ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

B.Sc Accident and Emergency Care

History / Background

A trauma related death occurs in India every 9-10 minutes. Nearly 10 % of all deaths in India are due to Accidents & Injuries. A vehicular accident is reported every 2 minutes and a death every 8 minutes on Indian roads. India loses 2-2.5 % of its GDP to only Road Traffic Injuries.

When it comes to Pediatrics, the situation is even more dismal. Every 30 seconds, a child dies due to an injury. Children less than 3 years, 1/3 rd die due to injuries. In children over 5 years, nearly 60 % die due to injuries. And in children over 10 years, the biggest killer is injuries.

It is terms like ‘The Golden Hour’ and the ‘Platinum Ten Minutes’ that typify the importance of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) all over the world. It is a well- accepted fact that a patient who receives basic care from trained professionals and is transported to the nearest healthcare facility within 15-20 minutes of an emergency has the greatest chance of survival.

For long, Emergency Medical Services in India has been fragmented and poorly organized. Training in Emergency Medicine has long been neglected with medical colleges allocating a paltry 2 weeks of training in hospital casualties to student doctors during their internship.

But, there is a glimmer of hope as the past decade has seen a flurry of activity in the field of emergency medicine in India. With the advent of the National Rural Health Mission and 108 Ambulance services across the country, there is increasing awareness about the importance of organized emergency medical services and the need for trained emergency medical personnel in the country.

Description

The Bachelor’s program in Accident & Emergency Medicine Technology is geared to train students in the management of medical emergencies in the setting of Hospital Emergency Rooms / Casualties, First-Aid stations located in schools / colleges, industrial facilities and corporate establishments. The personnel are also trained in emergency medical transportation and ambulance settings.

Skills taught during the program include Basic Life Support; Advanced Life Support; Initial Evaluation & Triaging in the Emergency Room; Basic Accident & Trauma Management; Burns Management; Medico-Legal Case Management; Resuscitative techniques; Suturing of Lacerations, Management of uncomplicated Fractures & POP Casting, IV Line Placement, AED Operation; Disaster Management; Cardiac & Respiratory Emergencies; Stroke Management; Management of Drug Overdoses & Poisonings.

Scope / Opportunities

Emergency Medicine is one of the fasted growing specialties in India. With ever increasing number of hospitals and opening of emergency services in these hospitals, there is a demand for trained personnel to assist doctors in the management of acute emergencies and trauma cases. Graduates of the Bachelors program in Accident & Emergency Medicine Technology are often the frontline staff in Hospital Emergency Rooms / Casualties.

Trained Emergency Medical Staff are required for initial evaluation and triaging of patients besides assisting doctors in management of medical & surgical emergencies. These personnel are widely used by Hospital emergency rooms for performing minor procedures like suturing of lacerations and splinting of fractures.

Graduates of the Emergency Medicine program are also widely deployed in Emergency Medical Transport teams and in Disaster Management Agencies; in First-Aid stations located in schools / colleges, Industrial Facilities and Corporate Establishments.

Curriculum

The curriculum covers instruction in: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Health Assessment, Pre-Hospital Transport, Life Support & Resuscitation, Emergency Medicine & Surgery, Principles of Anesthesia, Wounds & Suturing, Obstetrical Emergencies, Pediatric Emergencies, Burns Management, Mental Health Emergencies, Poisoning & Toxicology, Industrial Hazards. Clinical Procedures & Instruments.

Course Duration

3 years + 1 year of Internship

Eligibility

Pass in + 2 with 50 % minimum marks in Physics, Chemistry & Biology.

Selection Procedure

Applicants will be short-listed and successful candidates invited for a personal interview. Selection of candidates will be based on +2 marks and performance in the personal interview.