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The Work Practice of Videoconferencing in Acute Stroke Treatment

Authors:
Line Lundvoll Nilsen

Keywords: telestroke; work practice; meaning potential; meaning realized

Abstract:
In Norway, a local hospital and a specialist hospital have implemented real-time videoconferencing to exchange knowledge in order to obtain more complete stroke diagnoses and increase the thrombolytic treatment supported by specialists. In this paper, the objective is to explore the tension between the potential for using videoconferencing and its realization in practice. Logs, semi-structured interviews and hospital registration reveal a total of 37 out of 39 patients did not receive thrombolytic treatment over the course of one year. In 18 months, there were four videoconferencing consultations. Videoconferencing is only used when considering thrombolytic treatment. As thrombolytic treatment depends on several contra-indications written in a guideline, the guideline shape the work practice. In principle, the guideline represents a meaning potential for dialogue and for exploring knowledge in stroke treatment. But, in most cases, the guideline is followed strictly, and thus thrombolysis is not a treatment option in such cases. There is a breakdown in the potential for using videoconferencing, since they only four times has realized the meaning by creating sense and a shared repertoire of knowledge. Including small turnouts and a lesser strictness to the guideline might lead to more frequently used videoconferencing in acute stroke treatment.

Pages: 41 to 46

Copyright: Copyright (c) IARIA, 2013

Publication date: February 24, 2013

Published in: conference

ISSN: 2308-4359

ISBN: 978-1-61208-252-3

Location: Nice, France

Dates: from February 24, 2013 to March 1, 2013