The Central Montana Medical Center will use the Telestroke program, which allows two-way audio and video communications between CMMC's emergency department and stroke neurologists in Great Falls or Billings. The neurologist can use Telestroke to examine a stroke patient, view brain imaging and discuss treatment with medical staff in Lewistown.

Telestroke is a collaboration among the state health department, the Montana Stroke Initiative, the Montana Health Research and Education Foundation and the American Stroke Association. Funding has been secured to bring Telestroke capability to nine Montana hospitals during the next two years. It hasn't been decided which other hospitals will have the program.