PMC Joins Mayo Clinic Teleneurology Program

Parrish Medical Center (PMC), the first hospital in Central Florida selected last year to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network (MCCN) member, is now part of the Mayo Clinic’s Teleneurology Program.

The program enables Mayo Clinic neurologists to provide consultative care remotely using advancements in telemedicine technology while providing expert neurological support to PMC physicians.

The technology reduces the need to transfer patients and is being used in the evaluation of non-stroke neurological emergencies in PMC’s Emergency Department and in routine neurological consultations for inpatients admitted to general medical/surgical wards and in the intensive care unit.

PMC was the first hospital in the region to work with Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and InTouch Health® to pioneer the Remote Presence (RP-7®) Robot system to further advance its Gold Seal® certified stroke program in 2009.

Stroke neurology assessments are done using a robot that is remotely controlled by a Mayo Clinic neurologist. The quicker a possible stroke patient is diagnosed, the better chance he or she has of a full recovery.

The remote physician has full view of the patient, can move the robot around the room as needed, zoom the robot’s camera in and out to assess the patient and his or her responses, and talk directly with the patient, their family members and Emergency Department care partners.

The neurologist also may view the patient’s diagnostic imaging and lab results.

“We’re always investing in new technologies in order to provide our community the best possible care,” explains Edwin Loftin, Vice President of Acute Care Services/CNO at Parrish Medical Center. “By becoming part of Mayo Clinic’s Teleneurology Program, our patients now have access to a leading neurologist around the clock.”

As a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network, which consists of more than 30 high quality healthcare organizations, PMC physicians can enhance locally provided care. Members of the network have direct access to the latest Mayo Clinic expertise and clinical care information, and physicians can consult directly with Mayo specialists on complex cases.

Through such collaboration, PMC and Mayo Clinic believe that physicians will benefit, patients will benefit, and the delivery of healthcare will be increasingly efficient and cost effective.