Dr. Charan Teja Koganti - Telemedicine Delivers Timely Care While Minimizing Exposure (Neuropsychiatrist From India)

Telemedicine is expected to deliver timely care while minimizing exposure to protect medical practitioners and patients. 

It promotes social distancing measure and helps medical centers in managing prolonged waiting times and risk of disease progression. However, only a few doctors and patients are adequately educated on how to utilize these digital services.

Tell us about your background and journey.

I’m a Neuropsychiatrist by profession with MBBS, MD. I’m a consultant working with a super specialty hospital in Hyderabad (KIMS Hospitals, Kondapur branch). I’m also an associate professor tutoring junior doctors in a private medical college. I am not sure what inspired me to begin with to take up medicine. I guess it’s because I liked science better than mathematics. Back in the 90s little did we know about other areas of expertise except being an engineer or a doctor. 

But whatever it may be, I can’t think of being in any other profession. Why did I choose Neuropsychiatry as my area of specialization? According to me, the Brain is one area about which a lot is still unknown in terms of treatment & research both. My natural curiosity to understand more drove me in, to become a neuropsychiatric. 

I had some doubts to begin with but again I think this is probably the best choice I could have made for myself. Getting into MD program was a hurdle in itself both mentally & financially, but the actual hurdle started after starting the course: Sleepless nights, self-doubt, meeting expectations of my professors and patients, communicating in 5-6 different languages, clearly, we were underpaid & overworked. Amidst all this chaos, one thing that kept me going was my passion. After initial adjustments, I never looked back.



How important is a super specialization for doctors?

Specialization/super specialization is extremely important because, in today’s day & age, we have rigorous training in every branch of medicine/ surgery. MBBS only provides a solid foundation from where we were build to be confident enough to handle diseases which only a specialty provides. Yes, there are a few top-class consultants in our country who do not have DM or MCh and yet they have made a mark in the higher specialties. 

It was possible earlier to evolve independently without structured training when super specialties were just emerging and yet to take roots. But no longer possible now since you wouldn't get space and opportunity to practice and evolve in the specialty concerned without adequate qualification. My request is that everyone should take that branch that they are passionate about, not just for the heck of it. 

At the end of the day if one can’t get into these specialty programs, don’t beat yourself up. It’s OKAY. Medicine is ever-evolving & there are many fellowships, some amazing para clinical & preclinical branches that help you serve our community too.

What is your take on virtual methods of providing treatment?

This pandemic has caused significant strain on medical resources. It has quickly altered how medical practitioners provide care to patients. Telemedicine is expected to deliver timely care while minimizing exposure to protect medical practitioners and patients. 

It promotes social distancing measure and helps medical centers in managing prolonged waiting times and risk of disease progression. However, only a few doctors and patients are adequately educated on how to utilize these digital services. While it is convenient and easily accessible by some, there are some cons here.

A. Reduced Care Continuity,

B. Fewer In-Person Consultations: not all procedures even simple check-ups can be performed digitally,

C. Possible misdiagnosis & mismanagement in some cases.

What are the skills required to be a good Neuro Psychiatrist according to you?

A. Empathy & compassion first: It isn’t book-learned, it’s a virtue that one must develop, doesn’t matter if you are a doctor or not. I always see the world through patient’s eyes & think in their shoes, then it all makes sense. I treat them how I’d want to be treated.

B. Curiosity: As the brain is a complex organ, there’s still a lot unknown. So, you can’t finish MD and be ‘I know it all', I keep reading almost every day about advances, updated treatment protocols, and research findings.

C. Patience: As some diseases in my area aren’t diagnosed with a scan or a blood test, so one has to be extremely patient while diagnosing as misdiagnosis leads to mismanagement.

D. Can’t get emotionally affected by patients suffering. It’s not easy as we are human & we empathize. But being on the other side of the treating table I need to manage what I feel & put my patient's needs first so I’m able to diagnose & treat effectively.

E. Managing work-life balance: Most difficult as the boundaries are blurred. I need to be available on Sundays & vacations. But I try to compartmentalize as much as I can. I give myself 45 mins at least every day to just be still and mindful.

Which is your favorite book and why?

Other than medical books I’m not naturally inclined in reading other books. If you ask me medically, my go-to is Oxford neuropsychiatry and Kaplan saddocks.



What impact do you want to create in the medical field?

Mental health is ignored for many years. This invisible issue has pretty tangible consequences. I want to cause a shift. A major problem is that most people with mental disorders suffer in silence. They may conceal or hide their mental health problems from others because of anticipated stigma, discrimination, the potential damage of their careers, and concerns about confidentiality. I want to bring in better awareness & destigmatize mental health issues. 

 I’m interested in research, I’d like to bring in better diagnostic tools, hopefully, newer treatment protocols. Artificial intelligence & machine learning is being used to diagnose some conditions. 

We are moving from structural neuroimaging to functional neuroimaging. I also want to start a suicide prevention helpline (that actually works) as it can save a lot of lives that are lost impulsively.

What are your other interests?

I am drawn towards art (any kind), I’m a corporate health speaker, media panelist, I can take some pretty decent photographs, I learned Hip-hop, I’m actively destigmatizing mental health issues through social media. 

Occasionally I teach art to patients, I call it heART therapy.


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Interviewed by - Ritika Malhotra