Dr Gurpreet Singh, MD (PGIMER, Chandigarh), MRCP (U.K.), FRCP (Edin), is a Consultant Cardiologist based in Varanasi, U.P., India.
He acquired his MRCP (UK) in 1996 while working as Registrar at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, U.K., one of the premier cardiology centers of the world. Subsequently, he held the posts of Senior Registrar in Geriatrics at the Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, Clinical Fellow at the Intensive Therapy Unit of John Radcliffe Hospital, Specialist Registrar in Dept of Cardiology at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital, U.K. and Specialist Registrar in Cardiology at the Good Hope Hospital NHS Trust, Sutton Coldfield, U.K. In 1998, he was appointed Consultant in Cardiology at the same hospital.
On his return to India in 2000, he set up his private practice of cardiology in Varanasi. His mission was to reinvent delivery of cardiological care through use of modern technology. Dr Singh embarked upon realizing his vision with the introduction of the concept of “domiciliary cardiac care” for the first time. This has been possible through the introduction of the tool of “Tele-Cardiology”.
Until Dr Singh’s arrival on the scene, all cardiac cases requiring non cardiac surgery were referred out of the region. He was the pioneer in “perioperative cardiological care” – monitoring cardiac patients before, through and after their non-cardiac surgery. The introduction of these services has meant that more and more patients are being now cared for within the region.
In the absence of a cardiac catheterization laboratory at that time in Varanasi in 2000, Dr Singh introduced pacing services which are now being routinely carried out by his colleagues and juniors alike.
In recognition of his unique contributions to the delivery of cardiac care in the region, the Royal College of Physician of Edinburgh awarded him Fellowship (FRCP Edin) of the college.
His aim is to empower patients to make lifestyle changes that are sustainable. Those under his care are encouraged to self monitor parameters such as temperature, blood sugar, blood pressure, heart rate etc and then share them digitally for ongoing guidance and titration by him. Using mobile applications like Endomondo, fitbit, runtastic etc. patients are required to report their daily exercise outcomes. This extensive use of digital and mobile technology has impacted patient's health in the most fundamental ways.
The use of electronic health record (EHR) platforms by him has facilitated not just easier and accurate documentation of patient records but also communication with the patient, other medical colleagues, pharmacists and laboratories. This has resulted in avoiding multiple repeat clinic visits by the patient and seamless care.
The teacher in Dr Singh has seen him organize Continued Medical Education programmes at regular intervals. He has been guest faculty at many conferences held at various institutions across the country. His thrust has been the delivery of economical, effective and domiciliary cardiac care for those who can ill afford it most.
Dr Singh’s innovative approach has changed the face of cardiac care in the entire region. He is a unique mix of grass root connect, astute clinical acumen, integrity and professional excellence, which makes him an asset to the medical services. He believes in being a good role model to his patients by running marathons himself with four half marathons and one ultra half marathon under his belt.