OBJECTIVE

To analyze the impact of primary vascular units using teleconsulting (tele-PVU) on the accessibility and quality of specialized medical care for patients with cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study is based on data from a survey of the chief neurology consultants of 85 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and anonymized information about patients treated in tele-PVUs in 2023. The analysis included accessibility to care, the percentage of patients receiving thrombolytic therapy (TLT), and mortality. Statistical analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics v.25.0 and Microsoft Excel 2016.

RESULTS

Establishing tele-PVUs has increased the accessibility of TLT in regions with a low population density. The frequency of TLT among patients with ischemic stroke in tele-PVUs was 9.8%, exceeding the average for the Russian Federation. Tele-PVUs also contributed to a reduction in the time from the onset of stroke symptoms to the start of treatment. In several regions, there has been a significant increase in the percentage of patients receiving reperfusion therapy. However, limitations were identified regarding the lack of qualified specialists and technical conditions for telemedicine consultations.

CONCLUSION

The establishment of new units has increased the accessibility of medical care, including reperfusion therapy for stroke patients in regions with a low population density and/or prolonged medical evacuation to the nearest specialized unit. However, for further implementation of this system, it is necessary to continue work on solving technical and organizational issues and ensure the integration of telemedicine into the existing medical system.