Department of Anaesthesiology
The Department of Anaesthesia and Critical Care is the single largest department in the hospital and includes besides anaesthesiologists, anaesthesia technicians and respiratory therapists.
The Anaesthesia Department is further sub-specialized into the cardiac, neuro, orthopedics, gastrosurgery, urology, pediatric and the head and neck oncology units. Each of these sub-specialties are headed by professors and associate professors who are experts in their field and have developed the units over the years.
The Department actively participates in research and academic activity and the faculty are recognized for their expertise nationally. The Anaesthesia Department conducts various post MD specialty courses including DM in cardiac anaesthesia, post doctoral courses in transplant, neuro and cardiac anaesthesia.
The Department also conducts diploma in critical care ((ISCCM) besides conducting BSc training for anaesthesia technicians and both BSc and MSc for the respiratory therapists.
All surgical intensive care units and the medical intensive care units are primarily under the care of anaesthesiologists. The ventilatory care is assisted by the respiratory therapy unit who provide a continuum of ventilatory care to the ICU patients under the supervision of the anaesthesiologist.
The faculty in Anaesthesia Department is well versed with the use of fibreoptic bronchoscopy, difficult airway management, percutaneous tracheostomy and transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography besides excellence in invasive lines.
AIMS is one of the best training centers in the country today for anaesthesiologists. The huge exposure to the postgraduates and consultants, not only in the operating rooms but also in various ICU’s, makes them highly trained and efficient anaesthesiologists by the time they leave the portals of the institute.
Department of Dermatology
The Department of Dermatology is a postgraduate department which offers outpatient services and inpatient services.
Apart from clinical consultation, we provide comprehensive investigative and clinical services related to dermatology and venereology like; skin biopsy, laboratory investigations, phototherapy, cryotherapy, electric cautery, radio cautery,chemical cautery etc.
Well-trained postgraduate consultants are available to provide consultation and treatment pertaining to :
- General Dermatology
- Cosmetology
- Sexually transmissible diseases
- Leprosy
Department of Emergency Medicine
The last few years has seen revolutionary changes in the field of emergency medicine in India. It has evolved from the “MBBS doctor/CMO” managed casualty to ER managed by trained Emergency Medicine Physicians. Amrita has been the torch bearer of this change with the first 3-year postgraduate training program (MD-Emergency Medicine) in Kerala. The Department of Emergency Medicine at Amrita has grown into a reputed center for emergency care in India.
Department of General Medicine
The Department of Internal Medicine is one of the premier departments bringing together an elite cadre of clinicians, investigators and educators in one of the world’s top medical schools. The Department has 25 full-time faculty members and is embedded in a remarkable basic science environment at the Health Science Campus at Amrita with a collaborative culture that affords numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary and translational research.
The Department is supported by the latest diagnostic facilities that include Microbiology, Serology, Molecular Medicine, Pathology, Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. The presence of all the major subspecialties at AIMS enables the department to provide comprehensive care to a patient with multiple problems without fragmentation of care and with the ability to optimise medical treatment, thus improving quality of life.
The Department is actively involved in teaching MD General Medicine, MBBS, BDS, BSc Nursing, MSc. Nursing, M Pham and Pham D students. The Department gives utmost importance to clinical research and studies. Inspiring dynamic minds, quality health care , excellent academics, inspiring atmosphere for clinical research and outstanding infrastructure defines the Department of General Medicine at Amrita School of Medicine.
Department of General Surgery
The Department of General Surgery is geared to offer teaching programs for both undergraduates as well as postgraduate students. Computer assisted teaching aids on clinical examination and operative procedures are being generated. Research activities in several areas are already on. Video conferencing facilities will enable students sitting in the auditorium to see live transmission of surgical procedures and interact with the faculty at the same time.
Department of Geriatrics
The expectancy of life has increased significantly in the last few decades. With advancing healthcare facilities, it is expected to persist in the coming years, and expectancy of life at birth may well surpass 80 years in most countries of the world, including India.
