Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata, introduced the country’s most advanced “128 Slice Ingenuity PET CT- Positron Emission Tomography” in the city on June 17, 2013. The Honorable Governor of West Bengal, Sri M.K. Narayanan inaugurated this state-of-the-art imaging system along with Dr Rupali Basu, CEO, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals and Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals, India. PET CT is a medical imaging technique using a device which combines in a single gantry system both a Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Computed Tomography. The images acquired from both devices can be taken sequentially, in the same session from the patient and combined into a single superposed image. This is then used for exposing the occurrence of fatal diseases like cancer at a pre-mature stage. The INGENUITY 128 PET CT at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals is the first installation of its kind in the world with Astonish 3rd generation time-of-flight technology. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rupali Basu, Chief Executive Officer – Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals and Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals said, “PET CT has revolutionized many fields of medical diagnosis, by adding precision functional imaging, which was previously lacking from pure CT imaging. For example, in oncology, surgical planning, radiation therapy and cancer staging has been changing rapidly under the influence of PET-CT availability. The new PET CT facility will enable our doctors to get best quality images to base their treatment on, with 30% better clarity than other PET scanners. It will also benefit the patients with less time required for the scan as well as up to 50% reduction in amount of radiation. With this facility we now have complete 360 degree services to diagnose, monitor and treat all kinds of cancer cases under one roof. Besides cancer patients, it will also be useful in management of cardiac patients who have had myocardial infarction and neurology patients with dementia.”

Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, launched the country’s very first “VOC Online – Voice of Customer Online” in the city on June 6, 2013. The hospital which has been one of the forerunners of new and advanced technology in healthcare in India has once again reinstated the same by introducing this unique customer feedback procedure. The Voice of Customer Online was inaugurated by Dr Rupali Basu, CEO, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals, Eastern Region, India along with Dr Dipankar Ganguly, DMS, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata. VOC Online is a system that combines qualitative & quantitative feedback in order to provide innovative, effective and efficient service delivery. This system which will be operative through an iPad, is of immense importance to provide real time feedback from the customers. The future path of action can be decided based on the same and quick solutions can be formulated in case of urgency. Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals has introduced a Breakthrough Innovation in Service Delivery through “VOC Online”. They have partnered with Gallup World Wide to structure their VOC process. The hospital’s Service Excellence Team along with the Corporate IT have worked with leading advisory firms to come out with the best effective methodology which targets high degree of compliance and capture ratio. Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals has ad opted three methodologies which includes CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing), Paper Pencil Methodology and Tablet device based point of care feedback system. A process flow has been made for the operations team for easy implementation and accountability in each step. On introducing the technique of VOC Online, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals has lived up to its commitment of providing healthcare of world class standards to their patients, giving the latter’s opinion paramount significance and utilizing the same to serve them better. This solution has been well appreciated at the AIMA global conference on Innovation in the category of Service Delivery. The data which is collected through VOC is also used for training and development and can be linked to a department, ward and even associates where by accountability increases and training becomes customized for each individual rather than generic in nature. The hospital has also remained true to its promise of protecting the environment by doing away with conventional paper forms and switching over to more contemporary means such as the iPad. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rupali Basu, Chief Executive Officer – Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals, Eastern Region, said, “VOC Online is a path-breaking technology in the healthcare industry. We at Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals are proud to be the first hospital in the entire Eastern India to introduce this system. Apollo has embarked on a mission to provide the best at affordable prices encapsulated in Tender Loving Care. It is well understood that service is subjective and the art of making it a science is challenging. To create a distinct differentiation from other Health Systems in India, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals has developed a system to capture Service Feedback with a mechanism to understand analyze, act, and sustain Service Quality Feedback from all touch points of the patient and the consumer with the health system. This compliments the mature clinical excellence, operational excellence models that Apollo has always been renowned for in the last three decades. The voices of customers provide early warnings and direction for our success, directly from people who really matter.”

