Does the Implementation of a Telestroke Program Play a Role in Improving the Clinical Outcomes of Acute Stroke Patients in South East Asian Region?: A Literature Review.

Telestroke is an innovation in telemedicine, in the form of a method for identifying, assessing, treating, and monitoring stroke patients remotely using internet technology. Telestroke can speed up diagnosis and treatment in acute stroke by allowing direct video consultations between doctors and patients separated by distance. The Southeast Asia Region (SEAR) accounts for nearly 50% of the developing world's stroke burden. With various commonalities across the countries regarding health services, user awareness, and healthcare-seeking behavior, SEAR still presents profound diversities in stroke-related services across the continuum of care. With telestroke, "door-to-needle time" can be reduced without additional costs, thereby reducing morbidity/mortality due to stroke. In the context of telestroke, the objective is a real-time clinical assessment by a stroke specialist-test review, diagnosis, and emergency management plan-in consultation with local healthcare providers. The increased access to stroke care through telestroke provides a promising innovation for the rural area. It is envisaged that telestroke will bridge this gap, enabling hospitals in rural areas to give care equal to hospitals that have stroke specialists, especially in SEAR.