Jefferson Health Partners with Bensalem EMS to Launch Telemedicine-Enabled Mobile Stroke Unit

VCBeat (WeChat Official Account: vcbeat) has learned that Jefferson Health recently announced a partnership with Bensalem Emergency Medical Services (Bensalem EMS). As part of this collaboration, Jefferson Health provided Bensalem EMS with a mobile ambulance valued at $1.2 million.

Under this collaboration, Jefferson Health covered $1.2 million in manufacturing costs and approximately $1 million in operational costs for the mobile ambulance. The vehicle is equipped with CT scanners capable of rapid diagnosis and telemedicine technology, enabling healthcare providers to quickly diagnose stroke patients and administer medications to dissolve blood clots and prevent brain damage.

Mobile ambulances have adopted telemedicine technology. When stroke patients are in the ambulance, medical staff at the hospital can remotely diagnose the patient. If the CT scanner on the ambulance shows that the patient has a severe hemorrhagic stroke, medical staff may arrange for a helicopter to transport the patient to Jefferson's Institute for Neuroscience for surgery.

Jefferson Health is a healthcare organization that primarily provides medical services to residents of Philadelphia, Montgomery County, Bucks County, and South Jersey. The company operates 14 hospitals, seven urgent care centers, one NCI-designated cancer center, 19 outpatient centers, and 25 testing and imaging centers. It leverages advanced telehealth technologies, enabling patients to have face-to-face consultations with physicians via smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers equipped with cameras.

Bucks County Commissioner stated, “Jefferson Health is the first organization to provide a mobile stroke unit in this region. This ambulance, capable of delivering immediate treatment, will improve the lives of stroke patients.”

Maria Slade, a spokesperson for Jefferson Health, stated, “When a stroke occurs, patients lose 1.9 million brain neurons every minute. Therefore, rapid diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients can not only prevent permanent brain damage and disability but also save lives.”

According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 140,000 Americans die from stroke each year. Stroke is known to be the second leading cause of death globally and a primary cause of disability. Acute ischemic stroke occurs when cerebral blood vessels are blocked by thrombi, preventing blood flow. In 2015, there were 17 million stroke patients worldwide, with approximately 85% suffering from acute ischemic stroke.

(Compiled by: Li Chengping)