A New Era Dawns
In a significant advancement for emergency medical services, the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh is launching
a dedicated cardiac emergency facility. This specialized unit, set to become operational on March 1st, marks the culmination of years of planning and addresses a critical deficiency in the institute's advanced cardiac care infrastructure, which was established in 2009. The establishment of this focused emergency department is driven by the recognition that managing acute cardiac events within the general emergency system, which handles a vast array of critical cases including trauma, medical, and surgical emergencies, poses considerable challenges. This new facility is designed to create a streamlined and prioritized pathway exclusively for individuals experiencing cardiac crises, ensuring that time-sensitive conditions receive immediate and expert attention without the delays often associated with a general emergency setting. This initiative underscores PGIMER's commitment to enhancing patient-centric reforms and improving the efficiency of its high-volume tertiary care services.
Bridging the Time Gap
The new dedicated cardiac emergency at PGIMER is a direct response to the critical nature of cardiovascular conditions, where every minute saved can be the difference between life and death. Previously, patients with heart emergencies were treated in the main emergency wing, a bustling hub serving a massive patient population from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, and surrounding regions. This crowded environment meant that time-critical cardiac cases often contended with significant logistical hurdles, underscoring the urgent need for a more structured and specialized approach. Director Prof. Vivek Lal emphasized that a primary objective of this new facility is to eliminate delays caused by such bottlenecks, ensuring that no cardiac patient loses precious time. The collaborative effort behind this initiative, involving the departments of cardiology, emergency medicine, anaesthesia, hospital administration, and nursing services, highlights a unified vision to minimize response times and enhance accountability in emergency cardiac care. This integrated framework is expected to significantly decongest the main emergency wing, improve overall patient flow, and alleviate stress for both patients and their families.
Preventing Heart Disease
Beyond immediate emergency response, PGIMER is also focusing on the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases in India, which remain a leading cause of mortality. Prof. Rajesh Vijayvergiya from the Department of Cardiology highlighted a concerning trend of increased cardiovascular disease incidence among younger adults and women. Recognizing that approximately 80% of these conditions are preventable through lifestyle modifications, the institute has established a Preventive Clinic within the Cardiology Department. This clinic specifically targets individuals aged 18 to 40, aiming for early intervention to mitigate long-term cardiovascular risks. Participants undergo comprehensive assessments, including detailed dietary evaluations, psychological profiling, and blood investigations, leading to personalized lifestyle guidance. Prof. Vijayvergiya also pointed out that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women globally, surpassing even breast cancer, yet their symptoms are often misdiagnosed and mistaken for other issues like gastric problems. Factors contributing to heart disease in modern life include processed foods, poor sleep, excessive screen time, sedentary behavior, and chronic mental strain, all of which can disrupt heart function and increase the risk of sudden cardiac death.
