Andhra Pradesh: SVIMS Conference on Emergency Medicine

 Tirupati: Experts at the continuing medical education (CME) programme hosted by Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS), Tirupati, on Tuesday opined that emergency physicians act like “the first line of defense” and the first hour after a serious event often becomes the deciding factor between life and death.

The CME programme was inaugurated by Dr. R.V. Kumar, director and vice chancellor of SVIMS. Dr. Kumar stressed on the challenges of emergency physicians who have to stabilise patients and make vital clinical decisions under intense pressure.

"They are the first line of defense in managing high-risk cases like cardiac arrest, trauma, and stroke," Dr. Kumar said.

He acknowledged advancements in diagnostics, imaging, and telemedicine, which are revolutionising emergency care by enabling accurate and efficient treatment.

He urged the SVIMS emergency department to continue embracing new technologies and keep practising their skills,

Dr. Krishnasimha Reddy, head of the emergency medicine department, shared the department’s progress since its inception in 2010. Associate professor Dr. Prakash Babu spoke on strategies for quality care when there are resource constraints.

The CME also welcomed guest speakers Dr. Jai Pandya and Dr. Amir Rashid, visiting from Texas, USA. Dr. Pandya highlighted the benefits of teamwork. Dr. Amir spoke on overcrowding in the emergency department. He suggested strategies like streamlining intake and discharge processes using predictive data. Forming specialised response teams to allocate resources to critical cases effectively was also mooted.