The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Patna, and the State Health Society (SHS), Bihar, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a uniform emergency care system across the state. The initiative will standardise emergency treatment, strengthen referral systems and provide continuous technical support to government hospitals.
Uniform Emergency Care System
AIIMS Patna Executive Director and CEO Prof (Brig.) Dr Raju Agarwal said the partnership aims to ensure that patients receive the same standard of emergency treatment regardless of where they seek care.
The collaboration seeks to address delays and variations in emergency treatment across Bihar’s healthcare system. Emergency services in government hospitals will be standardised through uniform clinical protocols, common triage systems and evidence-based treatment guidelines.
The system will cover life-threatening conditions including trauma, heart attacks, strokes, poisoning, snakebites, burns and obstetric emergencies, with the objective of ensuring timely and standardised treatment.
Strengthening Referral Networks
A key component of the initiative will be the development of a coordinated referral system. Clearly defined referral pathways will enable patients requiring advanced medical care to be transferred more quickly from district hospitals to tertiary care centres.
The initiative will also focus on stabilising critically ill patients before transfer and improving communication between hospitals. This is intended to help ensure that patients reach higher centres without losing crucial time during the Golden Hour.
AIIMS Patna to Provide Technical Support
Under the MoU, AIIMS Patna will serve as the Apex Technical Resource Centre for the initiative and provide continuous clinical mentoring and technical support to district hospitals and other government healthcare facilities.
The support will extend beyond periodic training programmes. AIIMS Patna will work with healthcare teams through regular mentoring, tele-emergency consultations, virtual grand rounds, supportive supervision and quality audits.
The institute will also assist hospitals in developing standardised emergency departments, strengthening triage systems, implementing clinical protocols and improving patient flow management.
Digital Technologies and Emergency Care
The collaboration will introduce several technology-based measures to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery. These will include tele-ICU support, digital learning platforms, emergency medicine registries and artificial intelligence-enabled decision-support systems.
Continuous quality improvement programmes will also be implemented to help healthcare facilities assess and improve their emergency care capabilities.
Dr Agarwal said the initiative would help create a robust emergency healthcare system in which patients receive timely, standardised and high-quality treatment while district hospitals receive continuous academic and technical support.
State Health Society’s Role
The MoU was signed on behalf of the State Health Society, Bihar, by Brinda Lal, Joint Secretary-cum-In-Charge (Training), and on behalf of AIIMS Patna by Prof. Dr Prashant Kumar Singh, Medical Superintendent.
Brinda Lal said the collaboration with AIIMS Patna marks a significant step towards strengthening Bihar’s emergency healthcare system. She added that the State Health Society remains committed to supporting initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes and building a resilient public health system across the state.
Important Highlights
- AIIMS Patna and the State Health Society, Bihar, have signed an MoU to standardise emergency care across the state.
- Government hospitals will use uniform clinical protocols, common triage systems and evidence-based treatment guidelines.
- A coordinated referral network will facilitate faster transfers from district hospitals to tertiary care centres.
- AIIMS Patna will serve as the Apex Technical Resource Centre and provide continuous clinical mentoring.
- The initiative includes tele-ICU support, digital learning platforms, emergency medicine registries and AI-enabled decision support systems.
- The collaboration aims to improve emergency response, hospital coordination and patient outcomes across Bihar.
