Latest news with #FutureMedXSummit
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
From Luck to Protocol: India's Emergency Care Gets Structure and the Golden Hour Its Due
New Delhi: Emergency care in India is no longer a waiting game. It's transforming into a fast, tech-enabled, and protocol-driven system that puts the patient at the center. From trained ER doctors managing critical trauma independently to AI-assisted triage and ambulance alerts triggering in-hospital prep, the change is sweeping. What once relied on luck and specialist availability is now structured, timely, and increasingly seamless even in tier 2 and 3 cities. The golden hour is finally getting the urgency it deserves, informed top experts in emergency medicine . Speaking at ETHealthworld's inaugural FutureMedX Summit during a compelling panel discussion titled 'Revolutionizing Emergency Care: Patient-Centric Approaches in Trauma and Critical Care', experts addressed how emergency care in India is evolving from a fragmented, protocol-driven system to a more integrated, tech-enabled, and patient-centric approach. The session saw participation from Dr. Deepak Agrawal , Professor, Neurosurgery , AIIMS New Delhi; Dr. (Prof) Ajay Bahl, Chairperson and HOD, Emergency Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital; Dr. Sushant Chhabra , Cluster Head, Emergency Medicine, Manipal Hospitals North-West Region; and Dr. Sachin Chaudhry from the Armed Forces Medical Services shared their views. Moderated by Vikas Dandekar , Editor (Pharma & Healthcare), The Economic Times. Opening the session by highlighting the radical transformation in India's emergency care landscape over the past decade , Dr Agrawal said, 'Earlier, emergency departments across India were staffed by Casualty Medical Officers (CMOs) who were not specifically trained in emergency medicine. They could be orthopedic surgeons, trauma surgeons, or anesthetists. The most significant shift has been the emergence of dedicated emergency medicine departments staffed by trained professionals." According to Dr Agrawal, emergency care has evolved from mere triage-based systems to more holistic, protocol-based interventions. 'Today, emergency physicians manage the ABCs—airway, breathing, circulation—and initiate diagnostics like CT scans, with specialists arriving later in the care chain. This has made emergency care more consistent and less dependent on chance,' he explained. Underlining the increasing use of AI and machine learning in emergency settings, he said, 'We've installed cameras that use object detection to track critical steps—like when intubation is done or when pulse oximetry is applied. This data generates key performance indicators on how long each life-saving step took, helping us refine our processes." Dr Chhabra elaborated on the structured emergency response system adopted by Manipal Hospitals. 'Our model is built on strong clinical leadership, integrated systems, and seamless transitions of care. We follow a 'closed ER and closed ICU' model, where patients are continuously managed by trained emergency medicine doctors from triage to discharge,' he said. He added that protocols like Code Stroke and Code STEMI—standardised across their network—enable quicker diagnoses and timely interventions. 'If a chest pain patient presents, we perform an ECG within five minutes and activate Code STEMI if necessary. This has drastically reduced door-to-balloon times and improved outcomes.' Manipal has also invested in robust pre-hospital care through the Manipal Ambulance Response Service (MARS). 'If our field paramedic suspects a stroke, the hospital is alerted in advance, enabling faster triage and imaging the moment the patient arrives,' he added. On the technology front, Dr Chhabra noted the adoption of AI-based triage in global emergency departments. 'In Canada, AI-driven systems now categorise patients into red, yellow, or green zones automatically. AI is also being used in history-taking to ensure no critical questions are missed, especially when physicians are cognitively overloaded.' Dr Chaudhry, speaking from his experience at military and civilian hospitals, emphasized triage as the cornerstone of emergency care. 'It begins not just at the hospital but also in ambulances. Integration between departments is crucial. Once myocardial infarction is ruled in, the patient is directly moved to cardiology,' he explained. He stressed that trained emergency staff—certified in ATLS, ALS, and BLS—manage patients from initial assessment through to transfer. 'With the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, we can access past patient data immediately. This cuts down delays in treatment, which in emergency medicine, could mean the difference between life and death,' he said. Backing up his points with concrete statistics, Dr. Chhabra said, 'In the Manipal network, we manage around 1,200 STEMI cases annually. Our Code STEMI protocol has helped reduce mortality by 30 per cent. We have also brought down door-to-balloon time by 20 to 30 minutes well below the international standard of 90 minutes even in tier 2 and tier 3 cities,' he noted. Dr Agrawal shared insights on neurotrauma care and how the system has evolved. 