Wockhardt Hospital & Heart Institute's now offers an emergency cardiac care via 'Heart Connect', which is a novel initiative in emergency telemedicine. A first of its kind in the country, Heart Connect, with the use of a simple dial up connection enables doctors at Wockhardt to access and monitor vital parameters like ECG, pulse oxymetry, heart rate, pressure and temperature of their patients in the ICCU (intensive cardiac care unit) in real time from anywhere in the world.

Heart Connect at Wockhardt has proved to reduce time to handle critical cardiac patients during an emergency. It can link upto 8 specialists at a time to take a life saving decision and provide a 24/7 period security cover to patients. It provides round-the-clock access to Wockhardt's critical care specialties and has generated interest from nursing homes in the State. Wockhardt will work on an arrangement to offer its proprietary software to the nursing homes, which need to invest around Rs. 2-4 lakh for installing monitors at the bedside of patients, Vishal Bali, vice president, Wockhardt Hospital said here at a press conclave.

There are 25 cardiologists at Wockhardt in Bangalore and the multiple doctors' access will only help save time and save life of multiple patients at its ICCU. "The parameters are the basis on which we take a decision on further treatment of the patient, particularly in the case of a cardiac emergency like a heart attack," said Dr. Ranganatha Nayak, chief cardiologist, Wockhardt Hospital and Heart Institute.

"As an associate hospital of the Harvard Medical International, 'Heart Connect' will allow our patient records to be reviewed by specialists in the US if required. More than 42 percent of the telemedicine service is utilized for cardiac care followed by telediabetology, telepsychiatry, tele radiology, telepathology and telementoring," said Bali.

The most significant contribution to this technology is the access from the nursing homes and hospitals in the remote areas during a cardiac emergency. It is estimated that 50 per cent of lives are lost because of the lack of specialist care at the bedside in the rural areas, informed Bali. Heart Connect has been linked to Erode and Chitradurga and Baptist Hospital in Bangalore.

The technology has been offered by Think Ahead an Internet solutions provider via a 64 Kbps, 100 MBPS network and works on specialized proprietary software. Although the technology per se is expensive and costs between Rs. 15 to 40 lakh, Wockhardt and Think Ahead have developed a simplified and inexpensive concept that required an investment Rs. 10-12 lakh.

Wockhardt cardiologists will not be able to access Heart Connect to keep track of the patient being rushed in its dedicated cardiac ambulance fitted with life saving equipment and a wireless communication system. This is because the wireless connectivity is only with the ICU (intensive care unit), which prepares the hospital to handle an emergency. According Bali, the ambulance, ICU and Heart Connect will work as triangle to offer immediate attention during cardiac emergencies.