Intermountain Children’s Health Launches the Nation’s Largest Pediatric Telestroke Network
Intermountain Health
Utah and Idaho
Intermountain Children’s Health has launched the nation’s largest pediatric Telestroke network, giving children in Utah and southern Idaho rapid access to stroke experts through virtual consultations. Because strokes in children are rare and symptoms can differ from those in adults, diagnosis is often delayed. The virtual network allows specialists to quickly assess young patients, guide local physicians through exams and imaging, and determine the best treatment to restore blood flow to the brain.
Children who suffer strokes can experience symptoms similar to adults but younger patients may also show signs like seizures, extreme sleepiness, or using only one side of their body. Quick diagnosis and treatment are critical to preventing disability or death. Through video consultation, pediatric neurologists can evaluate patients remotely, coordinate diagnostic tests such as CT scans or MRIs, and recommend treatments ranging from IV fluids and blood-thinning medications to emergency transfers for advanced care or surgery.
The story of Lucy Merrell, a Utah teenager who suffered a stroke in eighth grade, highlights the importance of rapid access to pediatric stroke expertise. After experiencing a severe headache and trouble speaking, Lucy was taken to a local hospital, where physicians surgeons removed two blood clots from her brain, and after months of therapy she returned to school with no lasting symptoms. Intermountain leaders say the Telestroke network — already used to help 19 children in its first year —aims to ensure more kids receive lifesaving care quickly, regardless of where they live, and may expand to additional states in the future.