Teleneurology: an overview of current status

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Telemedicine
• Digital Health

Background:

• Teleneurology is a growing field within telemedicine, providing neurological consultations remotely.
• It utilizes various technologies, including telephone and internet, for connectivity.
• The practice encompasses teleconsultation, teleconferencing, and tele-education, and can be initiated by clinicians or patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define teleneurology and its scope within medical practice.
• To highlight the application of teleneurology in various neurological conditions.
• To discuss the increasing impact of patient-initiated teleneurology via the internet.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature and reported applications of teleneurology.
• Analysis of teleneurology's role in specific neurological conditions.
• Examination of clinician- and patient-initiated models.

Main Results:

• Teleneurology has been applied to conditions such as headache, dementia, epilepsy, stroke, movement disorders, and multiple sclerosis.
• Clinician-led teleneurology has been particularly significant in stroke management.
• Patient-initiated teleneurology is rising due to internet accessibility, potentially altering the clinician-patient dynamic.

Conclusions:

• Teleneurology is an increasingly important and evolving area impacting all neurologists.
• The widespread use of the internet is driving the growth of patient-initiated remote consultations.
• The future of neurology will be significantly shaped by teleneurology advancements.