NSW Telestroke Service - Information for Health Professionals

Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney, hosts the NSW Telestroke Service. Our service supports hospitals in regional and remote NSW to care for people who have symptoms of stroke. This is a virtual, telehealth service, meaning our doctors provide services via telephone or videoconference.

This webpage provides information, resources and education for health professionals about the NSW Telestroke Service.

My Health Learning: Learning Pod – NSW Telestroke Training for Doctors

  • Telestroke Training for Doctors- Introduction by Professor Ken Butcher (Code: 388306050)
  • Telestroke Overview: Roles and responsibilities (Code: 331303823)
  • Rapid Stroke Assessment at the Telestroke referring site (Code: 331304850)

Introduction to NSW Telestroke live webinar

45 minute webinar hosted 4 times/year by the NSW Telestroke Neurologists. Topics include hyperacute stroke management and the NSW Telestroke model of care. Ask your local Stroke Care Coordinator about the next live session.

Access the recording here:

24th July 2023- Introduction to NSW Telestroke Service for Medical Officers

29th January 2024- Introduction to NSW Telestroke Service for Medical Officers

22nd April 2024- Introduction to NSW Telestroke Service for Medical Officers

22nd July 2024- Introduction to NSW Telestroke Service for Medical Officers

Virtual Reality Headsets (TACTICS VR)

  • Stroke Telehealth module 20 minute VR module explaining the first 24 hours of an acute stroke. Ask your local Stroke Care Coordinator for the headset

NSW Telestroke ASAP Tool

3 minute video explainer of Acute Stroke Assessment Protocol Tool (ASAP) with Dr James Evans Deputy Medical Director NSW Telestroke Service

NSW TSS ASAP Tool update 2023.pdf

ASAP Education Videos

National Institutes Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)

NIHSS assessment & certification via Blue Cloud is the official accreditation and training service for NIHSS assessment.  Select join with “Basic Membership-Free”

Angels NIHSS training videos  Angels is a private initiative funded by Boehringer Ingelheim.  They have a NIHSS training tool and users will need to register on the website.

My Health Learning: Learning Pod – NIHSS for Doctors

  • NIHSS for Doctors- Introduction by Professor Neil Spratt (Code: 386600153)
  • National Institutes Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (Code: 283992861)

Modified Rankin Score (mRS)

Accreditation on the Modified Rankin Scale

NSW Telestroke mRS guide

Telestroke Roles and Responsibilities

Telestroke Roles and Responsibilities (MS Teams sites)

My Health Learning: Telestroke

  • Telestroke Overview: Roles and responsibilities (Code: 331303823)
  • Rapid Stroke Assessment at the Telestroke referring site (Code: 331304850)
  • National Institutes Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (Code: 283992861)

My Health Learning: Learning Pod – Telestroke Training for Nurses

  • TeleStroke Training for Nurses- Introduction by Briony Van Galen (Code: 386600221)
  • Telestroke Overview: Roles and Responsibilities (Code: 331303823)
  • Rapid Stroke Assessment at the Telestroke Referring Site (Code: 331304850)
  • Nurses’ Role in Reperfusion Therapy – Alteplase (Code: 356429660)

My Health Learning: Learning Pod – Stroke Update for Nurses

  • Stroke Update for Nurses- Introduction by Kylie Tastula (Code: 388452458)
  • National Institutes Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (Code: 283992861)
  • Module 2 Basic understanding of ECG and rhythm interpretation (Code: 359181145)
  • Why is continence an issue in stroke? (Code: 327984047)
  • Acute Screening of Swallow in Stroke/TIA (ASSIST) (Code: 266116067)

My Health Learning: Endovascular Clot Retrieval (ECR) 

  • To familiarise stroke clinicians with the treatment and management of acute ischaemic stroke with Endovascular Clot Retrieval (ECR) (Code: 455570958)

Virtual Reality Headsets (TACTICS VR)

  • Stroke Telehealth module: 20 minute VR module explaining the first 24 hours of an acute stroke. Ask your local Stroke Care Coordinator for the VR headset.
  • Stroke Nursing Module: Nursing management of acute stroke patients. Ask your local Stroke Care Coordinator for the VR headset.

NSW Telestroke Nursing Education Calendar

NSW Telestroke Service provides free online education for nurses working in NSW Telestroke referring sites. Some of these webinars will be recorded and made available for future education purposes.

For more information, visit NSW TSS Nursing Education Calendar

NSW Telestroke Nursing Education Repository

NSW Telestroke Service provides free online education for nurses working in NSW Telestroke referring sites. This list of education topics is timetabled in the NSW Telestroke Nursing Education Calendar, alternatively contact us on SESLHD-NSWTelestrokeService@health.nsw.gov.au to arrange an in-service at a time that suits your site.

