Innovative teleneurology program adds depth to the already lauded NY State Stroke Center at Glens Falls Hospital
Glens Falls, NY, September 28, 2020 – Glens Falls Hospital (GFH) and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) have announced a collaborative effort to offer Teleneurology as part of the New York State Stroke Center located at GFH.
Massachusetts General Hospital is recognized as one of the premiere medical centers in the world. As a result of their clinical experience and research efforts, the physicians at MGH have over 20 years in the field of teleneurology, diagnosing and managing a spectrum of disease, from the “common” stroke to the rarest of cerebrovascular conditions.
The physician faculty of the Mass General Stroke Service care for patients with complex cerebrovascular disease, in all phases of care from prevention to acute intervention and recovery. They care for strokes of all types, including ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and due to a variety of causes such as atherosclerosis, infection, vasculopathy, inherited disorders and other rare causes. It is exciting that our Glens Falls Community will be receiving emergent neurology care from such a prestigious group in conjunction with the employed GFH Neurologists.
“Collaborative efforts such as these are a crucial way to leverage the latest advancements in virtual care,” says Anand Viswanathan, MD, PhD, Director of MGH TeleStroke Services, and Associate Professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School. “We are proud to join together in making expert neurovascular care available to patients in New York’s Capital and Eastern Adirondacks regions.”
Glens Falls Hospital recently received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get with the Guidelines® Target: Stroke Honor Roll Silver Plus Quality Achievement Award. Glens Falls Hospital earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients at a set level for a designated period. These measures include evaluation of the proper use of medications and other stroke treatments aligned with the most up-to-date, evidence-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients. Before discharge, patients should also receive education on managing their health, get a follow-up visit scheduled, as well as other care transition interventions.
In addition, Glens Falls Hospital’s stroke program received Specialty Certification through accrediting agency DNV Healthcare.
“Glens Falls Hospital is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our stroke patients by implementing the American Heart Association’s Get with The Guidelines-Stroke initiatives,” said Cassandra Moore, director, neurology and stroke program Cassandra Moore, Glens Falls Hospital’s director of neurology and the stroke program. “Now, with our MGH teleneurology partnership, stroke patients and their families can be even more confident of the diagnosis, treatment, and after care should a stroke affect their lives” said Moore.
Using advanced video-conferencing technology, patients who present with stroke symptoms can be quickly and effectively diagnosed by a teleneurologist in collaboration with the clinicians in the Emergency Department. The pilot of this program allows for both GFH Neurologists and MGH Neurologists to visually participate in the patients care when they present to the ED with a stroke emergency 24/7 – 365 days a year. In conjunction with the video-conferencing software GFH and MGH share time sensitive brain imaging across a secure cloud network to help with the diagnosis of stroke and have integrated IT systems to ensure documentation is flawless in these urgent situations.
All of the MGH physicians who are participating in the GFH/MGH partnership are certified by the NY State Department of Education, and credentialled at Glens Falls Hospital.
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About Glens Falls Hospital
Glens Falls Hospital (GFH) maintains a service area that spans 6,000 square miles across 5 diverse counties. Founded in 1897, GFH today operates an advanced health care delivery system featuring more than 20 regional facilities. A vast array of specialized medical and surgical services are provided in addition to coronary care, behavioral health care, rehabilitation and wellness and others. The main hospital campus is home to the C.R. Wood Cancer Center, the Joyce Stock Snuggery birthing center, the Breast Center and a chronic wound healing center. GFH is a not-for-profit organization and the largest employer in New York’s Adirondack region, with over 2,500 employees and a medical staff of over 460 providers. For more information visit www.GlensFallsHospital.org.
About the Albany Med Health System
Glens Falls Hospital is an affiliate of the Albany Med Health System, which also includes Albany Medical Center, Columbia Memorial Health and Saratoga Hospital. The region’s largest locally governed health system, it has 1,520 beds, more than 800 physicians and 125 outpatient locations throughout the Capital Region.