'Ten years ago, we were operating on two to three severe head injury cases daily. Today, that number has dropped to one. Better infrastructure, safer vehicles, and emergency awareness have helped,' he said. However, he pointed out that Delhi still lacks a world-class ambulance system. 'Interestingly, 50 per cent of our emergency neurotrauma cases are brought in by Delhi Police, who have a scoop-and-run directive. While they're not medically trained, they get patients to us in under 10 minutes, often faster than ambulances,' he noted. He recounted how AIIMS was once accused of shunting patients to smaller hospitals, leading to a Supreme Court petition by Safdarjung Hospital. 'We took a call that any patient requiring intubation or ventilation would not be referred out. We would treat them regardless of bed capacity. That's when we built a dedicated trauma center with half of our 250 beds reserved for neurotrauma,' he said. 'Someone has to take responsibility and we did," Dr Agrawal mentioned. The Regulatory Setback Toward the end, Dr. Chhabra raised a serious concern on the fluctuating recognition of emergency medicine as a specialty. 'In 2009, the specialty was recognised. In 2022, NMC mandated every medical college to have an Emergency Medicine department. But in 2023, emergency medicine was shockingly removed as an essential specialty. That's a huge setback,' he said. He advocated for national protocols from the Ministry of Health or NABH, especially for golden hour conditions like STEMI and head injuries. 'If doctors across India follow standardized treatment protocols—even if they eventually refer to the case—they could still stabilise the patient and save lives,' he emphasised. In closing, moderator Vikas Dandekar reflected on the international context. 'In Canada, a student with a fractured finger waited 12 hours in the ER without even a painkiller—because he was low priority. Compare that to India, where doctors operate under immense pressure but still manage to deliver care with empathy and speed. That's our strength,' he said. Dr. Agrawal echoed the sentiment. 'We're lucky here. In India, if you need an MRI, you can get it done immediately. In many Western countries, you'd need to go through multiple referrals. While that system has its merits, our accessibility—despite resource constraints—is a huge advantage.' The session concluded with a unanimous call to institutionalise emergency medicine, invest in smart technologies, and uphold patient-centered values that make India's evolving emergency care ecosystem not only efficient but also humane.
Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Ageing with Dignity: How Technology is Changing Elderly Care in India
New Delhi: As India moves closer to a major demographic shift—with the elderly population expected to cross 350 million in the coming decades, ETHealthworld's inaugural edition FutureMedX Summit hosted a powerful discussion on 'Leveraging Technology for Geriatric Well-being .' Healthcare leaders and policy experts came together to explore how tech can support elderly Indians in living healthier, more connected lives. Captain Neelam Deshwal, Chief Nursing Officer at Fortis Healthcare, shared how mobile apps are becoming lifelines for seniors.'Many apps now come with features like large fonts, voice assistants, medication reminders, and emergency alerts. Some even help older people stay socially connected,' she said. These tools don't just support health—they fight loneliness. 'Now, many seniors video call their families or join virtual groups from home. It helps them stay engaged and feel less isolated,' she added. Still, she acknowledged the challenges: 'Complicated language, annoying pop-ups, and lack of support in regional languages often make these apps hard to use. Privacy concerns are also a big issue.' Colonel Binu Sharma, Senior Director of Nursing at Max Healthcare, highlighted the inequality between urban and rural healthcare access.'In cities, we have teleconsultations, remote monitoring, and digital health dashboards. But rural India is still far behind,' she said. 'Eighty percent of our elderly live outside the metros. They need more than just access to tech—they need it to be truly usable and helpful," Sharma added. Dr. Prasun Chatterjee, Chief of Geriatric Medicine at Artemis Hospital, emphasized the mental health side of ageing. 'Geriatric mental health is often overlooked. Early signs of cognitive decline are frequently missed—even by doctors,' he noted. He shared how AIIMS, in partnership with DST, developed tools that assess mental well-being through voice and emotion analysis. 