AcuteCare Telemedicine and Colleton Medical Center partner to improve patient access to specialised neurological care

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AcuteCare Telemedicine continues to expand its presence in the Southeastern region with the addition of new client hospitals. Following the announcement of its partnership with Emory John’s Creek, Colleton Medical Center (CMC) in Walterboro, South Carolina, USA recently introduced AcuteCare Telemedicine’s leading specialists to their dedicated staff of medical professionals and patients. AcuteCare Telemedicine in collaboration with the South Atlantic Division of HCA worked to bring teleneurology services to Colleton Medical Center.

Colleton recently debuted a robot named ELVIS, an acronym for “Early Neurological Intervention That’s Successful.” AcuteCare Telemedicine can remotely consult with doctors and patients through ELVIS. While the robot is currently located in the emergency department, “It can be used throughout the entire facility,” reports Colleton Medical Center Emergency Department director Christy Judy. As a result, AcuteCare Telemedicine is standing by 24 hours a day anywhere they are needed throughout CMC. Connecting hospital-based medical professionals with off-site specialists through the use of new telecommunication technologies is improving access of specialised care for patients in smaller, regional hospitals and medical centres.


“Attracting and recruiting medical specialists is an ongoing challenge for smaller, regional hospitals who must balance the needs of their patients with the financial realities of healthcare in this demanding economy,” says Matthews Gwynn, director and founder of the Stroke Center of Northside Hospital and AcuteCare Telemedicine chief executive officer. “Having the ability to consult with a neurologist remotely for treatment of stroke and other neurological maladies is allowing these hospitals to meet the needs of the patients in the communities they serve. AcuteCare Telemedicine is extremely proud to associate the South Atlantic Division of HCA and the Colleton Medical Center.”


Brad Griffin, chief executive officer of Colleton Medical Center, is also very pleased with Colleton’s new relationship with AcuteCare Telemedicine. “This is our first venture with telemedicine and the experience is proving to be very positive for both the patients and our team of medical professionals at Colleton,” he says. Griffin reports that the hospital staff has found their experience with AcuteCare Telemedicine to be very comforting, easy to work with, and very professional. He sees Colleton’s first telemedicine venture as just the beginning and is looking forward to expanding the utilisation of telemedicine to other medical specialties.