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

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)