A new system intended to make it easier to diagnose stroke is now being used at Sechelt Hospital.
The system, called Telestroke, allows emergency department physicians at Sechelt Hospital to work with stroke experts at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) to diagnose patients suffering from a stroke.
If a patient is admitted to hospital with stroke symptoms, physicians in Sechelt connect with VGH experts using high-definition video conferencing. VGH-based physicians can then speak to the patient and assess them directly using the video camera.
Patients can also now receive initial treatment at Sechelt with a drug called TPA, which dissipates blood clots, before being transported to Vancouver-based hospitals for post-stroke care.