'We can now use telemedicine to diagnose, counsel, and offer therapy remotely,' he said. Empowering Caregivers with Digital Skills Captain Deshwal pointed out that elder care in India is still mostly family-driven. 'Caregivers need to be trained on how to use health apps and medical devices. If they don't understand the tools, the technology is useless,' she said. She suggested more hands-on training, easy demo videos, and guides tailored for caregivers. Col. Sharma added, 'Elderly care should be as simple as booking a cab—affordable, low-effort, and intuitive. We need to stop expecting bedridden seniors to travel across cities. Instead, tech should help healthcare reach them at home.' Making Elderly Tech Affordable While technology is advancing, affordability remains a big concern. 'Most health insurance policies stop covering people after age 75. Without financial support, the best tech solutions are out of reach for many,' Sharma warned. She called for more public-private partnerships to build cost-effective elder care systems. Dr. Chatterjee highlighted how predictive tech could reduce emergency visits. 'Imagine if a system could alert families when a senior needs care—before things get serious. It saves money, reduces stress, and avoids last-minute panic,' he said. All the experts agreed: India needs a public health roadmap for geriatric care. As the country ages, it's not just about living longer—it's about living better. The future of elder care lies not in hospital beds, but in homes filled with empathy, innovation, and accessible technology.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Not Sci-Fi, But Smart: India's Hospital Revolution Is Rooted in Reality, Say Experts
New Delhi: The term smart hospital often conjures up sci-fi imagery—robotic nurses, AI diagnoses, and error-free systems. But in India's complex healthcare landscape, the reality is far more layered. As the country steadily embraces digital transformation, the idea of the smart hospital is gaining prominence. Yet beyond buzzwords and sleek technology, what truly defines a smart hospital in the Indian context? At ETHealthworld's inaugural edition FutureMedX Summit, industry leaders took a hard look at what it really takes to build intelligent, tech-enabled hospitals in India—not as envisioned in glossy demos, but as implemented in overburdened ICUs, rural clinics, and tier-two cities. Smart hospitals , it turns out, are not about science fiction—they're about solving real problems in real time. In a compelling panel discussion titled 'The Rise of Smart Hospitals: Creating a Digital Health Ecosystem,' experts examined the evolving definition of smart care, patient-centric applications, and the practical challenges of implementing digital health solutions that are intelligent, compassionate, and scalable. The panel featured Viji Varghese , Hospital Director at Manipal Hospital Delhi; Rajiv Sikka , Group CIO of Medanta Hospitals; Dr. Narin Sehgal , Finance Secretary of CAHO and Secretary of AHPI, Delhi State, as well as Medical Director of Sehgal Neo Hospital; Kunal Aggarwal, Founder and Managing Director of Easy Solution Infosystems Pvt. Ltd; and Miraj Shah , Manager at eClinicalWorks India. The panelists discussed how connected ICUs, conversational AI, modular tech adoption, and patient-centric workflows are being practically implemented across different healthcare settings. They emphasized that India's smart hospital journey isn't about leaping into the future—it's about building it step by step, with empathy, interoperability, and measurable impact. Opening the conversation, Varghese noted that a smart hospital is not merely a collection of technologies. Instead, it is about how technology is used to ensure access to information for both providers and patients, so that better decisions can be made and better health outcomes achieved. Rather than being dazzled by devices and dashboards, she stressed the purposeful use of technology—enabling clinicians to deliver more accurate care and empowering patients to participate meaningfully in their own health journeys. Sikka emphasized that technology is essential for maintaining consistency across a growing network of hospitals. His definition of a smart hospital revolves around delivering predictable, standardized, and sustainable experiences for all stakeholders—patients, doctors, nurses, and support staff. Sixteen years ago, Medanta was a single hospital. Today, with six locations, he said it became clear that the patient and doctor experience could not scale without technology. For them, technology has become the great equalizer. He introduced Medanta's 'Triple A' principle—any device, anywhere, anytime—as the foundation of its connected care model. ICU doctors, for instance, no longer need to call junior residents for updates. They can view live bedside monitor readings, ventilator