to the patient to evaluate their condition, and offer instructions to the ER staff as far as treatment and tests to be given. The rapid flow of dialogue is critical, as time has proven detrimental to patients who exhibit signs and symptoms and are not treated quickly. In the medical world, most people refer the short window of opportunity as ‘brain saving' time. Research has shown patients have an overall three hour time window - from initial symptoms to final treatment - that could drastically reduce the risk for stroke or its devastating side affects.