Cloudphysician, founded by Dr. Dhruv Joshi and Dr. Dileep Raman in 2017, has revolutionized intensive care in India by introducing “Tele ICUs,” a technology-driven platform that provides remote critical care to patients in Intensive Care Units (ICUs). The idea was born from the duo’s experiences during their Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in the United States. They observed that many ICU patients did not receive the necessary level of care, leading to increased fatalities. This realization motivated them to return to India and address the gaps in critical care.
Upon their return, Dr. Joshi and Dr. Raman traveled across India to understand the ground realities of ICU care in hospitals. Their journey revealed a significant need for advanced technology to improve the quality of care in ICUs, especially in hospitals lacking specialized staff. With this insight, they founded Cloudphysician in Bengaluru, aiming to deliver world-class care to ICU patients, regardless of the hospital’s location or resources.
Cloudphysician operates through a “Smart ICU in a box” concept, combining state-of-the-art technology with clinical expertise. The platform’s command center is connected to partner hospital ICUs, where a trained critical care team remotely monitors patients 24/7. This monitoring includes tracking vital signs, detecting complications, and alerting on-site doctors if any issues arise. This system, known as RADAR, enables Cloudphysician to collaborate with hospitals, providing expert care and reducing the need for patient transfers due to a lack of trained intensivists.
The implementation of Cloudphysician’s system involves four key steps. The first step, “Activation,” lasts about two weeks, during which the Cloudphysician team is introduced to the hospital, and a structured plan is developed to enhance ICU processes. The “Augmentation” phase follows, lasting six weeks, where the team works in real-time with the hospital to alleviate patient distress. The third step, “Digitization,” aims to bring transparency and automation into the process, reducing the workload of bedside caregivers and ensuring accurate documentation. This phase lasts between 12 to 18 weeks. The final goal is to empower the partner hospital to provide the highest level of critical care to its patients.
Cloudphysician’s impact has been profound. For example, at the Cachar Cancer Hospital & Research Center, the Cloudphysician team successfully intervened when a patient’s heart rate increased due to supraventricular tachycardia, stabilizing the patient in time. This is just one of many instances where the virtual ICU has made a life-saving difference. To date, Cloudphysician has assisted over 40,000 patients across 70 hospitals in 17 states of India.
Dr. Joshi and Dr. Raman emphasize that their goal was to make healthcare technology accessible to all hospitals, not just large corporate ones. They aimed to integrate technology into the healthcare process, making it easier for doctors to make informed decisions while reducing the burnout of critical care staff. By enabling hospitals of any size and in any location to provide excellent critical care, Cloudphysician ensures that every patient, regardless of their background or financial status, receives the care they need when they need it most.
Cloudphysician continues to expand its reach, particularly among government hospitals, helping around 1,800 patients each month. Through their innovative platform, Dr. Joshi and Dr. Raman are transforming the landscape of critical care in India, making life-saving interventions accessible to all.
