Telestroke Initiative Forms Partnership with the Western States Stroke Consortium and Launches New Site

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The Telestroke Initiative announces it has formed a partnership with the Western States Stroke Consortium and launched its new online site to share information and resources related to neurological care using telecommunications and health information technologies.

Western US, May 7, 2011, PressRelease Point: The Telestroke Initiative announces it has formed a partnership with the Western States Stroke Consortium and launched its new online site to share information and resources related to neurological care using telecommunications and health information technologies. The new partnership, announced during National Stroke Awareness Month http://www.stroke.org/site/PageServer?pagename=awa... , will expand telestroke collaboration opportunities to providers across all of the western states. The new site https://sites.google.com/a/cthielst.com/telestroke... , based upon a wiki platform, will host a collection of telestroke information and resources and provide connection and networking opportunities for professionals.

The Telestroke Initiative was originally formed by the Washington State Department of Health Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC), and members of the Northwest Regional Stroke Network (NWRSN) to collaboratively address stroke care in the Northwest region. The Northwest region of the United States has a higher rate of death due to stroke compared to the national average and is challenged with some of the nation’s most rugged geography, harshest climates, large proportions of rural communities and an increasing shortage of stroke specialists.

The Telestroke Initiative and Western States Stroke Consortium share the common goal of addressing the significant rural-urban disparities seen in stroke treatment and care across the region. Attention will be focused on quality improvement through policy, infrastructure and educational opportunities.

Individuals and organizations interested in joining the Telestroke Initiative should contact Christina Thielst, Co-Chair, at 805 845-2450 or Christina@cthielst.com.

About the Telestroke Initiative: The Telestroke Initiative (TI) is a collaborative effort to address stroke care in the Western United States and respond to stakeholder requests for assistance in the development and support of telestroke networks. Its current membership (60) is represented by stroke neurologists, other physicians, nurses, clinicians, telemedicine experts, emergency medical services (EMS), public health, American Stroke Association, National Stroke Association from eight states: AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, UT, WY, CA. The focus is on leveraging its reach of over 200 individuals and organizations to reduce disparities by aligning regional resources and stakeholders and delivering stroke expertise to providers across the western states.
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About the Western States Stroke Consortium http://www.westernstroke.org/

The Western States Stroke Consortium (WSSC) was established in the fall of 1998 to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with cerebrovascular disease in the Western United States. The WSSC is particularly focused on addressing the West's unique challenge of sparse, widely scattered populations who often live far from major stroke centers. Its membership is made up of practitioners of all specialties in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Alaska, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, as well as members of the American Heart Association, and the National Stroke Association.