May 16, 2006 07:06 PM
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(Updated May 16, 2006 07:06 PM)
Life is like a sine wave. God gave us this life to go through crust and trough in an undulating fashion. After wonderful trip to China, it was time to spend for my sick mom the next twenty days trying to get her from traumatized condition back to Home from the tension and pains of being in Hospital on 24X7X3 basis.
It is time to recollect how this SRMC (Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Centre) in Chennai, a 1000 bedded Super specialty Center is coping with so many sick and dying patients.
If there is a most sickening thing in this world, it is spending time in the wards and ICU areas in a Hospital, killing time, seeing patients die and feeling for those kith and kin that spend sleepless nights weeping for the dearer ones.
Location and Construction-Enough and ample good air
Ramachandra is a huge institution built by Late Ramaswamy odeyer (this was the only good thing he did in his life of saving so many peoples lives ) constructed in the outskirts of Chennai in Porur extending some forty acres, ideally located away from the hub of traffic, heat and pollution of City with lush green trees around. The construction of the Hospital is top notch with 7 floors very well planned with polygonous blocks each of which is defined for various specialties. The sixth on the rung of polygons is the OT complex with Cath- lab and Post Operative block completely isolated as a sterile area. This complex consists of eight Theatres completely made of stainless steal which is one of the first of its kind in India. Each of the polygonous blocks in the below rungs are quite spacious and can accommodate 32 critical beds. They are surrounded by special wards and individual specialty departments.
For the location and construction it scores an excellent 9/10.
Super specialty departments-Super and special
SRMC is a Super specialty Centre which caters to all major specialties including dental and Ophthalmic surgeries being also a Post Graduate Medical college. Hence there is abundant resource of high quality Specialists headed by good team of Doctors. The top notch departments being Cardiac Surgery headed by Dr K.R.Balakrishnan and his surgical and post operative team. They have performed more than 2000 surgeries on small children with congenital heart problems and score among the best in the Country for Infant surgery at fair cost. The other excellent departments are Orthopedics, Urology, Neurosurgery and Opthalmics headed by reputed & skilled Professors
A score of 8/10 for specialty Treatment for the simple reason that sometimes These specialists get over the heavens in teaching their PG students and loose focus and the real purpose-the Patients.
Infrastructure and Facilities-International standards
Top notch I should say, this is the single reason I shifted my mom from another sub standard Hospital where she was admitted in a hurry in expectation for proper diagnosis and treatment. Being in Bio Medical Business, I can say that the quality of equipment they have are top class though not latest and the core areas of Imaging, Diagnostics, Operating Rooms, ICU and Cath Lab are excellent.
Any Hospital which has systems in place will be able to give right diagnosis and treatment to Patient. It scores a nice 8/10 for the Infrastructure and Facilities.
Cost of Treatment-Between cheese and curry
The graded structure of treatment costs depend on the kind of Bed you chose-General ward, special sharing, special private and VIP which makes lot of sense that if you can pay more, you get better facilities but the treatment protocol will not vary as much as Kanyakumari and Ladakh. This is an ideal Hospital for middle income group because the rates are not very low but are not exorbitant as well. The reason for this is because of the College being one of the most reputed in India garners chunk of funds @ 70 lakhs per student.
The pharmacy costs and maintenance undo this good aspect a bit.
A fair 7/10 makes it tough on poor patients.
Nursing and Support-to be nursed
Simply mediocre I would say with lack of care and understanding for the Patient, I have strolled into this Hospital several times as a supplier and at least three long runs to attend to Patient and it has not changed wee bit in last six years. The Nursing staff which form very crucial and integral part of patient care are wanting in every aspect.
A poor 4/10 could be corrected by shifting to Malayali staff rather than in house paramedical trainees getting in.
The Hospital also scores poorly in Co-ordination pf each specialties when you go with multiple problems as it happened for my mom. Each department is not bothered about the other and the General Medicine department remains too general for the saying.
The Hospital is also provided by and excellent Canteen, Lodging Annexe and place of worship in the compound and nice sit outs to come out and relax and ease your tension a bit.
Having a patient in a Hospital in sick and bad condition is like hanging in the midst of a well. You do not know whether you will fall off or you will be able to climb and make it.
The most important aspect that should be considered for anyone who wants to step into a Hospital is not just the above factors that I have mentioned but to see if you have an influential contact in that Hospital to take care of your most difficult needs and to keep you informed.
It is like knowing the most important people to get a comfortable darshan in Tirupathi Balaji Temple. For the almighty, every one is same, Health also in the same way does not differentiate whether you are poor or rich.
No matter how much you earn, it is very vital that you invest in your Health for a better tomorrow.
(For Trusted friends Shanghai rev as promised will follow shortly with apologies for delay, thanks for reading)
