Telemedicine Program

The Telemedicine Program at the Mischer Neuroscience Institute is a collaborative network of hospitals working together to deliver the most advanced stroke and neurological care possible to patients. A project of Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, the MNI Telemedicine Program provides 24/7 neurological consultations in our network hospitals, through the use of telemedicine technologies such as digital imaging and real-time video conferencing, provided by the advanced teleconferencing company, InTouch Health.

Through the MNI Telemedicine program, patients are provided quick access to sophisticated diagnostic tools and neurological expertise around the clock, with the convenience of staying near their homes. In addition to providing call coverage, physicians at the MNI will collaborate with doctors on complex cases, protocols and best practices.

Highlights of our program include:

• 24/7 neurological consultations for our network hospitals for stroke as well as all other neurological consultations in the emergency department
• Treatment of as many neurological cases as possible in network locations, avoiding unnecessary patient transfers
• Transfer acceptance for all patients from network hospitals, and if necessary, transfer via Memorial Hermann Life Flight® service (or another air ambulance service) for patients who require a higher level of care
• Access to leading neurological and neurosurgical care at our Memorial Hermann-TMC Campus

For patients, this means:

• Quick access to sophisticated diagnostic tools and neurological expertise around the clock
• The convenience of staying near home
• Accurate imaging with state-of-the-art imaging equipment
• The most effective drug therapies, including the thrombolytic agent tPA for ischemic stroke
• Continuity in treatment, rehabilitation and follow-up
• If needed, a fast-tracked, guaranteed transfer process

For hospitals, this means:

• 24/7 access to expert neuroscience consultations (and relief from maintaining an around-the-clock neuroscience specialist on-call schedule)
• Increased quality of care
• Decreased treatment delays
• Stable provider-to-patient relationships
• Avoidance of unnecessary patient transfers
• Greater financial security
• Access to marketing strategies, continuing medical education and research tools

Telemedicine has been shown to be a safe practice and to decrease morbidity and mortality in stroke patients in the community setting.  Our experience has also shown that consultation via telemedicine encourages patients to maintain their current provider relationships.

Pioneers in Treating Acute Stroke

The MNI Stroke Center at Memorial Hermann-TMC was one of the first dedicated stroke programs in the world and was the first JCAHO-accredited primary stroke center in the region. Staffed by nationally renowned physicians who serve as faculty at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School, the Center maintains a position at the leading edge of medicine.

Annually, more than 1,000 stroke patients are treated at the MNI Stroke Center and more than 2,500 neurosurgical procedures are performed each year at Memorial Hermann-TMC. Our team is the U.S. leader in number of stroke patients treated with the life-saving drug tPA, which when given within three hours of stroke symptom on-set, it can help patients recover with little or no disability.

Patients also benefit from MNI's state-of-the-art brain imaging capabilities, neurosurgical expertise and Memorial Hermann-TMC's Level I trauma center - one of only two in the area. There is no neurological condition that your local ER can see that we cannot help with locally, or provide the final destination for appropriate treatment.

For more information about participation or to join the Telemedicine Program at the Mischer Neuroscience Institute, please contact Christy Ankrom at (281) 723-8745 or Christy.Ankrom@uth.tmc.edu.