Stroke Telemedicine Access Recovery Project

We propose to establish a community-based collaborative partnership between the University of North Carolina (UNC) and Southeastern Regional Medical Center (SRMC) to provide a telemedicine intervention that improves stroke recovery. Our first comprehensive stoke telemedicine consultation will take place during the patient’s acute care hospitalization, with subsequent follow-up consultations at 30 and 90 days. Our UNC-based team will partner with the SRMC care coordindators during the acute phase. During follow-up, we will work with Native Angels Homecare Agency, a home health agency based in Robeson County that provides a full spectrum of holistic home health services, and the Healing Lodge, a faith-based organization that provides health services. Throughout the program, we will both enlist the support of and provide education to the patients’ caregivers who are so critical to the recovery process. We plan to collect evaluative data to ensure that our overall goal of improving stroke recovery for Robeson County citizens is being met. During their acute hospital stay, we will take the following steps: (1) evaluate and recommend the specific rehabilitation therapy needs of each patient; (2) assess and recommend secondary stroke prevention measures; and (3) identify their caregiver support system. Two subsequent follow up consultations at 30 days and 90 days will identify progress with therapy and secondary stroke prevention, and evaluate the level of caregiver support. We will make recommendations to improve progress in stroke recovery and secondary stroke prevention, and provide caregiver support resources. We will also help to establish a stroke recovery support group which will be coordinated and held at The Healing Lodge, a faith-based organization whose purpose is to promote health in Robeson County and serve as a gateway to services.

 

Principal Investigator: Patricia Gregory, MD

Funding Source: Duke Endowment

Total Project Period: 1/1/09 – 06/30/12