Category: hospitals

‘Guru Namana’ an initiative by SPARSH Foundation for Teachers’Day

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Over 100 retired teachers from rural backgrounds in Karnataka to benefit from free joint replacement surgeries

This long standing initiative by SPARSH Foundation is a tribute to school teachers who have devoted their lives to educate the next generation

Bengaluru, 5th September 2023: SPARSH Foundation, the charitable wing of SPARSH Group of Hospitals, organised the 14th edition of Guru Namana, a social initiative to provide free joint replacement surgeries to 100+ retired school teachers hailing from rural areas from across Karnataka.

The inauguration ceremony of the 14th edition of ‘Guru Namana’ took place on September 5th at the SPARSH Hospital Auditorium, located on Infantry Road in Bengaluru. The event was graced by the presence of Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister of Medical Education and Skill Development, Government Of Karnataka. Other notable attendees included retired teachers who have previously undergone knee replacement surgeries under the Guru Namana initiative, as well as those selected for this year’s program. The event was presided over by Shri Justice Shivaraj V Patil, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India. On the occasion, he also launched SPARSH Foundation’s new website sparsh-foundation.org

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent form of arthritis and a leading cause of chronic disability globally. Estimates suggest that 60% of individuals over 65 years old suffer from symptomatic OA, and over 180 million people in India are affected by this condition. Although osteoarthritis is curable, the treatment, which involves Total Joint Replacement surgery, is expensive and not easily accessible.

SPARSH GURU-NAMANA was launched in 2010 with an aim to identify retired teachers who are in need of joint replacement surgeries but are unable to undergo the surgery due to financial constraints and lack of access to these treatments. Without these surgeries, they have difficulty moving and they experience a notable decline in their overall quality of life. One such story is of Arvind Kale (name changed), a 70 year old teacher for whom teaching was less of a job and more of a purpose. After teaching for 28+ years, Mr Kale had great difficulty in walking, moving and to even take a few stairs to reach his pension office. Similar is the story of many retired teachers across the country. SPARSH’s Guru Namana program is aimed at helping teachers like Mr Kale regain mobility and make them independent again. Till date, Dr Sharan Shivaraj Patil along with his team have impacted the lives of 800+ teachers by making free joint replacement surgeries easily accessible to those in need.a

Commenting on the initiative, Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister of Medical Education anda Skill Development, Government Of Karnataka, said, “This is a commendable initiative froma SPARSH Foundation and Dr Sharan Shivaraj Patil. Knee pain and arthritis can be debilitating and it can be overwhelming physically and emotionally. A noble gesture like this not only improves the quality of life of the teachers but also transforms their overall health and outlook towards life. We need more initiatives like this and I would like to encourage doctors and healthcare institutions to come forward to adopt social impact initiatives similar to Guru a Namana

Commenting on the initiative, Dr Sharan Shivaraj Patil, Chairman, SPARSH Hospital, said. “Teachers are the foundation for education and good citizenship. Their role in shaping young minds and the future of our country is invaluable. Guru Namana is an initiative to celebrate the selfless contribution of our teachers and help those who genuinely need our support. At SPARSH, we believe that quality healthcare and life-changing treatments like knee replacement should be accessible to everyone, irrespective of their background and financial standing. Our Guru Namana initiative is a step towards achieving that vision”

“Year after year, Guru Namana has garnered tremendous support and it has impacted the lives of many. I invite the medical fraternity to join me in this campaign and make a difference in thea lives of those who need it the most. Most of us today have been fortunate enough to have access to education, a professional career, and many other privileges, but we have not necessarily used a them to make a significant impact. We have the privilege to utilise the resources and opportunities we have been given to make a meaningful difference in the world.” he added..

Eligible retired teachers will undergo Joint Replacement Surgeries at no cost. A dedicated team comprising operating surgeons, theatre staff, nursing staff, paramedical staff, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and dieticians, all operating under the umbrella of SPARSH, will offer their services without any fees. This also includes comprehensive post-operative care for as long as required.

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Apollo Group’s Apollo Connect program bets big on expanding access and elevating care

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Aims to build the largest connected healthcare ecosystem in India

