A new digital medical emergency referral system, known as the Simplified Emergency Transfer and Urgent Referral (SETU), is being rolled out in Rajasthan, set to transform patient care during the critical initial hours. The model will enable tertiary hospitals to make preparations for attending to patients even before they arrive, allowing a team of medical experts to review reports and stand ready for treatment. Rajasthan is the first state in the country to implement this model, in which a referred patient’s medical history will reach the control room online before they arrive at the hospital.
This system aims to eliminate the issue of “blind arrivals.” Prepared and tested at Rabindranath Tagore Medical College in Udaipur, SETU has already managed over 3,510 emergency cases across 15 districts in the state. Principal Medical and Health Secretary Gayatri Rathore said that the SETU would serve as a robust digital bridge connecting the primary health centres (PHC) and community health centres (CHC) in the remote rural areas with medical colleges and tertiary hospitals in the cities. “The system operates using only smartphones, quick response (QR) codes, and a closed user group (CUG) network, eliminating the need for heavy investments in additional infrastructure,” Ms. Rathore said. As soon as a physician at a PHC refers a patient using the digital app, the complete digital data, estimated time of arrival, and live GPS tracking will be sent to the tertiary hospital.
Before the patient reaches the hospital, the control room will alert super-specialists in the relevant departments, such as trauma, surgical, obstetrics and gynaecology, and paediatrics, via the CUG network and reserve intensive care unit or emergency beds. Ms. Rathore said a fully prepared team of doctors would begin the life-saving treatment for the patient from “minute zero,” as soon as the ambulance doors open. Besides, every patient referred through SETU will receive a follow-up call from the control room on the following day to obtain feedback on treatment and hospital services.
