Ludhiana’s CMC Hospital & Medtronic Deploy Qure.ai’s AI-Powered Stroke Care Solution

The CMC Ludhiana will serve as the central hub and periphery hospitals as spokes.

Ludhiana’s Christian Medical College (CMC) Hospital has joined hands with Medtronic, a global healthcare technology company, to introduce Qure.ai’s AI-powered advanced stroke care solution.

Powered by Qure.ai, the AI-enabled head CT solution – qER, seeks to revolutionize how doctors diagnose and treat stroke patients.

This advanced technology analyzes brain scans with efficient speed, aiding doctors in identifying stroke-related issues promptly. With this initiative, CMC Hospital plans to expand the use of this technology to more hospitals in Punjab.

Expressing thoughts, Michael Blackwell, VP & MD, Medtronic India said, “Having access to a stroke-ready center, speedy diagnosis and treatment can save many lives. At Medtronic, our aim is to support an ecosystem where healthcare has no limits and technology can be leveraged to address rapidly evolving patient needs. Our collaboration with Qure to advance stroke care in many locations across India is a step in that direction.”

CMC Hospital as Hub & Spoke Network

As part of the collaboration, Qure.ai announced its latest hub & spoke network deployment at CMC Hospital, Ludhiana. According to which, the CMC Ludhiana will serve as the central hub and periphery hospitals as spokes-one of the many crucial deployments across the country.

Further, the Ludhiana hospital will establish a network of spoke hospitals across Punjab to create an efficient network of periphery hospitals, connected to the central hub, giving every connected spoke site, equal access to the state-of-the-art neurocritical care team function at CMC Ludhiana.

On the collaboration, Prashant Warier, CEO & cofounder, Qure.ai, said, "The deployment of our solution in collaboration with Medtronic at a specialized institution like CMC Ludhiana signifies a pivotal step in expanding cutting-edge healthcare services to the furthest corners of India.’’

According to him, this move will help in easing the challenges of stroke care in our country making healthcare accessible and cost-effective for everyone.

Decoding Qure.ai’s Stroke Care Solution

Qure.ai's qER, an AI-enabled head CT solution, utilizes deep learning technology to swiftly process CT scans, delivering comprehensive findings in just three minutes.

The software features includes anatomical location identification, precise quantification of ICH and infarct volumes, and ASPECTS scoring to assess stroke severity.

Additionally, qER technology identifies large vessel obstruction on CT angiography, aiding in the selection of patients for mechanical thrombectomy, a crucial intervention that might otherwise be delayed or overlooked.

The network of hub & spoke is established on the care coordination platform – Qure App, facilitating seamless coordination between hub & spokes. When a suspected stroke patient is admitted to a spoke hospital, qER swiftly processes their CT scan using AI.

In the event of critical findings, a real-time alert is promptly sent to the hub site's specialized stroke team along with annotated findings on the CT scan, facilitating integrated communication between the hub and spoke teams via the Qure App.

For advanced interventions such as thrombectomy, the spoke team is guided to transfer the patient to the hub site promptly. This streamlined process results in faster triaging, access to real-time information, and efficient coordination between hub and spokes.

Growing Concern for Stroke Incidences in India

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the sixth leading cause of disability in India. It is a medical emergency that occurs when there is a sudden interruption of blood flow to a part of the brain. This interruption can be caused by either a blockage in the blood vessels (ischemic stroke) or the rupture of blood vessels (haemorrhagic stroke).

The "golden window" in stroke treatment is often between 4 to 6 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms. This is a critical window during which medical interventions like thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy are most effective.

Dr Jeyaraj Pandian, president-elect, World Stroke Organization, and dean & professor, Neurology, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana said, “Stroke is preventable and treatable, and the key lies in timely intervention. Our collaboration with Qure.ai and Medtronic signifies a major leap forward in redefining stroke care by harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. The hub and spoke model that we have adopted will transform how we approach stroke management, enabling swift, efficient, and life-saving interventions.”

CMC Ludhiana is the first Advanced stroke center certified by the World Stroke Organization. Moreover, it is also a collaborating Center of Excellence for stroke research under the Indian Council of Medical Research.