National, August 28, 2023: Apollo, the world’s largest integrated healthcare provider, today announced a pan-India expansion of their one-of-a-kind connected care program, Apollo Connect. With this, Apollo aims at creating the largest connected healthcare ecosystem in India, empowering hospitals and nursing homes across metros & non-metros to offer holistic and superior patient care. To create significant benefit for this connected care partner network, Apollo Connect has rolled out services like eICU, diagnostics, surgical consultations, remote monitoring, clinical & quality training as well as accreditation support across India.
By building a robust connected care partner network through collaborations, Apollo Connect aims to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem in India by improving last mile patient access, affordability and experience. Through this program, Apollo’s partner hospitals will be able to enhance the services they offer patients, achieve superior clinical outcomes, improve patient retention, save costs and strengthen business performance. Apollo Connect, further promises to provide neighbourhood hospitals and nursing homes the ecosystem support to help patients get access to quality healthcare they need, closer to home, and reduce the financial burden of travel and logistics.
Commenting on the vision of the program, Dr Prathap C Reddy, Founder & Chairman, Apollo said, “As care providers the imperative for us is to collaborate and support each other to ensure no sick person goes untreated for lack of access to quality care. It is with this commitment that we have created the Apollo Connect program, an initiative towards building healthcare together, by bringing healthcare providers on one platform to provide superior care and keep patients closer to home. Having built and run India’s largest hospital chain, we understand the healthcare realities and challenges, and have designed Apollo connect to aid hospitals and nursing homes to improve their operational and business efficiency through exceptional service support from Apollo. Collaboration is an immensely powerful tool, and we believe that by coming together, we can truly strengthen India’s healthcare ecosystem and ensure every individual gets the right support they need.”
For the past two years, Apollo has been piloting Apollo Connect with specialty hospitals and nursing homes pan-India and has seen immense success across the board – for instance, a super specialty hospital in Moradabad has set up their own in-house laboratory in collaboration with Apollo diagnostics, a multispecialty hospital in Chhattisgarh has increased ICU occupancy by 50% in partnership with Apollo’s eICU service; a super specialty hospital chain in Bangalore is able to take on more complex emergency cases through frequent training and consults from Apollo’s critical care team.
Dr. Sangita Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Apollo, said, “Since inception, we have been committed to making India healthier by building and providing the best healthcare solutions. Apollo Connect for us is one more step in that direction where we help patients get access to quality healthcare as close to them as possible, including but not limited to emergency care, diagnostics, remote monitoring as well as surgical consults among others. Every hospital and nursing home is an opportunity for the healthcare ecosystem to reach more patients and save more lives. We are confident that by empowering these institutions, we will be able to build a world class healthcare system in India where everyone has access to superior facilities and opportunities for the best treatments. We truly believe in the power of the ecosystem coming together and we’re set to go the extra mile to make this a reality.”
Apollo Connect offers its partner hospitals multiple services across four key areas of benefits – Boosting revenues and saving costs, strategic business support, providing superior care guidelines to aid patient retention and training & mentoring programs and courses.

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Apollo Hospitals Bannerghatta Road Bangalore,counts 150 Robotic Colorectal Surgeries and becomesonly one of few in India to Achieve This Breakthrough

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Apollo Doctor is the First European Board Accredited Robotic Colorectal Surgeon in India

Bangalore, July 27, 2023– Apollo hospitals, Bangalore sets yet another new record and witnesses a moment of pride. Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, Bangalore, is a leading healthcare provider in the country. It adds another feather to its hat and becomes one of the very few hospitals in India to complete 150-odd successful robotic colorectal surgeries. Not just that, Dr. Narasimhaiah Srinivasaiah, senior consultant at Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta Road, and Head at Apollo Institute of colo-rectal Surgery in Bangalore is the first European Board accredited Robotic Colorectal Surgeon in India, further enhancing the hospital’s reputation for excellence.

Dr. Narasimhaiah shed light on the significant accomplishments and the intricacies of robotic colorectal surgery. He highlighted that the hospital has performed a wide range of colorectal robotic surgerieswith a yearly average of 50 operations. Robotic colorectal surgery involves utilising a human-assisted robot for complex operations on the colon and rectum, particularly for cancer cases. This advanc d form of laparoscopic or keyhole surgery has proven to be highly effective in treating various conditions such as colonic cancer, rectal cancer, anal cancer, recurrent colorectal cancers, and pelvic cancers.

To facilitate robotic colorectal surgery, a dedicated minimally invasive surgical theatre and a surgical robotic system arerequired. Here at Apollo hospitals, Bangalore we have an Intuitive Da Vinci XI system. Apollo Hospital Bannerghatta Road is one among very few hospitals in India to have ensured the availability of these essential infrastructural requirements. The hospital also prides itself on having skilled, robotically trained support staff and a supportive administration that nurtures and advances this program.

Discussing the precision and skill required for robotic colorectal surgery, Dr. Narasimhaiah emphasised that it demands expertise in minimally invasive surgery, along with a deep understanding of the technical aspects of robotics. “Surgeons must possess the right attributes and skills. Hand-eye coordination, spatial orientation, situational awareness, lateral thinking, and patience are only some of them. Robotic surgery provides a stable platform, increased depth perception, a wider range of movements, high visibility, smaller scars, quicker recovery, and faster return to daily activities. It is important that surgeons must have an artistic approach: as human anatomy serves as a canvas and the surgeons serve as artists, striving for the best possible patient care. Robotics adds more precision and enhanced outcome to it,” said Dr. Narasimhaiah.

