Teleneurology Overview

Telemedicine and telehealth systems are transforming the way health care is delivered, and the role for this approach is expected to increase moving forward. Neurology is well-suited to the use of video consults and other technologies to provide care for a number of reasons. Research has shown that access to neurologists varies across regions, and bringing the neurologist to the patient and family may be more feasible than having the patient come to the clinic or hospital in some cases. Along those same lines, some neurology patients may have mobility or other logistical issues that impede their ability to be seen regularly in clinic. Finally, a considerable amount of follow-up care for neurologic disorders involves interval history-taking and patient/family counseling, activities which lend themselves well to video encounters and other telehealth modalities. 

Under the direction of Dr. Adam Kelly, Director of Teleneurology at URMC, our department is creating and implementing unique, in-demand teleneurology services in multiple arenas:

• Inpatient general Neurology and telestroke consultations, partnering with our affiliated regional hospitals and several other healthcare systems throughout New York State
• Telestroke consultations utilizing the region’s only Mobile Stroke Unit, which launched in the fall of 2018
• Outpatient clinical and research visits for patients with many types of neurologic conditions

Our residency program is committed to providing our trainees with a strong educational foundation in telehealth, so they will be prepared to deliver care in this ever expanding format during their careers.    Neurology residents at URMC complete didactic training and hands on experience in teleneurology, developed by Dr. Colleen Tomcik through receipt of an ABPN Faculty Innovation in Education award.  Residents participate in both inpatient and outpatient teleneurology encounters, and offer televideo visits in their own continuity clinics when appropriate.  As a member of the AAN Telehealth Work Group, Dr. Tomcik continues to partner with leaders in the field to ensure continuation of this critically important mode of care delivery.