Aster MIMS Hospital, Kozhikode and India Medtronic have announced their partnership to build a comprehensive program for stroke patients in Kerala. The program involves a hub and spoke model wherein, Aster MIMS will build a network of identified hospitals in and around Calicut and provide them with tele consultation support and resources to mobilise stroke patients who are at a critical stage and in urgent need of therapy. As part of the partnership, Medtronic will be providing education and training support to the identified hospitals along with awareness tools and technologies to manage stroke.
Dr Jacob P.Alapatt, HoD and Senior Consultant, Neurosurgery, Aster MIMS, Calicut said, “Due to lack of stroke ready centers, most patients do not get these treatments on time. The aim of our partnership with Medtronic is to support patients who may be affected by stroke and are not aware of the symptoms and criticality of the treatment window. Aster MIMS is a comprehensive stroke care center, and our team is available 24×7 to treat stroke. Through this hub and spoke model, we want to extend our expertise to more patients in and around Kerala.”
Madan Krishnan, Vice President & Managing Director, Medtronic India said, “Although current clinical practice guidelines recommend the use of mechanical thrombectomy for stroke management, patient utilisation remains low in India. While more than 2.7 lakhs patients are eligible for mechanical thrombectomy each year, fewer than 1500 or ~0.5 per cent are treated with it. The program is designed to break down barriers to treatment and standardise patient care pathways to reduce the overall burden of stroke. Through our partnership with Aster MIMS, we aim to increase access to life-saving therapies for more patients in India.”
As per the hub and spoke model, Aster MIMS will be the centralised hub, connecting other hospitals in different sectors with the help of advanced technologies. If a patient with stroke symptoms visits one of the network hospitals (spokes), their scan and other vitals will be passed on to team of experts at Aster MIMS for further evaluation. The subsequent treatment and medication would be advised accordingly. The condition of the patient will be continuously assessed through telemedicine. There will be 24-hour service of multiple neuro-interventional surgeons for conducting mechanical thrombectomy.
For Medtronic, the partnership with Aster MIMS for stroke management is the first in the series. The aim is to leverage partnerships across India that can help in advancing care to more patients even in smaller towns.