Dr. Narasimhaiah’s accreditation as the first European Board accredited Robotic Colorectal Surgeon in India adds another accolade to his already impressive profile. Having undergone extensive training in Europe and America, Dr. Narasimhaiah has gained the competence required to undertake precision-based onco-surgery for the benefit of patients in India. He holds the position of Associate Professor of Surgery at Apollo Hospitals and is the Head of Colorectal Services in the Karnataka region. Dr. Narasimhaiah is also the Director of Health Sciences Park (HSP) in Bangalore and plays a vital role in advancing colorectal surgery at Apollo Institute of Colorectal Surgery (AICRS).

Speaking about the extensive training required for conducting robotic colorectal surgeries, Dr. Narasimhaiah said: “You need skill sets of a minimally invasive surgeon to become a highly skilled robotic colorectal surgeon. There is a need for good hand eye coordination, spatial orientation, situational awareness, lateral thinking and patience, for which adequate training is required. Most of the art of robotic surgery needs passion, patience and perseverance. There is a steep learning curve incorporating theoretical base, absorption of the principles of minimally invasive surgery, simulation on dry labs, hands on with wet cadaveric labs followed by immersion programs both in reach and outreach. He underwent his training at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, the Royal London Hospital in London, the Christie Hospital in Manchester, Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York and The Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon. These are mainly fellowships spanning between a few weeks to a couple of years with structured training and signing off. In India, industry and institutions are gradually driving the training.”

Dr. Narasimhaiah’s expertise spans various areas of colorectal surgical oncology, including cancer surgeries – colonic, rectal, anal, appendiceal, pelvic, and peritoneal.

He added: “The Apollo Hospital’s vision emphasising on a combination of human touch and technological precision, has been instrumental in the hospital’s success and in helping patients recover from complex conditions through the precision touch of robotics and skills of doctors matching the global standards.”

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AUTOLOGOUS DNA THERAPY TALK GIVEN BY DR AGARWAL HOSPITALS AT G20 INTERNATIONAL YOGA FESTIVAL VRINDAVAN 25 TO 27 MARCH 2023 ALONG WITH MEDICAL CAMP OF THE SAME

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G20 INTERNATIONAL YOGA FESTIVAL just concluded in Vrindavan under the aegis of PARMARTH NIKETAN RISHIKESH, SM YOGA RESEARCH INSTITUTE, JUSTICE SIROHI MR VISHNU SHARMA and DR MEGHANA CHAUDARY OF VRINDA FOUNDATION VRINDAVAN and DR AGARWAL HOSPITALS. BANGALORE

Under the tutelage of PUJYA SWAMIJI CHIDANAND SARASWATI YOGA was practiced every day by GANGA NANDINI. Since the days coincided with YAMUNA CHATH it was undertaken that henceforth YAMUNA ARTI will become routine and cleaning up of YAMUNA river will be started in earnest. Just like Pujya Swamiji Chidanand Saraswati and SADHVI BHAGWATI in the last 3 decades has managed to give MOTHER GANGA a far cleaner perspective the same will be done for YAMUNA JI

With technical sessions from DR.AGARWAL HOSPITALS on AUTOLOGOUS DNA THERAPY DR.AGARWAL explained the scientific fraternity the workings of MORPHOGENETIC ACTIVATOR OF NUCLEIC ACIDS in instantaneously making the same patients fetal DNA and STEM CELLS from one drop of finger blood. This can then be used to treat patients of various disorders and even congenital errors.

Dr. Agarwal explained that this works more like an AUTOLOGOUS IMMUNE BOOSTER THERAPY and aids in disease management. Three times the medical camp was conducted for the benefit of the delegates as well as the great saints.

Discussions were held with the medical fraternity where it could be used to delay or avoid joint replacement by charting the cartilage in the MRI SCAN

Patients of RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA turn blind between 10 to 40 years of age as it is a congenital disorder however this too can be delayed and some what visual improvement achieved with long standing cases.

The need for comeal grafting can be avoided with these injections as they will now replace the limbal stem cell that helps in keeping the cornea clear

AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION has increased to over 12 % of over 60 year olds and this can be reduced with increased vision with autologous fetal DNA and STEM CELLS injected close to the optic nerve and macula.

The Medical camp had over 100 cases coming from the region and beyond. Some of the patients only complained of fatigue and this was improved with 1 hour of the AUTOLOGOUS DNA INJECTION.

