TJ Regional Health physician credits TriStar Skyline collaboration for life-saving stroke care
For Dr. William Thornbury, a family medicine physician at TJ Regional Health in Glasgow, KY, April 24, 2025 began like any other day. But suddenly, his life and perspective changed when he began experiencing unusual symptoms. They weren’t the “classic” signs of stroke he had taught his patients for decades, but his colleagues recognized something was wrong and acted fast.
Within minutes, TJ Regional Health’s Stroke Team connected with neurologists at TriStar Skyline Medical Center, Tennessee’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center, through advanced teleneurology technology. The seamless collaboration allowed for rapid diagnosis and administration of clot-busting medication.
“When I arrived at the ER, my colleagues were ready. They immediately connected me with the neurology experts at TriStar Skyline,” Dr. Thornbury recalled. “I was given treatment right away, and within 36 hours my symptoms were completely gone. The system we built together not only saved my life, it gave me my life back.”
Collaboration that saves lives
TriStar Skyline, part of the TriStar Health network, is a regional leader in advanced neuroscience care. Its comprehensive stroke team offers the latest treatments, including 24/7 teleneurology consultations, clot-busting medications and interventional procedures.
“Every minute matters in stroke treatment,” said Dennis Cole, MD, neurologist and medical director of the neuroscience program at TriStar Skyline. "Our teleneurology program means patients in south-central Kentucky and middle Tennessee receive the same advanced time-sensitive, game-changing care as patients treated in Nashville."
By collaborating with community hospitals like TJ Regional Health, patients in rural areas gain immediate access to lifesaving expertise without having to travel.
“The teleneurology team at TriStar Health has been instrumental in transforming how we deliver time-sensitive stroke care,” said Stacey Biggs, executive vice president of marketing, planning & development at TJ Regional Health. “Their real-time expertise and collaboration empower our emergency department to provide rapid, evidence-based treatment that saves lives and preserves quality of life. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to our patients and our community.”
A Physician’s New Perspective
For Dr. Thornbury, the experience was both humbling and life-changing.
“I’ve spent my career advocating for better access to care in our community,” he said. “But I never imagined I would be the one who needed it most. I am profoundly grateful to my colleagues at TJ Regional and the neurology team at TriStar Skyline. I am alive, whole and back to my patients because of them.”
Know the Signs of Stroke: Act F.A.S.T.
Dr. Thornbury’s story is also a reminder that stroke can happen to anyone, at any time. Quick recognition is key:
- B – Balance: Is there sudden loss of balance or coordination?
- E – Eyes: Is there sudden blurred or double vision or loss of vision?
- F – Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?
- A – Arm: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
- S – Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is speech slurred or strange?
- T – Time: If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately. Time lost is brain lost