Our society is rapidly undergoing change. Increasingly, women, who were the traditional caregivers of the elderly, are taking to work.
Many in the working generation leave the state in search of jobs. So we are faced with a situation where in the elderly are increasing in numbers and living longer while the number of care givers are rapidly decreasing. This is reflected by a rapid increase in the number of old age homes – but most often than not, they do not provide healthcare maintenance. Treating elderly – understanding their requirements and modulating treatment accordingly is an independent expertise. Medicines are often not tolerated at the usual doses, and elderly require a different dosing regimen.
The Geriatrics Department at AIMS understands these special requirements of the elderly and cater to them accordingly with a holistic approach.
We ensure that all patients receive a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment with the help of specially trained doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, dietician, medical social worker, occupational therapist and an effective treatment plan is modulated after discussions with these personnel
This Geriatrics Department is the first of its kind in India which started functioning in January 2001. The benefit for the comprehensive geriatric consultation is that the patient can meet all the team members at the same time during their visit.
Geriatric medical care differs from usual medical practice because the focus is on preservation of function and improving the quality of life and not just investigating, diagnosing, treating and curing specific diseases. We deal with the patient’s social and psychological problems as well as his/ her medical problems and also frequently work with the family or caregivers who are assisting the older person to help them provide better and effective care.
Department of Nuclear Medicine
Nuclear Medicine is a rapidly developing branch of medicine which uses radioisotopes for diagnostic imaging and therapy.
All nuclear medicine investigations and therapeutic procedures with reference to subspecialities of medicine and surgery are available at the Department of Nuclear Medicine at AIMS.
The Department is equipped with the state-of-the-art 8 slice PET-CT scanner (Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography), the first of its kind in the state of Kerala. It provides superior diagnostic information for patients with cancer, ischemic heart disease and certain neurologic conditions.
Nuclear medicine imaging, or scintigraphy performed with a Gamma camera, provides physiological information as an adjunct to conventional imaging technology and is of tremendous diagnostic value to many specialities.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
The Department offers all the routine obstetrics and gynaecology services. In addition, the Department manages high-risk pregnancy by prenatal diagnostic testing like chorion villus sampling, amniocentesis, foetal colour doppler, and velocimetry studies.
Cancer screening for perimenopausal women using colposcopy and colour doppler studies are also conducted. The Department routinely perform all endoscopic surgeries including hysteroscopy and laparoscopy.
Department of Ophthalmology
The Department of Ophthalmology under Amrita School of Medicine is a center of excellence in eye care in India. Not only equipped with the latest advancements in ophthalmic diagnostics and treatment modality but also has the leaders in each subspecialities guiding the Department forward. The Department has separate speciality clinics for cataract, cornea, glaucoma, medical retina, surgical retina, uvea, oculoplasty, neuro-opthalmology and strabismus. Various speciality care gives best possible treatment to our patients at a very affordable cost.
The Department also undertakes various community outreach programs with a fully functional mobile ophthalmic unit equipped with slit lamp camera, nonmidriatic fundus camera which can live telecast images to the parent department. The various programmes under telemedicine are cataract and glacuoma screening, diabetic retinopathy screening and school screening.
The Department also regularly conducts retinopathy of prematurity screening in the hospital.
Our Ophthalmology OP is equiped with slitlamps with applanation tonometer, non contact tonometer, autorefractokeratometer, visual acuity testing including pediatric visual acuity measurements, synaptophore, Humphries filed analyser, pachymeter, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopes, 90D lens, gonioscopy lens and schiotz tonometer. It is also equiped with most advanced equipments like corneal topography, specular microscopy, anterior segment optical coherence tomography(OCT), slit lamp camera, fundus fluorescene angiography, indosianin greenangiography, posterior segment OCT, electro retinography and videoindirect ophthaloscopy.
We have a 24/7 functional eye bank with an ophthalmologist on call. Cornea OT undertake keratoplasties including both full thickness and lamellar keratoplasties. It also has most advanced LASIK machine providing refractory surgery facilities.
