| Sumario: | Although stroke units and thrombolysis are effective in acute stroke management, use of these treatment methods is limited because of a lack of expertise. Telemedicine allows a distant stroke clinician to provide remote specialist assessment of patients with real-time clinical evaluation and interpretation of brain imaging. This interaction can take place within minutes of arrival of a patient to hospital helping to meet the demands of 'time is brain' in acute stroke care. Telemedicine is feasible, acceptable, technically and diagnostically reliable and is associated with improved delivery of thrombolysis. Different models for providing audiovisual interaction between patient and stroke clinician have been developed to meet the local needs of a variety of populations. Telemedicine facilitates effective networking between different stroke providers, having potential for education and training in addition to ensuring that patients have a greater opportunity to receive the full range of therapeutic options now and in the future.
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