Telehealth
VA is also improving care for Veterans by expanding its telehealth capabilities. VA launched the National Telestroke Program (NTSP) to provide acute stroke telehealth treatment at facilities that lack constant acute stroke coverage. Located throughout the country, a group of VA stroke neurologists are responsible for providing continuous telestroke coverage in facilities participating in NTSP.
In 2016, 9,000 Veterans were treated for an acute ischemic stroke at VA facilities, 30 percent of whom resided in rural areas. As of 2017, OIT has deployed NTSP at 10 facilities across the country and trained 97 employees to use the program to treat Veterans with suspected acute stroke.
