When a neurological condition strikes, every second matters.
If you or a loved one live in a remote area of New Mexico—far from the nearest stroke center—and you’re showing the telltale signs of a stroke like slurred speech or a drooping face, the clock is ticking. Doctors have a short four-and-a-half-hour window to provide life-saving care, but many parts of the state are hours away from Albuquerque, UNM Health, and our neurology experts.
This is a real challenge for nearly one million New Mexicans who don’t live near UNM Health. The vast distances and the shortage of healthcare providers in our state create significant barriers to receiving timely neurological care.
That’s why the UNM Health Sciences Center Department of Neurology created a powerful solution: the ACCESS Telemedicine Program. Since its launch in 2015, the program has provided nearly 4,000 consultations and helped save an estimated $24 million per year in medical costs by preventing unnecessary transports.
What is ACCESS Telemedicine?
ACCESS Telemedicine is short for Access to Critical Cerebral Emergency Support Services. It’s an innovative, not-for-profit network that connects neurology experts at UNM Health with care providers across the state through secure video technology.
It’s a system designed by and for New Mexico doctors, with a core mission to provide expert neurological care at the patient’s bedside, no matter where in the state they are.
Here’s how it works:
- If you or a loved one is having a medical emergency, call 911 and get to your local hospital right away.
- If your care team determines you are having a neurological problem, they can start a video call with a UNM Health specialist.
- Minutes later, our neurology experts are virtually “in the room” with you and your doctor, ready to help evaluate your condition.
- We’ll conduct a remote exam, ask questions, and give advice about the best next steps, all in real time via ACCESS Telemedicine.
An immediate virtual consultation can mean the difference between getting life-saving treatment when it’s needed and a delay that could lead to permanent disability.
In the case of stroke, timing is especially critical. A UNM Health specialist can quickly help a local provider determine whether the patient is a candidate for clot-busting medication such as tenecteplase, which can often be administered on-site for the earliest benefit.
Related reading: Reaching Out to Our Communities to Prevent Stroke
Improving Neurology Care Close to Home
The ACCESS Telemedicine program is about more than helping in an emergency. It’s about making sure no New Mexican is left behind when it comes to their neurological health. ACCESS Telemedicine also provides consultation for a full range of complex neurological conditions, including brain injury and altered mental status.
As New Mexico deals with a shortage of healthcare professionals, this service is critical. Today, 32 of New Mexico’s 33 counties are designated as health professional shortage areas (HPSA), meaning there are 3,500 or more patients for every one care provider. More than one million new Mexicans live in an HPSA.
The main goal of ACCESS Telemedicine is to empower local doctors. With the support of a UNM Health neurologist, they can make immediate care decisions and avoid unnecessarily transferring patients to Albuquerque. This helps community hospitals feel more comfortable caring for their patients and ensures you get the highest level of neurology care close to home.
Patients in rural parts of New Mexico can face major obstacles to care, including lack of reliable transportation to cover long distances to see a doctor. ACCESS Telemedicine is designed to help patients in all corners of the state access high-quality care, regardless of their geography.
Our Mission to Care for New Mexicans
The technology that powers ACCESS Telemedicine is essential, but the heart of the program is its people. Our teams work closely with local hospital staff to provide the most accurate, timely diagnosis and effective treatment. This collaborative approach means that we’re always getting feedback and learning together, improving the process over time.
ACCESS Telemedicine is our commitment to solving one of the biggest challenges in rural healthcare. Using technology to bridge the vast distances in our state, ACCESS helps make sure every New Mexican has access to the care they need, empowers local doctors, strengthens community hospitals and, ultimately, saves lives.
This commitment stems from an important mission to help connect all New Mexicans with high-quality neurological care, reducing underdiagnosis or undertreatment. With this program, patients have an easy path: Visit their local emergency room ASAP, and know that a UNM Health neurologist is just a call away.
Is your local hospital part of ACCESS Telemedicine? Find out how hospitals can get involved.