For phacoemulsification, we have the latest AMO signature phacoemulsification machine providing high quality cataract surgery with IOL implantation.Acurus vitrectomy machine provides most recent 23G and 25G vitreoretinal services to out patients.
Acadamics have always been given the priority here and we constantly train MBBS, MS and DO Ophthalmolgy, BSc Optometry students. Research gets the upperhand here as we aim to make a better tomorrow. We constantly produce many intrernational and national paper publications.
Department of Orthopaedics
The Department of Orthopaedics is an acclaimed resource for treating muscle, bone, and joint disorders. Areas of special emphasis include arthritis, joint replacement, spine surgery, sports medicine, hand, foot and ankle, orthopaedic oncology, trauma, and paediatric orthopaedics.
Our orthopaedic surgeons have diverse expertise and are committed to provide effective solutions for people with a wide range of orthopaedic problems from broken bones to spinal disorders, from crippling arthritis to sports medicine
- Spine Surgery
- Arthritis Care
- Joint Replacement Services
- Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy
- Musculoskeletal Tumour Surgery and Reconstruction
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Orthopaedic Trauma
- Children’s Orthopaedics
- Ilizarov technique and deformity correction
On the academic front, the Department is an acclaimed centre for undergraduate and postgraduate training with ongoing programmes in diploma and Masters degree in orthopaedics. It is staffed with acclaimed and experienced teachers. The centre also provides fellowship training in subspecialities like arthroplasty, arthroscopy and spine surgery.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology (E.N.T.)
The Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Speech Pathology and Audiology is one of the most well equipped departments with experienced faculty and instruments.
Otorhinolaryngology, as it stands now, is not merely dependent on routine outdoor evaluation and conservative management as it used to be in the past. The Department has adjusted well with the advancement of medical technology.
With the advent of modern day telescopes, operating microscopes and lasers, the Department now handles various ear-nose-throat and neck disorders efficiently and precisely. The Department has state-of-the-art microscopes to perform micro ear-surgeries including cochlear implant.
There are nasal and nasopharyngeal endoscopes for diagnostics and video endoscopy facilities for all types of endoscopic sinus surgeries including transnasal pituitary and surgery for CSF rhinorrhoea. microlaryngeal surgeries and voice-improving phonosurgery are also performed.
There is a dedicated voice clinic, conducted weekly, to cater specifically to patients with voice issues. This includes the investigation modality of videolaryngostroboscopy. Salivary gland stone cases are being managed by the new modality of sialendoscopy. Sleep disorders, especially snoring and sleep apnoea, are growing in incidence. The Department has recently taken the lead in setting up a multi-disciplinary ‘Snoring Clinic’.
Department of Paediatrics
The Division of General Pediatrics within the Department of Pediatrics provides comprehensive outpatient and inpatient care of sick infants and children upto the age of 18 years of age.
The division attempts to provide a “medical home” concept in the care of children. This model provides primary preventive pediatric care which addresses areas of well baby check-ups, immunizations, developmental assessments, nutritional assessments, healthy life style, proper physical activities.
The division also provides consultations to other sub-specialists for comprehensive pediatric care in-house and through telemedicine for those outside this institution.
The faculty provides teaching to both undergraduate and postgraduates and are involved in clinical research activities.
Pediatricians are assigned to work in the following areas on a rotational basis and are available 24/7, 365 days.
- Pediatric Outpatient Clinic (OPD) which functions 7 days a week.
- Diagnostic Clinic
- General Pediatric inpatient Unit which includes an 8- bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
- Immunization Clinic
- Certified baby friendly hospital
A multidisciplinary team of general paediatricians, subspeciality consultants, paediatric nurses, nutritionists and social workers complement the comprehensive approach to general paediatric care and subspeciality services to children with special needs.
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, commonly known by its short form PM & R, is a very important department in all tertiary care hospitals that rehabilitate patients presenting with various residual disabilities after recovering from their primary illnesses.
