Acute stroke resources and care are deficient in Arizona's rural communities. Stroke telemedicine is a proven modality for overcoming the deficiency. Stroke telemedicine allows a telephonic consultation and/or two-way audio video consultation between a stroke neurologist and a stroke patient at a remotely located emergency department. University of California San Diego Stroke Center has completed an NIH funded randomized controlled trial, STRokE DOC, comparing telephonic consultations to video consultations. In that trial, video telemedicine consultations resulted in more accurate decision making compared with telephone consultations. The video telemedicine consultative modality provides the rural stroke patient with the opportunity to receive expert stroke care, interpretation of neuroimaging, determination of appropriate acute therapy, and recommendations regarding need for transfer to a higher level of care. Mayo Clinic Arizona is currently completing a state funded feasibility trial, STRokE DOC Arizona (06-005731), as a preliminary step toward establishing a state wide stroke telemedicine network, STARR. The STARR network plan should include the prospective collection, recording, and regular analysis of telestroke patient consultation data for the purpose of quality measure assessment and improvement.