Telestroke Machine
Thanks to the Losier family, the Miramichi Regional Hospital is now one of 19 hospitals that will be able to initiate video consultation directly with a remote-based neurologist.
Dr. Gerard Losier and his wife Judy have donated $23,300 for a Telestroke machine that will be placed in the local hospital, said a news release from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick.
“This virtual consult will allow for timely diagnosis of stroke involving a neurologist on a 24-7 basis,” said Kurtis Sisk, vice-president of revenue development and communications for the foundation.
“The generosity of the Losier family in making this donation is such an incredible help for our foundation and will help secure and deliver this low-cost, high-impact service to this part of the province,” he said in the release.
Dr. Losier said it’s a piece of equipment that will further enhance local health-care services.
“As a rural hospital, we have excellent resources, but on our own, some expertise is out of our reach,” said Dr. Losier. “This new high-tech stroke equipment is just one of many examples of how this integration with the New Brunswick neurologists will bring advanced health-care resources to our residents in the Miramichi.”
The Telestroke system will link emergency department physicians to a neurologist anytime of the day to provide rapid assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients experiencing a stroke.
“Presently 35 of the 1200 strokes that occur in New Brunswick are treated with a clot-busting therapy. With the implementation of Telestroke, death and disability due to a stroke will be greatly reduced.” said Daniel Connolly, CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick.
Judy Losier said the couple was glad to be able to help out with such an important health-care initiative.
“Patients are arriving at our hospital who are candidates for the clot busting drug therapy tPA (tissue plasminogen activator), and in some cases may not be getting it based on not having direction from a neurologist,” she said. “We are thrilled to be able to help place this Telestroke machine in the Miramichi Hospital to ensure that patients can speak directly to the neurologist using this new technology in a timely manner. It’s like having another person directly in the room with the patient. This is a very exciting development for our physicians and our patients.”
The official cheque presentation took place June 20, 2014 in Miramichi.
Credit: Staff Miramichi Leader