HIMSS Analytics Asia Pacific has announced that Apollo Hospitals Chennai has achieved Stage 6 of the EMR Adoption Model (EMRAM), a noteworthy recognition that the hospital has attained significant advancement in its IT capabilities further enabling it to successfully address several challenges faced by it as a healthcare provider, including one like reduction of medication errors. As of Q1 2013, just 7.3% of more than 8,600 hospitals tracked by HIMSS Analytics* had reached Stage 6 and beyond on its Electronic Medical Record Adoption ModelSM (EMRAMSM). (* includes HIMSS Analytics US, Europe and Asia Pacific) and as of Q1 2013, this number stand at 2.4% for Asia Pacific. HIMSS Analytics developed the EMR Adoption ModelSM in 2005 as a methodology for evaluating the progress and impact of electronic medical record systems for hospitals in the HIMSS Analytics® Database. Tracking their progress in completing eight stages (0 – 7), hospitals can review the implementation and utilization of information technology applications with the intent of reaching Stage 7, which represents an advanced electronic patient record environment, paperless healthcare environment and capability for meaningful healthcare information exchange within local and/or international medical communities. The flagship hospital of the Apollo Group, Apollo Hospitals Chennai, was established in 1983. Today it is one of the most respected hospitals in the world, and is also a greatly preferred destination for both patients from all across India, and for medical value travellers who come from all around the world. The hospital specializes in cutting-edge medical procedures. It has over 60 departments spearheaded by internationally trained doctors who are skillfully supported by dedicated patient-care personnel. Apollo Hospitals Chennai has state of the art facilities for various health disorders and has been a pioneer among the hospitals in India, in introducing many innovative treatments and procedures. Ms. Sangita Reddy, Executive Director, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “”Committed to our mission of making quality healthcare more accessible to all in India, Apollo Hospitals has continuously harnessed technological advancements in accelerating positive transformation. In Apollo’s journey with Healthcare IT, we strive to design and execute a patient centric HIS that is physician led and operationally smart. An advanced HIS is critical in the journey of healing and I do commend HIMSS for creating a simple and clear frame work that works as guideline for CIOs to assess the speed of evolution and steer a road map for higher goals. Apollo Hospitals Chennai is a frontrunner in having achieved the Stage 6 Certification on EMRAM and this achievement underscores the teams’ commitment to patient care.”” She added, “”The most critical care aspect for any Hospital Information Systems is its penetration and adoption by the teams, especially the doctors and the resultant positive impact on patient care. We are driving adoption aggressively today with a solution architecture that can enable an efficient tomorrow.”” The Apollo Hospitals have implemented role-based security login on their computerized practitioner order entry (CPOE) system and clinical orders are almost entirely issued via the system by physicians. Apart from adopting international standards of clinical care, Apollo Hospital Chennai and the entire Apollo Hospitals Group utilize population studies within the sub-continent and adopt clinical rules specific to the population in the hospitals. In addition, unit dosage in medication administration is attained and good clinical decision support system is built into the operations. The HIMSS Analytics EMR Adoption Model award presentation will be held at the Digital Healthcare Week in Singapore on 23rd October 2013. Criteria for Stage 6 hospitals Have made significant executive commitments and investments to reach this stage. Appear to have a significant advantage over competitors for patient safety, clinician support, clinician recruitment, and competitive marketing for both consumers and nurse recruitment. Have almost fully automated/paperless medical records when they have implemented their IT applications across most of the inpatient care settings. Are either starting to evaluate their data for care delivery process improvements or have already documented significant improvements in this area. Have made investments that are within reach of most hospitals and recognize the strategic value of improving patient care with the EMR. Have begun to create strategic alignments with their medical staff to effectively utilize information technology to improve the patient safety environment. Are well positioned to provide data to key stakeholders, such as payers, the government, physicians, consumers and employers, to support electronic health record environments and health information exchanges.   HIMSS Analytics Asia Pacific is a subsidiary of Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) which is a wholly owned not-for-profit healthcare IT organization. HIMSS Analytics Asia Pacific collects and analyzes healthcare information related to IT processes and environments, products, IS department composition and costs, IS department management metrics, healthcare trends and purchase-related decisions. HIMSS Analytics Asia delivers high quality products, services and analytical expertise to healthcare delivery organizations, healthcare IT companies, state governments, financial companies, pharmaceutical companies and consulting firms.

A 46-year-old business-woman from Africa, weighing 132 kg with intervertebral disc pro-lapse, underwent percu-taneous discectomy through hydrodissection at Back and Pain Centre, The Apollo Clinic, T. Nagar. “This is the first time this procedure has been done to someone who weighs more than 90 kg. She had been suffering from back pain for the past three years and the shooting pain was radiat-ing down her legs. She was referred to this centre by one of her relatives,” said Dr Karthic Babu Natarajan, consultant pain physician of the Back and Pain Centre. Dr Natarajan said, “The procedure is don ethrough a small hole 1 to 2 mm long in the back with X-ray guidance. The procedure lasted about an hour and her diseased disc material was taken out through the small hole. She left the hospital on the same day and her pain has disappeared now.” Instead of open spine surgery that could have put her in a high-risk category, this minimally invasive percutaneous disectomy was performed and it helped her, said Dr. Natarajan. The woman, who did not want to be named, said she walked 1 km a few days after the procedure. “I was suffering from severe back pain that restricted my daily activities. It’s more than a year since I walked continuously,” she said. The procedure costs around Rs 70,000.

