Patna: Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) is preparing to establish a Level-1 trauma centre, with the hospital aiming to begin treatment for critically injured patients within 15 minutes of their arrival.
The proposal is being prepared by the hospital’s orthopaedics department. The planned centre will integrate specialist services already available at PMCH so that patients with serious injuries do not have to move between multiple departments before receiving treatment.
The proposed system will bring together neurosurgery, orthopaedics, general surgery, anaesthesia, radiology and plastic surgery. Emergency access to investigations, operation theatres, intensive care and blood-bank services is also planned.
Six Specialist Services To Work Under One System
PMCH already has several departments required for comprehensive trauma care. Under the proposed Level-1 trauma centre, these services will function through an integrated system.
The objective is to reduce delays in arranging specialist consultations, diagnostic tests and emergency surgery after a patient reaches the hospital.
This will be particularly important for patients suffering multiple injuries involving the head, bones and other parts of the body, where treatment may require several specialists simultaneously.
15-Minute Treatment Target
PMCH receives around 15 to 20 seriously injured trauma patients every day, according to the information provided by the hospital.
At present, patients are assessed through the triage system and treatment is prioritised according to the severity of their condition. However, patients with multiple injuries often require coordination between several departments.
Under the proposed trauma centre, a specialist team is expected to respond as soon as a critically injured patient arrives. The plan includes providing access to the operation theatre, ICU, blood bank and diagnostic facilities according to the patient’s needs.
Focus On Multiple-Injury Patients
The proposed centre is expected to particularly benefit patients with serious head injuries, orthopaedic injuries and multiple trauma.
A coordinated treatment system could also reduce the need to refer critically injured patients to other hospitals when the required specialist services are already available at PMCH.
Bihar’s Trauma Care Network Faces Gaps
The need for stronger trauma-care infrastructure remains significant in Bihar. According to the NCRB figures cited in the source report, 8,873 people were killed and 6,539 injured in road accidents in the state in a year.
Medical experts emphasise the importance of prompt treatment following serious accidents, making timely emergency care a key challenge for the state’s trauma-care network.
In 2023, the state government had planned to establish 11 new trauma centres along national highways at Gopalganj, Madhubani, Kaimur, Nalanda, East Champaran, Araria, Vaishali, Banka, Nawada, Khagaria and Gaya.
Earlier, PMCH and nine other medical college hospitals in Bihar had been notified as Level-2 trauma centres.
Staff And Equipment Remain A Challenge
The availability of trained personnel and specialised equipment remains a major challenge for trauma-care facilities.
The source report notes that in several centres, infrastructure and beds may be available, but there can be shortages of specialist doctors, trained nurses and paramedical staff required to manage critically injured patients.
The availability of specialists in orthopaedics, general surgery, neurosurgery and anaesthesia, along with advanced equipment and round-the-clock emergency services, is crucial for effective trauma care.
Former PMCH superintendent Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said that human resources and equipment are among the major challenges facing trauma centres. He said that infrastructure alone would not be sufficient without adequate specialist doctors and trained nursing staff.
24-Hour Specialist Team Planned At PMCH
PMCH orthopaedics department head Dr Rakesh Chaudhary said a proposal for the trauma centre was being prepared and efforts were being made to develop it according to Level-1 trauma centre standards.
According to him, PMCH already has super-speciality departments, specialist doctors, operation theatres, ICU, blood-bank and diagnostic facilities.
The plan is to integrate these existing resources under the proposed trauma centre and provide a 24-hour specialist team.
Effective Operations Will Be Key
The proposed Level-1 trauma centre will not only require the creation of infrastructure but also sustained round-the-clock operations.
The availability of specialist doctors and trained staff, adequate equipment and blood supplies, along with coordination between emergency services, operation theatres and ICUs, will be crucial to achieving the hospital’s 15-minute treatment target.
