Special to Iredell Free News

At Davis Regional Medical Center is rolling out a new teleNeurology and teleStroke program in partnership with SOC Telemed.

Pictured (from left) are RN Dawn Phipps, RN Angel Beckham and ER Director Tammy Hudson.

The new emergency teleNeurology program covers all neurological emergencies, including acute stroke, occurring anywhere in the hospital. While stroke triage may be the most familiar reason for emergency teleNeurology, this partnership with SOC Telemed grants access to neurologists with deep experience handling all varieties of neurologic issues, both urgent and non-urgent.

This partnership will help Davis Regional Medical Center physicians navigate complex neurological decisions and improve outcomes to provide quality care throughout the Iredell County and surrounding community.

TeleNeurology offers several important benefits to Davis Regional and its patients:

♦ Patients can stay close to home;
♦ By supplementing onsite neurology coverage during nights and weekends, Davis Regional physicians can get a needed respite;
♦ With a board-certified neurologist available to see stroke patients within minutes, eligible patients can receive treatment, such as a thrombolytic agent (Alteplase), faster; and
♦ Increased quality for neurology

SOC Telemed is the first and longest standing telemedicine organization to earn Joint Commission Accreditation. That means the teleNeurology programs at Davis Regional Medical Center are comprehensively supported by evidence-based practices.

“In short, our hospital is taking an important step in the development of stroke care in our region,” Davis Regional officials said in a news release. “Our partnership with SOC Telemed is an exciting development into the future of care for Davis Regional Medical Center patients, and a powerful tool to help us build the resilience and expertise we’ll need to meet the challenges of the coming decades.”

About Davis Regional Medical Center

Founded in 1920, Davis Regional is a 144-bed, full-service hospital serving Statesville and the surrounding counties. Davis Regional offers a wide range of health care services, with more than 300 physicians on staff in a variety of specialty areas. In addition, Davis Regional has been a Joint Commission Top Performing Hospital for the past five consecutive years. Only 1,043 – or approximately one-third – of eligible US hospitals achieved this distinction. Davis Regional is one of just 117 hospitals to have earned this accomplishment for five consecutive years. Learn more at www.DavisRegional.com.