MEDICARE
Vision for wellbeing
KISHORE AND SMITA IYENGAR
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Tina Ambani, the driving force behind the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute in Mumbai, talks about the state-of–the-art hospital and its commitments…
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Cutting edge: Diagnostic solutions
It's India's brand new medical hallmark with trailblazing features. Located in the western suburbs at Andheri in Mumbai it's internationally benchmarked in infrastructure, encompassing 10 lakh square feet of sprawling space, rising 19 floors and accommodating 750 in-patient beds.
Spearheading this colossus in global medical care is Chairperson Tina Ambani whose passion and total involvement radiates in the very unique position that the hospital enjoys. Responding with conviction to questions posed to her with her charismatic smile, she offers fascinating insights.
How do you balance your diverse interests, your family, your whole-hearted involvement in the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and your active contribution to the eclectic field of art through your ‘HARMONY' events?
In my view, a happy and balanced family life actually empowers us to pursue our interests. My family will always remain my first priority. But my sons are grown and responsible young men now. As a parent, I believe in giving them the breathing space and room to grow. Freedom brings with it a certain responsibility that is so essential to becoming independent and mature. Of course, whenever they need me I am always there for them. And they in turn, along with my husband of course, support every endeavour of mine. Further, whether it is Kokilaben Hospital, Harmony for Silvers Foundation or Harmony Art, I have been fortunate enough to have a fantastic team, like-minded people who share my compassion for the cause and participate in my vision for the future of the organization.
Essentially, I am a team player who believes in delegation.I place my trust and faith in my professionals and expect them to deliver—and they have never disappointed me! I firmly believe there are no expiry dates or full stops to learning and personal growth. All my work—with the hospital, with Silvers (Harmony's name for the elderly) and artists—has enriched my life in immeasurable ways and will continue to do so.
With the latest medical technology with many ‘firsts' in the discipline like the recently launched ‘ NOVALIS TX' Radiosurgery technology, what is your vision as a Chairperson of such a modern state-of-the-art hospital?
My father-in-law Dhirubhai Ambani once said, “A hospital is not a place where money and profit are important. Every single life saved or patient cured would give me more satisfaction than mere financial gain.” These words, backed by a vision to empower patients in India to make informed choices, inspired me to build Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute. With the help of a world-class team, we have created a global healthcare institution that combines the best in medical treatment with strong ethical principles and a culture of care and compassion to serve the communities that nourish us. And with the eventual establishment of satellite centres across the country, we aim to usher in a medical revolution in India.
How patient-friendly is the Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital?
Kokilaben Hospital indeed features cutting-edge diagnostic and surgical solutions and state-of-the-art equipment and procedures, many of which are firsts for India. But most significant are our human assets. Our entire team is dedicated to the institution's credo: “Every Life Matters”. And they fulfill their responsibilities with compassion and care; adopting ethics and transparency in operations; conferring dignity and respect to patients; and promoting the spirit of inquiry and innovation in all that we do.
We are committed to being the very best we can and are always open to comment and criticism. We are also in the process of implementing a robust HIS (Hospital Information System) that will take our interactivity with patients to an entirely new level, enabling a user-friendly network that will integrate us seamlessly with those we serve. These factors come together to make us not just the most advanced centre for tertiary care in India, but also the most patient-friendly one.
However, to really discover just how patient-friendly we are, I invite you to come and visit us!
World class
T he statistics are mind-boggling; a reflection of its sheer size and presence…30 elevators(the largest elevator bank) that can transport 7500 persons per hour, a total of 140 full-time consulting clinics that can handle 6000 outpatient consultations per day!
There's more on offer….its unique features include full time specialists – all doctors are attached and available through the day on at the hospital.
Sophisticated
This ultra-modern hospital also boasts of India's largest Central Sterile Services department with imported microprocessor controlled equipment and the largest Footprint for Physiotherapy. The Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital is geared to offer global class health care on a premium scale with the city's largest ICU beds (130).
Breakthroughs
Their Accident and Emergency Centre is fully equipped to handle complex road traffic accidents, industrial disasters, disease outbreaks and other medical emergencies.
Dr Ram Narain – Chief Operating Officer of the hospital, says “‘NOVALIS TX' is a breakthrough in radiation-based medical technology that employs high intensity radiation focusing very precisely on a dedicated path that vaporizes tumours in the brain, the lungs, the prostate and the liver. Along with such tumours, a subset of other tumors can also be treated.
In medical terms this procedure is called SRS – Stereotactic Radio Surgery, which obtains the exact 3-Dimensional coordinates and needs detailed and meticulous planning to target the tumours on X, Y and Z co-ordinates to precisely locate and hit small, single tumours with milli-micro precision.
In simple words, a single shot high powered beam of high dose radiation is directed at a fixed target in the designated locations in the human body.
The most outstanding feature of ‘NOVALIS TX' is its ability to treat extra-cranial tumors on same lines as a guided missile.A day-care procedure that involves no overnight hospitalization and the trauma of pre or post operative procedures, this is a minimally invasive procedure that takes about an hour, employs no anaesthesia, ensures zero-pain comfort, and the patient can walk out the same day.
The other technologically advanced medical facility –TRILOGY, also among the first in India, is radiation therapy for larger and bigger tumours.
One cylindrical or rectangular beam of radiation using IMRT – Intensity Modulated Radio Therapy and IGRT – Image-Guided Radio Therapy is directed at such tumours, with minimal radiation to surrounding tissues, — a fractionated radiotherapy procedure.”
Specialisations
The hospital's six ‘Centres of Excellence' are outposts of medical care excellence and combine many areas including advanced clinic services and undertake research and teaching, in the process becoming one of the world's premier centres in specialized disciplines like Centres for Brain and Nervous System, Cancer, Cardiac Science, Bone and Joint, for Children and for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
“Our hospital has for the first time introduced a High-End Comprehensive Program in Cardiac Sciences in Pediatric care, Pediatric Surgery and Cardiology”, emphasizes Dr Ram Narain.
