Stroke Society of Australasia.

Expressions of Interest from Neurologists invited.

The Victorian Stroke Clinical Network (Vic Dept of Health) is currently undertaking a 3 year project looking at implementation of full audiovisual telemedicine for the management of acute stroke in rural and regional hospitals. This project is being undertaken with combined funding from: Vic Dept Health, Vic Science Agenda Fund (Vic Department of Innovation, Industry & Regional Development), and the NSRI/Florey Neuroscience Institutes. For the purposes of this project the NSRI/FNI is the lead agency.

In the first instance the project involves Bendigo Hospital, but with a view to roll out to other hospitals. One of the key measures of success will be the tPA thrombolysis rate.

The IT aspects of this will involve full audiovisual discussion with Emergency Dept medical and nursing staff, and the stroke patient and family/carers. At the same time there is online access to radiology, patient vital signs and other results of investigations.

The VSCN requires a "bank" of neurologists to participate in this project. Those participating will be paid for their services, and will be given the appropriate audiovisual technology [high quality cameras, computers (wireless / desktop) ]  to do so, including access to very high speed broadband.

We are looking to commence this project in approx. February/March 2010.

This exciting project is a key component of the Victorian Stroke Strategy, and one of the first of its kind in Australia. We welcome those who wish to participate, and request that contact be made with Chris Bladin (email: chris . bladin at easternhealth . org . au)