Telemedicine in neurology: Telemedicine Work Group of the American Academy of Neurology update

Jaime M Hatcher-Martin; Jamie Lynn Adams; Eric R Anderson; Riley Bove; Tamika M Burrus; Mahan Chehrenama; Mary Dolan O'Brien; Dawn S Eliashiv; Deniz Erten-Lyons; Barbara S Giesser; Lauren R Moo; Pushpa Narayanaswami; Marvin A Rossi; Madhu Soni; Nauman Tariq; Jack W Tsao; Bert B Vargas; Scott A Vota; Scott R Wessels; Hannah Planalp; Raghav Govindarajan

doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000008708

Telemedicine in neurology: Telemedicine Work Group of the American Academy of Neurology update

Neurology. 2020 Jan 7;94(1):30-38. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000008708. Epub 2019 Dec 4.

Authors

Jaime M Hatcher-Martin¹, Jamie Lynn Adams¹, Eric R Anderson¹, Riley Bove¹, Tamika M Burrus¹, Mahan Chehrenama¹, Mary Dolan O'Brien¹, Dawn S Eliashiv¹, Deniz Erten-Lyons¹, Barbara S Giesser¹, Lauren R Moo¹, Pushpa Narayanaswami¹, Marvin A Rossi¹, Madhu Soni¹, Nauman Tariq¹, Jack W Tsao¹, Bert B Vargas¹, Scott A Vota¹, Scott R Wessels², Hannah Planalp¹, Raghav Govindarajan¹

Affiliations

¹ From Department of Neurology (J.M.H.-M.), Emory University Brain Health Center, Atlanta, GA; SOC Telemed (J.M.H.-M., T.M.B.), Reston, VA; Department of Neurology (J.L.A.), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Intensive Neuro (E.R.A.), Gulfport, FL; Sandler Neurosciences Center (R.B.), University of California, San Francisco; iNeuro Headache Specialist (M.C.), McLean, VA; American Academy of Neurology (M.D.O., S.R.W.), Minneapolis, MN; UCLA Seizure Disorder Center (D.S.E.) and Reed Neurological Research Center (B.S.G.), University of California, Los Angeles; Department of Neurology (D.E.-L.), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland; Department of Neurology (L.R.M.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurology (P.N.), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; Rush Epilepsy Center (M.A.R.) and Department of Neurological Sciences (M.S.), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL; Department of Neurology (N.T.), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Department of Neurology (J.W.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics (B.B.V.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; Department of Neurology (S.A.V.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond; American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (H.P.), National Center, Dallas, TX; and Department of Neurology (R.G.), University of Missouri, Columbia.
² From Department of Neurology (J.M.H.-M.), Emory University Brain Health Center, Atlanta, GA; SOC Telemed (J.M.H.-M., T.M.B.), Reston, VA; Department of Neurology (J.L.A.), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Intensive Neuro (E.R.A.), Gulfport, FL; Sandler Neurosciences Center (R.B.), University of California, San Francisco; iNeuro Headache Specialist (M.C.), McLean, VA; American Academy of Neurology (M.D.O., S.R.W.), Minneapolis, MN; UCLA Seizure Disorder Center (D.S.E.) and Reed Neurological Research Center (B.S.G.), University of California, Los Angeles; Department of Neurology (D.E.-L.), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland; Department of Neurology (L.R.M.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Neurology (P.N.), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA; Rush Epilepsy Center (M.A.R.) and Department of Neurological Sciences (M.S.), Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL; Department of Neurology (N.T.), Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD; Department of Neurology (J.W.T.), University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis; Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics (B.B.V.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; Department of Neurology (S.A.V.), Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond; American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology (H.P.), National Center, Dallas, TX; and Department of Neurology (R.G.), University of Missouri, Columbia. practice@aan.com.

PMID: 31801829
DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000008708

Abstract

Purpose: While there is strong evidence supporting the importance of telemedicine in stroke, its role in other areas of neurology is not as clear. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of evidence-based data on the role of teleneurology in the care of patients with neurologic disorders other than stroke.

Recent findings: Studies across multiple specialties report noninferiority of evaluations by telemedicine compared with traditional, in-person evaluations in terms of patient and caregiver satisfaction. Evidence reports benefits in expediting care, increasing access, reducing cost, and improving diagnostic accuracy and health outcomes. However, many studies are limited, and gaps in knowledge remain.

Summary: Telemedicine use is expanding across the vast array of neurologic disorders. More studies are needed to validate and support its use.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review
Comment

MeSH terms

Academies and Institutes
Humans
Nervous System Diseases*
Neurology*
Telemedicine*
United States