Marshall Health Network extends access to advanced stroke expertise through telestroke technology

Marshall Health Network extends access to specialized stroke care across rural and underserved communities through telestroke technology, connecting emergency departments with stroke neurologists in real time to support faster diagnosis and treatment. 

Using secure, two-way video consultation and advanced imaging review, stroke specialists at Marshall Health Network can remotely evaluate patients experiencing stroke symptoms, collaborate directly with local emergency physicians and guide time-sensitive treatment decisions within minutes — helping bring advanced stroke expertise closer to home for patients across West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. 

The technology allows specialists to quickly determine whether a patient may benefit from thrombolytic therapy, commonly known as clot-busting medication, which is most effective when administered within a narrow treatment window. Telestroke consultations can also help identify patients who may require transfer for advanced neurovascular procedures or comprehensive stroke care. 

“For stroke patients, every minute matters,” said Justin M. Nolte, M.D., a board-certified neurologist at Marshall Health Network, associate professor of neurology at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and the tri-state region’s only fellowship-trained stroke neurologist. “Telestroke technology allows us to rapidly assess patients in rural emergency departments, review imaging in real time and support local care teams in making critical treatment decisions as quickly as possible. Expanding access to specialized stroke expertise can significantly improve outcomes for patients who may otherwise face delays in care.” 

By combining advanced technology with specialized neurological expertise, Marshall Health Network is expanding access to rapid, evidence-based stroke care across the region while helping community hospitals deliver timely treatment closer to home, said Justin M. Nolte, director of St. Mary's Comprehensive Stroke Center and Cabell Huntington Hospital Advanced Primary Stroke Center. 

Marshall Health Network telestroke services currently support emergency departments at:

• Marshall Health Network - Rivers Health, Point Pleasant, West Virginia
• Marshall Health Network - St. Mary's Medical Center, Ironton, Ohio
• Logan Regional Medical Center, Logan, West Virginia
• Three Rivers Medical Center, Louisa, Kentucky