1. Tele Emergency Services in the Himalayas: Operational Challenges
Dhavapalani A*, Baskar D*, Ganapathy K**, Arunabh Sarma**, Saroj Thakur**,
Premanand S**, Lovakanth N**
*Apollo Main Hospital, Chennai & **Apollo Tele Health Services
Introduction
Himachal Pradesh Tele Health Services Programme, is an initiative to provide access to quality health care services to local communities in Kaza and Keylong. Tele-Emergency services is an important component of this programme. Patients had to travel 250 kms to reach the nearest secondary care hospital, prior to introduction of this service. Ambulance transfers & helicopter evacuations have been reduced
Results
Period
April 2015 to September 2016
Total cases seen
343/4867 (7.05%)
Males
227
Females
116
Significant Cases Under Tele Emergency Services
Myocardial Infarction 9
Cardio version through tele-mentoring 3
Thrombolysis through tele-mentoring 1
“Excellent” rating by beneficiaries
82%
Non-emergency cases attending emergency OP 52
Materials and Methods
Complete emergency set up with 12 lead ECG, Spiro meter, Defibrillator, medications and a console for tele-consultation as per approved JCI protocols
Patients in emergency situations connected to Emergency physicians at Apollo Main Hospital, Chennai and through tele mentoring stabilized
Local doctor available at the remote center managed the patient as advised by Emergency Physician and provided medications.
Emergency demonstrating cardio version on Mannequin during live tele-mentoring
Remote Keylong
Tele Emergency Keylong
Conclusions
24X7 Tele Emergency services are being provided for the first time in the world in isolated mountainous areas. patients shifted to higher center post stabilization
Real time Tele ECG
References
Tele Medicine Services in the Himalayas: Operational Challenges (Ganapahty K, Chandralekha J, Premanand S):