Emory Researchers Use iPhone to Assess Stroke Patients

Emory researchers may have found a use for cell phones in hospitals.

Using two-way video on the iPhone could help doctors assess the severity of a stroke patient’s symptoms, according to an study.

"During a stroke there is a critical window of time to save the brain and every minute counts," lead researcher Eric Anderson said in a news release. "Effective treatment involves a timely and coordinated approach led by a neurologist specifically trained in all facets of acute stroke care."

The study, which was published in the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, included 20 patients that were admitted to Grady Memorial Hospital for acute stroke.

The patients were evaluated by a doctor at the hospital that was working with a neurologist via iPhone.

"It’s as if the neurologist is at the patient’s bedside examining them," Anderson, a third-year neurology resident at Emory University School of Medicine, said.  "It offers an easy to use, effective way of transmitting audio-visual information, much less expensive than current telemedicine solutions."

Anderson said this is the first study "to demonstrate reliable stroke assessment" using an iPhone.  He said they came up with the idea to use the iPhone and the FaceTime software as an economical way to diagnose stroke symptoms remotely.

Read the full study for more details