NSW Telestroke ASAP Tool

3 minute video explainer of Acute Stroke Assessment Protocol Tool (ASAP) with Dr James Evans Deputy Medical Director NSW Telestroke Service

NSW TSS ASAP Tool update 2023.pdf

ASAP Education Videos

National Institutes Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)

NIHSS assessment & certification via Blue Cloud is the official accreditation and training service for NIHSS assessment.  Select join with “Basic Membership-Free”

Angels NIHSS training videos  Angels is a private initiative funded by Boehringer Ingelheim.  They have a NIHSS training tool and users will need to register on the website.

Modified Rankin Score (mRS)

Accreditation on the Modified Rankin Scale

NSW Telestroke mRS guide

Telestroke Roles and Responsibilities

Telestroke Roles and Responsibilities (MS Teams sites)

Telestroke Radiology

5 minute video explainer of Telestroke Radiology process

Sample NSW Telestroke CT Guide

My Health Learning: Telestroke

  • Telestroke Overview: Roles and responsibilities (Code: 331303823)
  • Rapid Stroke Assessment at the Telestroke referring site (Code: 331304850)
  • National Institutes Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (Code: 283992861)

Telestroke Education Sessions for Radiographers

Contact SESLHD-NSWTelestrokeService@health.nsw.gov.au for more information on education sessions available. 

Telestroke Community of Practice for Radiographers 

NEW: Community of Practice for Radiographers meeting 2nd monthly from July 2024.

Contact SESLHD-NSWTelestrokeService@health.nsw.gov.au if you are interested to be involved.

Telestroke Roles and Responsibilities

Telestroke Roles and Responsibilities (MS Teams sites)

My Health Learning: Telestroke

  • Telestroke Overview: Roles and responsibilities (Code: 331303823)
  • Rapid Stroke Assessment at the Telestroke referring site (Code: 331304850)
  • National Institutes Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (Code: 283992861)

My Health Learning: Learning Pod – Stroke Update for Allied Health Clinicians

  • Stroke Update for Allied Health Clinicians- Introduction by Fiona Ryan (Course Code: 388666914)
  • National Institutes Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (Code: 283992861)
  • Understanding the Vision Defect in Stroke Screening Tool (Code: 160780759)

    My Health Learning: Learning Pod – Telestroke Training for Nurses

    • TeleStroke Training for Nurses- Introduction by Briony Van Galen (Code: 386600221)
    • Telestroke Overview: Roles and Responsibilities (Code: 331303823)
    • Rapid Stroke Assessment at the Telestroke Referring Site (Code: 331304850)
    • Nurses’ Role in Reperfusion Therapy – Alteplase (Code: 356429660)

    My Health Learning: Learning Pod – Stroke Update for Nurses

    • Stroke Update for Nurses- Introduction by Kylie Tastula (Code: 388452458)
    • National Institutes Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) (Code: 283992861)
    • Module 2 Basic understanding of ECG and rhythm interpretation (Code: 359181145)
    • Why is continence an issue in stroke? (Code: 327984047)
    • Acute Screening of Swallow in Stroke/TIA (ASSIST) (Code: 266116067)

    My Health Learning: Endovascular Clot Retrieval (ECR) 

    • To familiarise stroke clinicians with the treatment and management of acute ischaemic stroke with Endovascular Clot Retrieval (ECR) (Code: 455570958)

    NSW Telestroke Education Resources for Nurses

    List includes different pathways of learning to address both novice to intermediate skills, in the management of patients presenting to a Telestroke site. It includes self-directed and supported modes of delivery.

    NSW Telestroke ASAP Tool

    3 minute video explainer of Acute Stroke Assessment Protocol Tool (ASAP) with Dr James Evans Deputy Medical Director NSW Telestroke Service

    NSW TSS ASAP Tool update 2023.pdf

    ASAP Education Videos

    National Institutes Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS)

    NIHSS assessment & certification via Blue Cloud is the official accreditation and training service for NIHSS assessment.  Select join with “Basic Membership-Free”

    Angels NIHSS training videos  Angels is a private initiative funded by Boehringer Ingelheim.  They have a NIHSS training tool and users will need to register on the website.

    Modified Rankin Score (mRS)

    Accreditation on the Modified Rankin Scale

    NSW Telestroke mRS guide

    Telestroke Roles and Responsibilities

    Telestroke Roles and Responsibilities (MS Teams sites)

    Stroke Process Sheet- video demonstration of the Stroke Process Sheet including modified Rankin Scale and Hunter 8 assessment

    Protocol C11 | Acute Stroke- NSW Ambulance protocol for Acute Stroke

    Diagnostic Utility of Computed Tomography Perfusion in the Telestroke Setting

    Kshitij Arora, Aaron Gaekwad, James Evans, William O’Brien, Timothy Ang, Carlos Garcia-Esperon, Christopher Blair, Leon S. Edwards, Beng L.A. Chew, Candice Delcourt, Neil J. Spratt, Mark W. Parsons and Ken S. Butcher

    Originally published 2 Jun 2022 https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.122.038798 Stroke. 2022; 53:2917–2925