Guiding the Next Generation of Stroke Teams with Qure.ai’s AI-Powered Solutions

Stroke care has always been both my passion and my purpose. Over decades of refining my expertise in neurosurgery, ranging from conventional to advanced microneurosurgery and interventional techniques, I’ve witnessed the evolution of treatments and technologies firsthand. From performing over 10,000 neurosurgeries and 2,000 endovascular procedures to mentoring younger stroke teams, the journey has been as challenging as it has been fulfilling. 

Despite advancements, the reality of stroke care in India remains sobering. Stroke affects approximately 1.8 million people in India annually, with an incidence rate of 105–152 per 100,000 individuals per year. The burden is even heavier in rural and underserved regions, where access to timely, specialized care is limited. Neurology itself is a challenging field, with fewer than one neurologist available per 100,000 people across the country (Indian Stroke Association, SAGE Journals). This gap highlights the pressing need for innovative solutions to bridge the disparity in stroke care.

Zydus Hospitals became the first to adopt Qure.ai’s AI-powered patient management platform, the Qure app, for a hub-and-spoke model of stroke treatment, thanks to the collaboration with Medtronic. I was eager to help integrate the platform, train stroke teams, and witness its impact across our network. Before this deployment, guiding teams in peripheral hospitals was a logistical challenge. Physicians would share videos of scans – NCCTs, MRIs – manually, which led to delays, low-quality images, and limited real-time feedback. Discussions about treatment plans often required phone calls or occasional site visits, making collaborative decision-making cumbersome.  

The Qure App changed everything. Today, I’m seamlessly connected to stroke teams in our peripheral hospitals, regardless of where I am, whether at my office, at home, or even between surgeries. Through the app, I can review high-resolution scans in real time on my phone, discuss treatment plans instantly, and declare emergencies like “code stroke” at the push of a button. This streamlined workflow ensures that every second counts, giving patients the best chance at recovery.  

Empowering Stroke Teams with Confidence  

Over the past year, the transformation has been extraordinary. Six months after adopting the Qure platform, our spoke teams began performing thrombolysis independently, often initiating treatment right at the CT scan table. Real-time guidance through the Qure App has given them the confidence to diagnose strokes and prepare treatment protocols with minimal intervention from our central hub.  

In one instance, I remember receiving a scan on the app late at night. The team at the spoke center had already prepared the patient for thrombolysis and simply needed my go-ahead. Within minutes, they administered the treatment, saving precious time and significantly improving the patient’s prognosis.    The numbers speak for themselves. In just a year, we’ve performed over 100 thrombolysis procedures in peripheral hospitals, a remarkable 100% increase, while facilitating more than 45 mechanical thrombectomies, reflecting a 43% rise. Additionally, the door-to-needle time has been reduced to under 4 hours, a critical milestone in improving stroke care outcomes. These achievements underscore the exponential increase in the efficiency and effectiveness of stroke care within our network, demonstrating the transformative potential of AI-powered coordination and support.  

For me, this journey is not just about treating individual cases—it’s about shaping the future of stroke care in India. Neurology is inherently a demanding branch, and mentorship opportunities are scarce. The Qure App has not only enabled better patient outcomes but has also bridged a crucial gap in training.  

By fostering collaborative decision-making, the platform has empowered stroke teams to act swiftly and confidently, ensuring that more patients receive timely, high-quality care. With AI providing advanced insights, healthcare providers can make faster, more informed decisions while improving coordination between hub and spoke hospitals. This seamless care coordination minimizes delays in diagnosis and treatment, which is critical in addressing the devastating consequences of stroke.  

What excites me most is witnessing the shift in mindset among our spoke teams. They now approach stroke care with the assurance that comes from real-time support, advanced AI-driven guidance, and the ability to make life-saving decisions independently. It is this blend of AI-powered precision and human expertise that is paving the way for transformative changes in stroke care across India. 

The hub-and-spoke model integrated with AI technology has proven to be a game-changer in addressing India’s stroke burden. Studies have shown that similar models, when combined with telemedicine, lead to increased thrombolysis rates and reduced morbidity (Karger). By replicating this approach across India, we can ensure that no stroke patient is left without timely and effective care.  

As I continue to mentor the next generation of stroke teams, my hope is to see this model adopted nationwide, creating a legacy of impact that ensures equitable access to high-quality stroke care for all.  

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