Published Stroke is the second most common cause of death after cancer and the leading cause of disability in the Thai population! However, if a diagnosis and treatment are made in a timely manner, there is a high chance of full recovery.
Siriraj Hospital has developed the treatment process for acute stroke through the stroke fast track, allowing the thrombolytic therapy to be given to the patient within 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital for treatment! But, the patients who live in a long distance from the hospital, may not be able to receive the treatment in that “golden hour”, therefore, Siriraj Stroke Center has developed a treatment for patients with acute ischemic stroke by using a mobile stroke unit, a bus equipped with medical equipment for treating stroke patients and a telemedicine facility, which enables responders to consult with doctors at the hospital and provide treatment on-site. The mobile unit also has a special CT scanner equipped with WiFi and 5G technology, which allows transmitting the scans of a patient’s brain to the medical specialist.
The SirirajMobile Stroke Unit is developed by the Faculty of Engineering and Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, incorporating mechanisms from medical engineering and 5G technology into the hospital’s telemedicine system. This is like bringing a hospital into a community, as the unit can reduce mortality and disability rates. It can be used to treat patients with stroke symptoms. They can be treated within four hours of the onset of symptoms. Siriraj Mobile StrokeUnit started to provide the services on May 18th, 2018, for 24 hours/day and 7 days/week. Up until now, more than 200 patients have received the services, 60 % were fully recovered within 90 days.
The key outcomes in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals are Goal #10 Reduce inequality and Goal #3 Good Health and Well–Being.
