- Another one-third of the emergency cases are injuries mainly due to road accidents and assaults, while the remaining cases include stroke, infections, respiratory illnesses, sepsis, and poisoning.
- Over the past 13 years, the Department of Emergency Medicine at Meenakshi Hospital has treated more than 1.5 lakh patients with life-threatening emergencies.
Thanjavur, May 27, 2026: “Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of medical emergencies, followed by injuries primarily due to road accidents and assaults,” said experts from the Emergency Medicine Department at Meenakshi Hospital Thanjavur.
Speaking on the occasion of World Emergency Medicine Day, observed annually on May 27, the experts said the department handles nearly 1,400 cases every month. Of these, nearly one-third are related to cardiovascular emergencies, while another one-third involve injuries, primarily due to road accidents and assaults. The remaining cases comprise a wide spectrum of emergencies including stroke, infections, respiratory illnesses, sepsis, and poisoning cases.
Commenting on the growing burden of emergency care, Dr. Saravana Vel, Senior Consultant and Head of the Department of Accident & Emergency Medicine at Meenakshi Hospital, Thanjavur, said that more than 90% of cardiovascular emergencies can be prevented through timely lifestyle modifications and early medical intervention.
Dr. Saravana Vel added that successful emergency outcomes are possible only through a strong multidisciplinary approach involving cardiac anesthetists, cardiovascular specialists, emergency physicians, neuro-emergency experts, and trauma care teams. He highlighted that Meenakshi Hospital brings together all these specialties under one roof, enabling the institution to deliver emergency care outcomes that are on par with international standards.
Speaking about injuries, the second leading cause of medical emergencies, he noted that road accidents, particularly those involving two-wheelers, account for the majority of cases. He emphasised that wearing helmets and strictly following traffic rules can significantly help reduce such accidents.
On the growing adoption of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Saravana Vel said that although this speciality is relatively new in India, it has witnessed rapid growth and acceptance in recent years. He noted that almost all multispeciality hospitals today, including those in tier-2 and secondary cities, have dedicated Emergency Medicine Departments headed by qualified Emergency Physicians.
He further highlighted the growing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in emergency care, particularly in improving diagnostic accuracy, clinical outcomes, and patient prognosis, thereby enabling faster and more effective treatment decisions.
Dr. V. Praveen, Deputy Medical Superintendent, Meenakshi Hospital, Thanjavur was also present during the press meet. The experts emphasised the importance of the “Golden Hour” in cardiac & stroke emergencies. When a patient experiences chest pain, numbness in limbs, loss of balance, speech difficulty, immediate medical attention during the golden hour can significantly reduce the risk of heart attack (MI), stroke and other life-threatening complications they noted.
Meenakshi Hospital is the first hospital in the Delta region to establish a dedicated Department of Emergency Medicine with state-of-the-art infrastructure and advanced lifesaving facilities.
The department provides a comprehensive continuum of care beginning from prehospital emergency services, where treatment starts at the patient’s home or accident site, followed by rapid emergency stabilisation, effective resuscitation, lifesaving interventions, and continued critical care support after admission.
Over the past 13 years, the department has successfully treated and provided relief from pain, suffering, and life-threatening emergencies to more than 1.5 lakh patients.
The emergency services are supported by 24/7 patient care delivery, a team of more than 30 emergency physicians, highly trained nurses and emergency technicians, advanced monitoring and life-support equipment, dedicated Stroke and Trauma Teams, as well as specialised teams for paediatric emergencies, obstetric and gynaecological emergencies, medical and surgical emergencies, and toxicology management.
The hospital is also the first in South Tamil Nadu to receive NABH certification for its Emergency Medicine Department, reflecting its commitment to quality care, patient safety, and standardised emergency services.
Highlighting this year’s World Emergency Medicine Day theme, “Safe Space for Emergency Medicine Teams – Stop Violence Everywhere,” the hospital emphasised the urgent need to protect healthcare workers from violence and ensure safe working environments. Emergency teams work round the clock under immense pressure to save lives, and mutual respect between healthcare workers, patients, and attendants is essential for achieving better patient outcomes.