stats, and infusion pump data from handheld devices, allowing real-time decision-making. Sikka also offered an aspirational but achievable vision of reimagining the patient journey—from parking to post-discharge. He asked why patients should wait for hours in the admission lobby, when they could complete pre-admission formalities like KYC and insurance at home. A hospital, he said, should function like a hotel—walk in, check in, and begin care. Once a patient is admitted, the hospital system sends real-time notifications to the designated doctor, nursing unit, housekeeping, F&B, and other departments. With clearly defined turnaround times for vital checks and doctor rounds, the entire process becomes seamless and system-driven. On the post-discharge front, Medanta has developed procedure-specific follow-up pathways. Whether it's a stent placement or orthopedic surgery, patients receive milestone-based reminders and coordinated care through CRM systems, ensuring continuity and reducing readmission risks. Dr. Narin Sehgal brought a deeply human touch to the discussion. While acknowledging the power of technology, he reminded the audience that the real hero of the hospital is the patient. Everything must revolve around them, he said, and technology must never make patients feel threatened. He recalled how patients often express fear and vulnerability before entering the operation theatre, which underlines the need for empathy, communication, and trust—elements that must be built into the design of a smart hospital. Technology is evolving so rapidly, he noted, that even clinicians struggle to keep up. Smartness isn't just about automation, it's about assurance. For him, smart hospitals begin with safety, simplicity, and purpose. He also emphasized the importance of modular, ROI-friendly solutions that are accessible even to smaller hospitals. Kunal Aggarwal echoed the sentiment that technology should never replace people but should instead enable them—whether they're clinicians, back-office staff, or patients. From clinical decision support systems to multilingual videos that ease pre-operative anxiety, he highlighted the need for tech that functions as a supportive partner. Miraj Shah added that the best digital solutions are those that remain invisible yet impactful. Care delivery, he stressed, must always remain front and center. Sikka reinforced these views with examples of transformative technologies already in use at Medanta. ICU monitors, ventilators, and infusion pumps generate over 20,000 data points per patient per day, enabling comprehensive, real-time monitoring. In imaging, AI tools screen chest X-rays for tuberculosis and lung nodules as part of India's largest CSR-led TB-free program. In outpatient departments, conversational AI transcribes doctor-patient interactions into structured prescriptions in real time, saving clinician time and reducing waitlists. Looking ahead, Sikka predicted that the future of healthcare input will be voice—and perhaps, eventually, neural signals. Varghese noted that smart hospitals represent more of a cultural shift than a technological one. Earlier, she said, healthcare was top-down. Now, technology is empowering patients to become active participants in their care. This shift in mindset must extend to both clinicians and administrators. However, she cautioned that despite India's progress in digital health, challenges such as infrastructure costs, skill gaps, and a lack of tailored health information systems (HIS) for smaller hospitals remain significant hurdles. Shah emphasized the importance of partnerships and interoperability, stating that smart hospitals cannot function in silos. They must connect with primary care, startups, public health networks, and national digital platforms like the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM). Aggarwal pointed to scalable innovations such as Aravind Eye Care's tele-ophthalmology model, while Sehgal stressed the need for open APIs and modular systems to avoid vendor lock-ins and enable inclusive growth. Sikka shared that Medanta's AI-powered command centers are already optimizing discharge workflows, medication logistics, and interdepartmental referrals in real time. As for digital twins, he explained that while patient-centric models are still a distant goal due to the lack of long-term electronic medical record data, operational digital twins are already being piloted to manage peak-hour radiology traffic and predictive equipment maintenance. So, what will truly drive India's smart hospital journey? The panelists agreed: smart hospitals are not built on technology stacks alone—they are built on trust, interoperability, informed patients, and collaborative partnerships. India may not yet have universal EMRs or patient digital twins, but with open minds, open APIs, and a people-first approach, the future of Indian healthcare is undeniably smarter.
