Gleneagles Hospital Unveils AI Hub-and-Spoke Stroke Care

With stroke cases rising rapidly across India and delays in diagnosis often costing patients their lives or mobility, Gleneagles Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, has taken a unique step to bridge this critical gap.

Keeping the importance of the “golden window” of 4.5 hours in mind, the hospital has launched an AI-based Hub-and-Spoke stroke care model, with diagnostic centres acting as spokes and Gleneagles Hospital functioning as the central hub.

 This initiative ensures that the moment a suspected stroke is detected on CT or MRI, the hospital’s stroke team is alerted instantly, allowing faster decisions, quicker transport, and timely treatment.

AI-enabled stroke response network

Under this model, Dr. Nitin Dange heads the stroke response team, supported by Dr Shirish Hastak and Dr Pankaj Agarwal, Dr Kushal Bhatia, and Dr Mayur Gharat receives real-time AI notifications on their mobiles the moment a suspected stroke is detected at any connected diagnostic center.

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Understanding stroke and the urgency of time

A stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is either blocked (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel ruptures, causing bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke). Common causes include high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol, and heart disease. If not treated quickly, a stroke can lead to paralysis, speech loss, permanent disability, or even death. The biggest challenge in stroke care is time. Many patients lose precious hours after diagnosis due to a lack of awareness, delayed referrals, or being taken to centers without advanced stroke facilities. Recognizing this gap, Gleneagles Hospital conceptualized an AI-driven Hub-and-Spoke model to ensure that diagnosis immediately translates into action.

Dr Nitin Dange, Director - Interventional Neurologist and Neurosurgeon, Gleneagles Hospital Parel said, “Gleneagles Hospital has taken the initiative of launching an AI-based Hub-and-Spoke stroke model to address the growing burden of stroke cases and the delays we commonly see in treatment. For the past six months, we have installed this AI software at selected diagnostic centers offering CT scan and MRI services in Mumbai … With more awareness and more diagnostic centers joining this network, many more stroke patients can receive life-saving treatment on time.”

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“This Hub-and-Spoke model is not just about technology; it is about saving time, brain function, and lives. By connecting diagnostic centres directly with our stroke specialists, we are ensuring that no patient loses crucial minutes due to confusion or delays. Our vision is to expand this network and collaborate with more centres so that early diagnosis leads to immediate treatment. With the rising incidence of stroke, such integrated care models will play a vital role in improving outcomes and creating greater public awareness,” concluded Dr. Bipin Chevale, CEO, Gleneagles Hospital Mumbai.

Strengthening stroke care through the Hub-and-Spoke Model

The AI-based Hub-and-Spoke stroke model offers advantages for both diagnostic centers and hospitals. Diagnostic centers benefit by becoming active participants in life-saving care, ensuring that stroke findings are immediately escalated to specialist teams rather than ending at diagnosis. For the Hospital, the model enables early clinical decision-making, faster patient transfers, better utilization of the golden window, and improved treatment outcomes. By creating a seamless, technology-driven link between diagnosis and intervention, the model reduces delays, optimizes resources, and sets a new standard for coordinated stroke care.