Evolution and Future of Telestroke: From Clinical Tool to Public Health Strategy

Telestroke has emerged as a cornerstone in the reorganization of acute stroke care, addressing disparities in access to timely and specialized treatment, particularly in rural or underserved areas. By leveraging telecommunication technologies, telestroke enables remote neurological assessment, decision-making support, and coordination of reperfusion therapies such as intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy, ensuring that patients receive expert care regardless of geographical location.This Research Topic brings together cutting-edge research, clinical insights, and health system perspectives on the implementation, outcomes, and future directions of telestroke services. Contributions include original studies, systematic reviews, and implementation analyses from diverse healthcare settings and geographic regions. Key themes explored include the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of hub-and-spoke models, the integration of telestroke into emergency medical systems, and the impact on treatment times and functional outcomes.The issue also highlights challenges in establishing sustainable telestroke networks, including workforce training, data security, medico-legal considerations, and infrastructural limitations. In parallel, the potential of artificial intelligence, wearable technologies, and mobile platforms to enhance remote triage and decision-making is discussed, pointing toward the next frontier in digital stroke care.By gathering multidisciplinary perspectives—from neurologists and emergency physicians to health economists and policymakers—this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of telestroke as both a clinical tool and a public health strategy. It seeks to inform and inspire the design of equitable, scalable, and high-quality stroke care systems worldwide, especially as healthcare systems confront rising stroke incidence, aging populations, and persistent geographical inequities.We invite readers to engage with this timely collection, which reflects both the evolution and the promise of telestroke in reshaping stroke care delivery for the future. Topic editors: Vaso Zisimopoulou, Lucio D'Anna, MARILENA MANGIARDI, Esseddeeg Ghrooda Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75386/evolution-and-future-of-telestroke-from-clinical-tool-to-public-health-strategy