The treatment can only be given if the blood sugar is over 100 mg% so the medical camp also gave cookies, vitamins and eye ointments to all the patients, along with taking their blood pressure, peripheral oxygen and heart rate

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Doctors at Sakra World Hospital does miraculous Neuro-rehabilitation of 36- year-old with severe head injury following bike accident in US

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January 18, 2023: Not all hopes die if you know the way out and believe in miracles. When 36-year-old Mr. Pravin Raj Radha met with a fatal accident in the US after he fell from his bicycle in May 2022, he suffered severe brain, facial and eye injuries which resulted in leaving him at a comatose state and losing all hopes of his survival. His condition was treated immediately in one of the top hospitals in the US, undergoing intensive care where the US doctors estimated less than 1% chance of survival. Pravin shared his story of getting a new lease of life today at a press conference in the presence of Mr Yuchi Nagao, MD at Sakra World Hospital, Mr Naoya Matsumi, DMD at Sakra World Hospital and Mr Lovekesh Phasu, COO at Sakra World Hospital, and Dr Maheshwarappa 8 M, Head and Senior Consultant for Neuro Rehabilitation at Sakra World Hospital as well as Pravin’s treating doctor in India.

Despite being on a ventilator in the ICU in the US for 3-4 weeks, Pravin’s health never improved. Rather than giving up and taking Pravin off the ventilator, he was flown carefully to India by chartered flight with ICU team and equipment. After consulting in other hospitals, Pravin was referred to Dr. Maheshwarappa BM, Head and Senior Consultant for Neuro Rehabilitation at Sakra World Hospital, one of the top hospitals in Bangalore. He immediately assessed Pravin’s complex traumatic brain injury, severity of disability and medical challenges, loss of cognitive and behavioral skills and immobility. Following his recommendations for rigorous and comprehensive neuro rehabilitation using advanced technologies, a miraculous recovery and successful discharge took place five months later.

Pravin was brought to the hospital in a comatose and bedridden condition, with weakness of both upper and lower limbs, agitation, and difficulty with sitting, walking, speaking, and swallowing. Sakra Neurorehabilitation specialists and professionals included Physiatrists, Neuro-Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Clinical Nutritionists, specialized Rehabilitation nurses, Clinical Orthotists, and Neuropsychologists. The use of advanced rehabilitation technology included Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy(HBOT), Robotic Assisted Gait and Arm Training, wearable sensor based therapies, virtual reality clinical modules, augmented reality gamification, Pneumatic Neuro-gym and digital Balance and Coordination platforms.

Dr Maheshwarappa B M explained that “Neurorehabilitation plays a significant role in the healing process of those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries. The Rehab program is designed based on the patient’s condition and needs to help them recover from the arduous effects of the injury. Pravin was brought to us in the most challenging situation with almost all hopes of his recovery dying down. But for us, after assessing his condition, not all hopes were lost. We developed the rehabilitation program at Sakra Neurorehabilitation Centre to address his core problems, utilizing advanced rehabilitation equipment and scientifically enhanced infrastructure.”

A 3- to 4-month intensive neuro rehabilitation program helped Pravin come out of a coma and begin a steady recovery process. In addition to muscle strength exercises, Pravin also received multi-sensory stimulation (auditory cues, tapping, music therapy) to regulate his low arousal levels. Over time and with self-determination, he has been able to walk independently with good balance. For his cognitive and perceptual skill improvement, occupational therapies / involved identification of objects, participation in sports activities in groups, vocational activities like writing, using the keyboard, using a mobile handset, dressing himself independently, bladder and bowel management, bathing. His family members were totally engaged in a patient-centric approach and immensely contributed.

Neuropsychological intervention helped with cognitive, emotional and behavioural outcomes that are often seen after brain injury. Along with medication for mood issues; behaviour modification techniques and cognitive retraining was carried out to facilitate his adjustment and functionality. The family including his wife and parents were regularly counselled and supported emotionally to cope with all the challenges of living with brain injury.

Over the past three to four months, he has made significant progress and is currently able to understand, speak, and communicate. His cognitive functions are improving except for mild memory impairment. He is able to sit, stand, and walk without any assistance and perform all daily tasks confidently.

Pravin was successfully discharged in December 2022 after undergoing what seemed like a herculean task. His cognitive, physical, and social skills had been remarkable improved. In addition to supervised gait training, fall prevention, functional ability training, memory training, and cognitive retraining, he continues to receive rehabilitation at the OPD after discharge. To prepare him for his return to his profession, specialists are working on advanced life skills training. This is a perfect example of comprehensive neurorehabilitation using a collaborative multidisciplinary approach which is globally recommended as the best evidence based practice.

Thanking the doctors at Sakra World Hospital, Pushpa, Pravin’s wife said, “Pravin’s accident shocked us, but what was even worse was when doctors had started giving up hope of his revival to his old self. I am grateful to the doctors and team at Sakra World Hospital who assessed his condition rightfully and took up his case, carefully designed his rehabilitation program, involving us. It is no less than a miracle that Pravin is up on his feet, and we are hopeful that he will resume his work soon.”

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