University Hospitals TeleStroke Program

Immediate Stroke Expertise Across Northeast Ohio

Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the University Hospitals TeleStroke Program provides real-time video consultations for patients experiencing acute stroke symptoms or other stroke-like neurological emergencies. This innovative service connects emergency physicians with an on-call vascular neurologist within minutes, ensuring patients receive immediate expert evaluation and treatment recommendations.

Expert Stroke Care – Anywhere It’s Needed

The TeleStroke Program serves patients presenting with suspected stroke at:

• All University Hospitals Emergency Departments
• Western Reserve Hospital
• Aultman Hospital

Using secure, high-definition video technology, a dedicated vascular neurologist performs a comprehensive neurological assessment remotely, working alongside the local emergency care team to make rapid, evidence-based treatment decisions.

This advanced telemedicine model replaces traditional phone consultations, allowing specialists to directly evaluate patients, observe neurological findings and collaborate in real time with bedside clinicians.

Faster Diagnosis. Faster Treatment.

Early access to a vascular neurologist can make a critical difference in stroke outcomes. The University Hospitals TeleStroke Program supports rapid decision-making for time-sensitive treatments, including:

• Intravenous thrombolytic therapy (clot-busting medication).
• Evaluation for endovascular thrombectomy (EVT).
• Advanced stroke management and transfer recommendations.
• Immediate treatment planning for complex neurological emergencies.

The TeleStroke Program also promotes the use of advanced stroke imaging that enables more precise identification of patients who may benefit from thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy beyond traditional time windows. These imaging techniques include:

• Hyper-emergent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for wake-up stroke protocols.
• Computed tomography (CT) perfusion scans with automated penumbra analysis.

By providing specialist expertise from the moment a patient arrives in the emergency department, the TeleStroke Program helps reduce treatment delays and supports nationally recognized stroke care standards.

Keeping Patients Close to Home

Not every stroke patient requires transfer to a tertiary medical center. Through expert virtual evaluation, the TeleStroke Program helps determine which patients can safely remain at their local hospital while receiving high-quality stroke care.

This approach:

• Delivers expert neurological care within the patient’s community whenever appropriate.
• Reduces unnecessary transfers.
• Improves coordination between hospitals.
• Enhances patient and family satisfaction.
• Ensures patients receive the right level of care at the right time.

When advanced interventions are needed, patients can be rapidly transferred to the University Hospitals Comprehensive Stroke Center for specialized treatment.

A Dedicated Team Available 24/7

The University Hospitals TeleStroke Program is supported by an experienced team of fellowship-trained vascular neurologists, stroke specialists and dedicated PRN providers who deliver continuous coverage every day of the year.

Program highlights include:

• 24/7 vascular neurologist availability.
• Dedicated stroke faculty and remote clinical staff.
• Real-time video neurological evaluations.
• Seamless collaboration with emergency medicine physicians.
• Continuous support for community hospitals throughout the region.

In 2025 alone, the TeleStroke Program completed 3,970 emergency consultations, demonstrating its vital role in expanding access to expert stroke care across Northeast Ohio.