Pune: Sassoon General Hospital Leads the Way with ‘Code Blue’ System, Saving Lives in Record Time
Pune, 16th December 2023: In a groundbreaking initiative, Sassoon General Hospital in Pune has implemented a ‘Code Blue’ system to address medical emergencies swiftly and effectively. This system, the first of its kind among government hospitals in the state, ensures that patients receive crucial treatment within a remarkable 120 seconds during emergencies, leading to the rescue of approximately five hundred patients in the last six months.
The ‘Code Blue’ system was inaugurated at Sassoon Hospital in July and has since been activated 788 times within the hospital in the past six months. Notably, 494 patients, constituting around 63 percent of cases, have been successfully saved through the rapid response provided by this system. Among the survivors, 22 percent experienced complete heart failure, emphasizing the critical role of urgent treatment in such cases. Unfortunately, 281 patients, despite receiving prompt medical attention, did not survive.
Sassoon Hospital, with a daily footfall of about three thousand patients in the outpatient department, recognizes the importance of timely intervention during medical emergencies. Whether it’s a heart attack or difficulty breathing, urgent treatment within the first ten minutes, known as the golden period, significantly increases the chances of patient survival. The ‘Code Blue’ system was instituted with this vital timeframe in mind.
A dedicated team, comprising doctors, anesthetists, pharmacologists, nurses, and attendants, is available around the clock to respond to medical emergencies. Dr. Kiran Jadhav, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, serves as the chief coordinator of ‘Code Blue.’ The team, including members like Dr. Rohidas Borse, Dr. H. B. Prasad, Dr. Sanyogita Naik, Dr. Surekha Shinde, Dr. Rajeshwari Vohra, Officers Vimal Kedar, Sheela Chavan, and Code Blue Coordinator Gaurav Mahapure, plays a pivotal role in the success of this life-saving system.
In the event of a medical emergency, an audible announcement is made throughout the hospital, and the ‘Code Blue’ team can be summoned from any department by dialing seven numbers. With an impressive response time of 120 seconds, the team swiftly reaches the patient, delivering urgent and potentially life-saving treatment.