Many patients who are admitted in Neurology, Stroke Medicine, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Rheumatology and General Medicine with a host of medical problems like stroke, parkinsonism, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, acute or chronic pain, myofascial syndromes etc. require very effective rehabilitation services.
Here in Amrita, the PM & R department is one with postgraduate and undergraduate teaching and training facility. MBBS graduates are given basic training in rehabilitation medicine during their internship. Postgraduation courses- MD and diploma in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation are conducted from 2010 onwards.
Full-fledged faculty, resident doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and prosthetic and orthotic technician work here for comprehensive rehabilitation of patients. In addition, speech therapists, swallow therapists and psychosocial supportive therapy and experts from other clinical departments help in rehabilitating patients with various problems.
Clinics run in association with other departments are:
- Brachial plexus clinic
- Parkinsonism clinic
- Hydrocephalus clinic
- Neuromusculoskeletal clinic
Department of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences provides comprehensive mental health services ranging from psycho social treatments like counselling and psychotherapy to biological treatment modalities including pharmacotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy.
It provides sub-speciality services in general psychiatry,geriatric and child psychiatry and de-addiction services as well.
The Department has experienced and dedicated faculty who also include senior psychiatrists with many years of experience as educators and clinicians in premier medical institutions in the state.
The Department has an intake of 3 postgraduate seats per year and carries out excellent teaching and research programmes. The Department is also actively engaged in teaching programmes for Nursing, Pharmacy etc.
It is ably supported by the Departments of Clinical Psychology and Social Work in providing neuro-psychological and psycho social services.
A number of interdisciplinary research programmes are underway in diverse areas like community psychiatry, neuropsychiatry, palliative care and psycho endocrinology. An inspiring and stimulating academic environment, excellent clinical and diagnostic services embedded in a remarkable basic science environment at the Health Sciences Campus are what define the Department of Psychiatry and Behavior Sciences.
Department of Radiology
The Department of Radiology in one of the finest centers of its kind in the country. The Department combines sophisticated state of the art equipment and highly experienced and skilled staff to deliver the entire spectrum of imaging from head to toe.
The department has 2 Multidetector CT and 2 MR scanners, several top end Ultrasound and Doppler equipment, a digital mammogram and digital X-ray.
Using these equipments seamlessly, the Department spare no efforts to offer the patient the highest standard of care.
The Department is one of the leading Interventional Radiology (IR) centers in the country. IR is a specialty that uses imaging equipment to help treat diseases.
Image guided biopsies and drainage of body fluid are simple examples of IR. A major bleeding (from Lungs, bowel, Kidney etc) can be controlled by embolisation. Blocked arteries of the leg and other organ can be opened with angioplasty.
Liver cancer can be treated with RFA( heating) and TACE (a form of embolisation). IR procedures are minimally invasive and a major surgery can be avoided. In many situations like major bleeds, surgery may not be possible and IR is the only way to save life. The IR unit also treats brain aneurysms and blockages of the arteries of the brain.
In addition, the Department is actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
Department of Radiation Oncology
The Department of Radiation Oncology at Amrita is considered as the torch bearer of modern Radiation technology in the state.
It is now equipped with three linear accelerators, image guidance facility, dedicated CT and conventional Simulator and HDR brachytherapy facility. The Quality assurance programme of the Amrita Radiation Oncology team is considered among the best in country with regular review of contours, plans and treatment delivery.
The highlights of the department include
- Multidisciplinary Tumour Boards
- Chart rounds to Review all treatment plans
- Stereotactic Radio surgery (SRS) for brain tumours
- Stereotactic Body Radio Therapy (SBRT) for Liver and lung tumours
- Total Body Irradiation (TBI) for blood cancers
- Total Skin Electron Therapy (TSET)
- Image guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) for Prostate and Lung
- IMRT and VMAT for Head and Neck Tumours
- HDR brachytherapy for Gynecological and Head and neck tumours
- 3 D Conformal Radiotherapy
- Strontium Ocular Brachytherapy
- Postgraduate Student Education
- International Student Exchange Programmes
- Regular Continuing Medical Education Programmes
