Loretto Hospital launched its new Telestroke Program to provide immediate treatment to stroke victims in the Austin and surrounding communities. The program, which officially launched on June 13th, will provide 24-hour coverage and remote treatment at the Kimberly A. Lightford Emergency Department at Loretto Hospital, while giving patients full access to the highest quality of care by top board-certified neurologists and neurosurgeons at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Loretto has partnered with Richard Bernstein, MD, PhD, medical director, and Babak Jahromi, MD, PhD, surgical director and the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Comprehensive Stroke Center for Telestroke care.

Patients at Loretto with stroke symptoms can be connected with stroke specialists at Northwestern Memorial using a secure video conferencing system to help diagnose stroke and ensure patients receive the best treatment possible. Patients and their families have the ability to talk face-to-face with Northwestern Medicine neurologists and neurosurgeons experienced in the diagnosis and management of the full spectrum of stroke. According to the National Stroke Association, strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, and the leading cause of long-term disability. The National Stroke Association also reports up to 80 percent of strokes are preventable; and victims who are treated within the first three hours have a significantly lower risk of permanent brain damage or death. Currently, Northwestern has seven Telestroke partnerships across the Chicagoland area including Loretto Hospital. For more information about Telestroke Services at Loretto Hospital, call 773-854-5488.