Docs on WhatsApp help speedy treatment in cardiac cases

Next time if you find yourself in the midst of health crisis, especially cardiac arrest, medical help is just a text away.

Narayana Multispeciality Hospital here has created a WhatsApp group, with emergency doctors, nurses and medical attendants in the loop, to ensure the entire team is alerted the moment a cardiac emergency patient is brought in, according to senior cardilogist Dr Keshava Murthy.

Ubiquitous messenger WhatsApp has become an effective communication tool among cardiologists at the hospital.

During a cardiac emergency such as a heart attack, multiple procedures and tests have to run concurrently under the instructions of a cardiologist and his or her presence becomes absolutely vital once the patient is brought to the hospital. However, in case a cardiologist is away or if the emergency occurs at a late hour, doctors have to manage with virtual supervision as the first 90 minutes is very crucial. A communication tool such as WhatsApp to exchange text, images and videos instantly is a boon in such cases where doctors in the emergency room share live updates and reports with the cardiologists and take instructions in real-time.

According to Murthy “The usage of fast mode of communication has eliminated a couple of steps which would otherwise require presence of the cardiologist. During any cardiac emergency, it is our endeavor to reduce repetition and time. 

As soon as a patient is wheeled into the cardiac emergency, several processes and tests take place simultaneously. Technicians in the catheterization lab where interventional procedures are performed are informed to prepare for a primary angioplasty, done in case of a cardiac emergency. Emergency staff shares ECG and ECHO results with the cardiologist on WhatsApp and seeks immediate instructions  that helps in the preparation process.

According to Dattatreya K.S - Facility Director, Narayana Multispeciality Hospital Mysore, “In Mysore, apart from the ingenious usage of WhatsApp by Cardiologists, we are focussed on providing timely, effective and quality treatment to people coming to our hospital.”

Patients can share information or seek second opinion by reaching out on the following number: [phone] (images, videos can also be shared on WhatsApp.)
DH News Service