Dils on wheels

A new mobile initiative aims to reduce the time between the diagnosis of a heart attack and its treatment in order to save lives

A new mobile initiative aims to reduce the time between the diagnosis of a heart attack and its treatment in order to save lives

(Above) Dr N Rane (L), Dr S Rane (centre) and Dr K Rane look at an ECG on the cell phone; (right) The cell phone on which the ECG and patient's pictures are transferred PICS/ SAMEER MARKANDE

A team of city cardiologists have come together to provide an extension to that hoary phrase: home is where the heart is to home is where the heart is strapped on to an Electro Cardio Gram (ECG) machine.

They have launched an initiative simply called Saving Lives which aims to reduce the time between when a person suffers from a heart attack, realises that he is actually getting a heart attack and then seeks medical assistance.

Saving Lives, launched by Dr Rane's Hospital in Thane a week ago and spearheaded by cardiologist Dr Sandeep Rane, is a movement to reduce the time gap, so that, "much of the heart can be saved in case of a heart attack and eventually lives can be saved too," says Dr Rane.

Heart attacks? It must be gas

The medical personnel on a two-wheeler

At least eight cardiologists are part of this project, which was borne of the realisation that, "Usually people do not know they are having a heart attack," says the husband-wife team of Dr Sandeep and Neelam Rane. Dr S Rane elaborates, "Often sufferers dismiss the tightening in the chest or pain as some kind of uneasiness. This is because they are unaware of the symptoms or simply refuse to believe that they can have a heart attack.

As a result, precious hours, sometimes up to six to eight hours, can be lost as people take antacids dismissing their uneasiness as gas. It's only when the pain or discomfort becomes unbearable that they seek medical intervention. In the time that has elapsed, the heart has been compromised."

According to the docs, the root of the problem is that the patient failed to realise that he is having a heart attack.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

How it works

What Saving Lives does, is gives people two emergency numbers (2527 7000/2527 7001) that they could call in case they think they are having a heart attack.

The person can call on the numbers, which are active 24x7, after which a medical personnel will arrive in the shortest possible time to one's home. There are several symptoms (see side bar) that can give an indication that one may possibly be suffering from a heart attack.

ECG on cell phones

The sufferer is then strapped on to a specially designed ECG machine, which works on battery. The 12-lead ECG is then transferred via MMS to all the eight cardiologists. This goes along with a picture of the patient also taken via cell phone and is then transferred. It goes to all eight cardiologists in case one of them is unable to access his cell phone or not on call at that time, then there are surely at least one or two cardiologists who will be in a position to respond to the ECG. In a matter of minutes, a diagnosis is made and the cardiologist will inform the sufferer whether this is a heart attack or a false alarm.

In case of the former, the patient can be shifted to a hospital immediately and treatment started. This Saving Lives initiative operates only in the Chembur to Ghatkopar area as of now, though, slowly the entire city will be covered say the docs.

Fake calls

Says Dr Rane, "The mobile ECG is absolutely free of cost" and added that they are prepared for, "some fake calls too, but I do not think we will get too many prank calls." There are two hospitals that are tied in to the project, Dr Rane's Hospital in Chembur and Ashirwad Hospital. As the days go by, more hospitals can be added. "The patient, though, can be transferred to a medical facility of his/her choice," says Dr Rane adding that, "We also have a tie-up with 80 ambulances, though we plan to widen this network as we go along."

No pizza, just an ECG

What is remarkable is that the docs have bought a two-wheeler Kinetic for the medical personnel who would carry the ECG machine with it to your home looking rather like your average pizza delivery boy. Except, that this man on a two-wheeler, is not carrying an Italian culinary creation, but a creation that might save your life.

Siren please

The Ranes say that, "With traffic snarls everywhere, the fastest way to reach a person's home is on a two-wheeler rather than an ambulance. We are now planning to approach traffic authorities to allow us to put a siren (like the one atop an ambulance) on this two wheeler."

With time the essence here, the Saving Lives plans to prune response time to such an extent that, nobody should die because they missed out on an early diagnosis.

As breakthroughs and better standards redefine healthcare, Saving Lives proves that for the patient yeh dil maange more like an ECG at your door.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

Cardiologists with Saving Lives
Dr S Rane
Dr B Shah
Dr R Karnik
Dr N Burkule
Dr D Kumbla
Dr V Surase
Dr M Singh
Dr J Dhareshwar

Some symptoms to watch out for
> Tightness/heaviness in the chest
>u00a0 Undue/Severe perspiration
>u00a0 Palpitations
>u00a0 Sudden onset of breathing difficulties
>u00a0 Pain in the throat
>u00a0 Shoulder pain