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NHS Cumbria & Lancashire Cardiac and Stroke Network (CSNLC) Improves Stroke Treatment and Saves Lives with On-Demand Telemedicine Powered by Polycom®
Posted on Wednesday, May 1, 2013
  • Polycom® Practitioner Carts® allow remote doctors to see patients, via video consultation, in real-time and therefore make faster decisions about diagnosis and treatment for stroke thrombolysis. The technology provides on-demand access to scarce expertise which, in turn, accelerates diagnoses and the start of time-critical treatments, thereby saving lives.
  • Over 520 patients have benefited from these assessments to date, with over 220 of them receiving thrombolysis
LONDON - May 01, 2013: Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), the global leader in open standards-based unified communications (UC&C), today announced the immense success of the NHS Cumbria & Lancashire Cardiac and Stroke Network (CSNLC) in its first year-and-a-half of providing 24x7 access to thrombolysis treatment from remote specialists. 
 
The telestroke network serves eight hospitals that in turn serve 2.2 million people spread over 3,500m². For this extensive population and extended rural area, 16 consultants are able to deliver 24/7 thrombolysis treatment to patients with acute ischaemic stroke. The reason such a small number of consultants can serve such a large rural population is telemedicine, powered by Polycom® RealPresence® video solutions. Working with Polycom partner MultiSense Communications, each hospital site is equipped with a telestroke solution that includes Polycom® Practitioner Carts® and their mobile HD video in the hospitals, and Polycom® CMA® Desktop video collaboration software installed on the clinician’s home PC.
 
Over 520 patients in Cumbria and Lancashire have benefited from the telestroke service since its launch in July 2011, with over 220 of those patients receiving thrombolysis. Patients and their family members appreciate the benefits of the new technology. One called the Polycom Practitioner Cart a “fabulous piece of equipment.” “Three cheers for technology,” said another; “the doctor on the screen was a very professional man and no doubt saved us vital minutes with his consultation.”
 
A third patient described her life-saving treatment experience in more detail:  “The doctor appeared on the screen, introduced himself and talked about my CT results with the doctor who was in the room with me. He talked to me from the screen, asking me to try different movements, then the doctors talked about the amount I’d need and how it should be given to me. I feel incredibly lucky – the treatment I had doesn’t work for everyone, and it has to be given within a really short time after the stroke. I would still be in hospital now if I hadn’t had it.”
 
Doctors appreciate the new technology as well. The telestroke service frees up time for doctors in busy A&E departments who now have on-demand access to a stroke physician for bedside consultations. The service also reduces the workload of on-call radiologists, because now they’re called in only if an expert opinion is required.  In addition to improving care for patients, improving coverage and work-life balance for physicians, and saving lives, the telestroke service has also reduced the NHS costs associated with dependent stroke care by approximately £30,000 per patient.
 
“There was a need to have a technology available to us where we can see and assess the patient and that’s where the Polycom Practitioner Carts have been extremely helpful. Based on the initial description of the patient we decide whether this patient would benefit from having a video consultation,” said Dr Tahir Nasir, Consultant Stroke Physician. “Now with the Polycom video carts, while based in my own house I can assess the patients in these eight different centres.  I can talk to the patients.  I can examine them.  The Polycom camera on the other end is a very sophisticated instrument where I can zoom and direct it in various directions.”
 
Every year an estimated 150,000 suffer from strokes, which affect not just the elderly but children and young people as well.  By providing around-the-clock access to on-demand stroke care in the time-critical early intervention stage, the Telestroke Network has not only helped save lives but also helped to prevent many patients from suffering long-term conditions resulting from strokes.
 
To extend the positive results of the telestroke service, the CSNLC are now incorporating the technology into other areas of care.  One hospital, for example is now using the Practitioner Cart to enable visual assessments of cardiac patients. The hospital has installed network points into all of the coronary care beds where patients stay on the coronary care ward post-Thrombolysis treatment so the other hospitals within the network can provide cover for the cardiac patients in the coronary care unit if an expert opinion is required at night.
 
“Due to the telestroke service being in place today, more patients are alive, more patients suffer less disability, and more patients are less dependent on carers and nursing homes to provide care,” said Elaine Day, Service Improvement and Development Manager, CSNLC. “The service has grown hugely, it is used for the right reasons, and we are making real differences to the patient.  I'm glad that we have this service available because without it, it would be very, very difficult to see how we could have provided a 24-hour cover.”
 
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Douglas Fearing- Co-Founder / President

A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.

Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.

Lois Fearing- Co-Founder/Accounting, Human Resources

A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.

Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.

Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.

Ehren Tresner-VP of Technology and Innovation

Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.

Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.

Ben Voeck-Director of Commercial AV

With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.

By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.

Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.

Chris Matson-Senior VP of Sales

Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.

Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.