Stroke DOC Arizona TIME - Stroke Team Remote Evaluation Using a Digital Observation Camera

Design Noninvasive prospective multi-center study of an interactive 2-way, wireless or site-independent, audiovisual telemedicine system designed for real-time remote examination of acute stroke symptoms and deficits as a basis for treatment consultation and recommendation. Study aims (1) to determine the impact of a site-independent, remote, telemedicine consultation system on decision making in the Emergency Department, regarding the decision to treat or not to treat with thrombolytics; (2) to assess the numbers of patients who receive thrombolytics and the time to treatment in patients evaluated by telemedicine versus telephone only; (3) to assess the appropriateness of thrombolytic treatment decisions in telemedicine versus telephone-only consultations; and (4) to assess the completeness of the data collection in telemedicine versus telephone-only consultations. 60 patients in Arizona with acute presentation of stroke symptoms, per bedside practitioner discretion (onset generally less than 12 hours and likely less than 3 hours) Two arms: Video Camera/Telemedicine (Intervention n = 30) and No Video Camera/Telephone only (Control n = 30) Assessments All cases will undergo the following assessments: Patient-Level Visits Baseline: Pre-stroke Modified Rankin Scale (demographics), pre-treatment Modified Rankin Scale, medications during prior 3 days, physical exam and vital signs, NIHSS, Modified NIHSS, EKG, screening labs, and head CT scan Treatment: Treatment times, thrombolytic safety outcome, and recanalization treatment Day 90: Modified Rankin Scale, Barthel Index, and mortality End of Study: End of study/Termination Meta-Level Reviews Adjudication: Post case completion, review and evaluation of each remote consultation on whether the recommendation for or against thrombolytic therapy was appropriate, given the information presented at each of 3 levels of adjudication. Central Read: Post case completion, review and evaluation of each Baseline head CT scan interpretation on whether there was a CT contraindication to thrombolytic therapy. Trial Groups There will be two trial groups in this study. The investigators hypothesized (based upon sample size calculations) that the correct treatment will be recommended at rates of 80% (telephone) and 90% (full telemedicine). Target Population 60 AZ patients will be randomized to either telephone-only or video telemedicine consultation. Appropriateness of therapeutic decision-making, numbers treated, time to treatment, and completeness of data collection will be evaluated and compared for each group. If the protocol or grant application is investigator-initiated, a 200-word (or less) abstract of the proposed protocol or grant application must be included (an abstract included in an NIH or other submission is acceptable). If the protocol is sponsor initiated, a summary written by the Mayo investigator must be included. Summary should include: 1) Hypothesis, 2) Basic study plan, 3) Statistical method/rationale, 4) Scientific basis or justification, 5) Inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 6) Monetary consideration. You may type or cut and paste from an existing document to address this question Objectives 1. to determine the impact of a site-independent, remote, telemedicine consultation system on decision making in the Emergency Department, regarding the decision to treat or not to treat with thrombolytics; 2. to assess the numbers of patients who receive thrombolytics and the time to treatment in patients evaluated by telemedicine versus telephone only; 3. to assess the appropriateness of thrombolytic treatment decisions in telemedicine versus telephone-only consultations; and 4. to assess the completeness of the data collection in telemedicine versus telephone-only consultations.