The Emergency Medicine Department at Government Medical College, Kottayam has witnessed remarkable growth and transformation since its sanctioning in 2018. The department was initially approved with one Professor, two Associate Professors, four Assistant Professors, and ten Senior Residents, laying the foundation for a structured and efficient emergency care system for the region. In 2019, Dr. Tom Alex joined the department under the Hospital Development Society (HDS), contributing significantly to strengthening the early services. The following year, in 2020, Dr. Murali Krishnan took charge as Associate Professor, further enhancing the academic and operational capabilities of the unit. Today, under the leadership of Dr. Santhi K.S the department has progressed rapidly, and the joining of three new Assistant Professors through the Kerala Public Service Commission in July 2025 has added substantial strength to both clinical and academic activities. House Surgeons and Postgraduates from various departments are posted in the Emergency Department on a rotatory basis, ensuring continuous manpower support and enhancing clinical training exposure.
The Emergency Department functions round the clock and is equipped to handle a wide spectrum of medical, surgical, and trauma emergencies. A structured triage area ensures that patients are prioritized based on urgency, enabling immediate attention for critical cases. The resuscitation bay is equipped with advanced ventilators, defibrillators, and multi-parameter monitors, facilitating swift management of cardiac arrest, shock, severe trauma, and poisoning. The acute care and stabilization section caters to conditions such as myocardial infarction, respiratory distress, seizures, sepsis, and metabolic crises, while an observation area with monitored beds allows short-term evaluation and stabilization. A dedicated minor procedure room enables bedside procedures including suturing, wound care, splinting, and incision and drainage.
The department is supported by modern diagnostic tools, including video laryngoscopes, ventilators, CPAP/BiPAP units, point-of-care testing for ABG as well as dedicated point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for FAST, RUSH, lung ultrasound, and vascular access. Portable X-ray services are available within the Emergency Department, and seamless coordination with the 24×7 laboratory and blood bank enables rapid activation of the Massive Transfusion Protocol when required. The ED also serves as a central hub for trauma care, handling polytrauma, traumatic brain injuries, orthopedic and spinal trauma, burns, and medico-surgical emergencies. Close collaboration with neurosurgery, orthopedics, general surgery, cardiology, and radiology ensures comprehensive multidisciplinary care, supported by round-the-clock CT and MRI services.
Academic activities form an integral part of the department. Regular clinical training sessions, workshops, and bedside teaching enhance the learning experience of students and trainees from various disciplines. A notable initiative has been the systematic conduct of Basic Life Support (BLS) classes for hospital staff, ensuring that nurses, paramedical personnel, and junior doctors are well-trained in recognizing cardiac arrest and performing effective CPR. These sessions have significantly improved the institution’s emergency preparedness, with plans to expand training to non-clinical staff as well.
A major milestone in the department’s journey was the achievement of NABH accreditation in 2025. This accomplishment reflects the commitment of faculty and staff to maintaining high standards of patient safety, documentation, infection control, and protocol-based care. The accreditation underscores the department’s dedication to quality improvement and positions it among the leading emergency departments in the state.
With strengthened faculty, upgraded facilities, high patient load, and NABH standards now in place, the department is actively working toward starting postgraduate (PG) training in Emergency Medicine. Preparations are underway to meet the requirements of regulatory bodies, and there is strong optimism that the department will soon be able to welcome its first batch of postgraduate trainees, contributing to the growing need for trained emergency physicians in Kerala.
From its inception in 2018 to the present, the Emergency Medicine Department at Government Medical College, Kottayam has grown into a dynamic, efficient, and academically vibrant unit. With its continued commitment to excellence in emergency care, education, and quality standards, the department remains dedicated to providing timely, compassionate, and evidence-based care to every patient who comes through its doors.

Facilities

• Fully equipped resuscitation Area
• Structured Triage area
• Minor procedure room
• Point of care ultra sound & Point of care testing
• Advanced airway Equipment
• Portable x-ray facility
• Advanced Trauma care
• 24 x 7 Laboratory and blood bank support
• 24x 7 Radiology services
• 4 Bedded ED Transit ICU

Faculty

• Professor & Head of the Department
  • Dr.Santhi KS
• Assistant Professsor
  • Dr.Leenus Jacob
  • Dr.Arjun James
  • Dr.Hemanth VS
• Emergency Consultant
  • Dr.Tom Alex
  • Dr.Elizabeth
• Non-academic JR
  • Dr.Rejin
  • Dr.Albin
  • Dr.Anu Varsha
  • Dr.Pramith
  • Dr.Joel