Hubbard Hospital Makes Stroke Link With Mass. General

Harrington Health Care at Hubbard Hospital in Webster will collaborate with Massachusetts General Hospital and the Partners TeleStroke Center in order to continue offering stroke services at the Webster emergency department.

When Southbridge's Harrington Hospital took over operations of the struggling Hubbard Hospital at the beginning of the year, "we had to reevaluate our equipment and training in order to continue certification with the Department of Public Health," said Tom Hijeck, Hubbard's administrator.

That reevaluation and the partnership with Mass. General has landed the facility a designation as a "primary stroke center," which allows the hospital to offer diagnostic and therapeutic services to anyone exhibiting the signs of a stroke.

The partnership allows Hubbard to use the TeleStroke system, which is a virtual consultation via videoconference. Hubbard emergency nurses and physicians can communicate with Mass. General neurologists using the system.

The system also allows Mass. General's neurologists to see, hear and communicate with patients.