When it comes to treating strokes, every second counts. Quick intervention is key in reducing the risk of disability or death.
But many rural communities lack timely access to stroke care.
Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama in Wedowee is changing that. With a nearly $200,000 grant, the hospital is expanding telehealth services to include telestroke, providing faster stroke care.
“I am pleased to announce the award of this life-saving hospital telehealth grant to Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama to improve the delivery of quality health care for the residents of Wedowee, Randolph County and east Alabama,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “These grant funds were awarded from the State of Alabama’s American Rescue Plan Act Fiscal Recovery (ARPA) fund for the purpose of creating and expanding local telemedicine services. Since its establishment in 2017, Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama has delivered cutting-edge health care to rural east Alabama, and this award will enable the facility to increase the reach and scope of its treatment to ensure the best medical care options for residents.”
Telehealth technology enables remote clinical and non-clinical healthcare services, including consultations, video conferencing and patient monitoring.
These awarded grant dollars will be used to fund iPads, iPad stands, computer carts, Bluetooth speakers, viewpoint hosting, remote patient monitoring, and personnel training and monitoring. The addition of telestroke services will greatly reduce transportation time for patients, ensuring they receive necessary stroke care without delays. This advanced technology allows immediate access to specialists during a critical time frame, resulting in faster diagnosis and treatment, increased capacity for patients, and improved administration time of clot-busting drugs — such as Alteplase — from two hours to as little as 30 minutes. Starting in January 2024, a team of 10 experienced neurologists will offer these life-saving services.
By bringing telestroke to their local community, Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama is raising the bar for healthcare delivery. Aftercare for stroke victims will be closer to home, improving compliance rates for follow-up visits and rehabilitation. Mortality rates will significantly improve, leading to more lives saved.
The grant will help Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama pursue certification as an Acute Stroke Ready (Level III) Hospital. The certification ensures that evidence-based care is readily available to all patients in need.
"As a dedicated healthcare provider in Randolph County and the greater east Alabama region, we remain steadfast in our mission to provide critically essential care to our community,” said Heather Stitcher, RN, administrator Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama. “In line with this commitment, we are elated to have secured this grant to bolster our telehealth services and incorporate telestroke care, aimed at providing more effective life-saving care for stroke patients. With the advent of telehealth to the Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama service area in 2020, we have witnessed firsthand the immense benefits it offers, and we are determined to leverage this technology to provide even better care. Through telestroke, we can remotely assess, diagnose and treat stroke patients, thereby increasing our reach and efficacy in delivering timely and quality care. This grant will significantly enhance our telehealth services, enabling us to provide better outcomes for stroke patients in our community. We are committed to providing the highest standard of care possible, and this grant is another step towards realizing this goal.”
As part of a nonprofit community healthcare system, Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama is grateful for the support of partners like the State of Alabama and its generous donors who help increase access to excellent health care.
To learn more about Tanner Medical Foundation or to make a donation, please visit TannerMedicalFoundation.org.
To learn more about the comprehensive stroke services available at Tanner Medical Center/East Alabama, visit tanner.org/neurology-care/what-we-offer/stroke-care.