The Zindagi Jiyo Campaign for Road Safety was launched in the city on Friday with much enthusiasm. The campaign, initiated by Apollo Hospitals and supported by Deccan Chronicle, started with a huge rally of Cyberabad traffic police, professional bikers from bikers’ clubs and members of the public. The campaign was officially launched at the Apollo Hospitals in Jubilee Hills by the bikers’ club, Hyderabad Sunrisers, the city traffic police and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. The official logo was unveiled and the road safety pledge was read out by C.V. Anand, the additional commissioner of police (traffic). This was followed by the signing of the pledge by the Sunrisers team members and senior city officials. Former cricketer Kris Srikanth, who is the Sunrisers’ ambassador, wittily said, “If you try to play Dale Steyn across the line, you will get out. Similarly, if you criss-cross through the traffic on the road, you will surely have trouble.” V.V.S. Laxman, who is known to be a campaigner for road safety, also endorsed the campaign. Sangeetha Reddy, Executive Director, Apollo Hospitals, outlined the loss that road accidents cause to families and said simple precautions can prevent them. The rally that followed was flagged off from the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate by the police commissioner of Cyberabad C. Tirumala Rao. Prior to the launch of the campaign, several people who have either been victims of accidents or lost close ones in road accidents recounted their tragic tales.

Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, the No.1 hospital in Kolkata , launched a unique Voice Clinic on 30th April 2013. This all inclusive service, a pioneer of sorts in Eastern India offers a 360 degree solution for treating all kinds of voice disorders. The Voice Clinic was launched by Dr Rupali Basu, Chief Executive Officer- Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, Kolkata and Chief Executive Officer – Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals along with Dr Shantanu Panja, Chief Consultant, ENT/Head & Neck Surgery, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals. The Voice Clinic is a wholesome amalgamation of superior quality services such as diagnosis, consultation, surgery and rehabilitation. It is combined with the experience and expertise of well-renowned Voice and Laser surgeons. The department also has a full-fledged Speech and Rehabilitation team and nursing staff all under a single roof. The Speech and Rehabilitation team comprises seasoned voice and speech therapists and also offers voice analysis therapy. In keeping with their commitment of providing quality healthcare to the patients, Apollo Gleneagles Voice Clinic is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment such as Fibre Optic Laryngoscope, Video Stroboscope and Voice Analysis software (PRAAT). Apart from the basic voice disorder, the clinic also offers other advanced treatment namely, Laser surgery, Phono micro surgery, Thyroplasty and Injection Laryngoplasty. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rupali Basu, Chief Executive Officer – Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals and Eastern Region, Apollo Hospitals said, “”Voice disorder is a condition that can affect people across all age groups from different walks of life. The treatment for this has to be a combination of therapy and surgery. The Apollo Gleneagles Voice Clinic is aimed at curing such disorders by offering a bouquet of superior services under a single roof. At Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals, it has always been our aim to provide treatment for disorders which are not widely known to the common people and their subsequent treatment. The introduction of the Voice Clinic is also a step towards the same””. Dr Shantanu Panja, Chief Consultant, ENT/Head & Neck Surgery, Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals further added, “”Voice disorder is a very common phenomenon these days and the awareness about the same is very low. Since the occurrence of this disease hampers one’s voice, it also affects the communication skills of a person and acts as a blow to one’s confidence. Patients suffering from voice disorders go through tremendous physical and mental ordeal. The Apollo Gleneagles Voice Clinic will act as a complete destination providing solutions for any kind of voice disorder. The treatment of voice disorder is a delicate art and requires distinctive equipment and technology. We have designed our voice clinic based on these parameters to ensure world class treatment for our patients””.

A 31-year-old woman suffering from swine flu delivered a baby boy despite being on ventilator at Apollo Indraprastha Hospitals, Delhi, which doctors term as near miracle. Manjit Rani, a resident of Gurgaon, was eight months pregnant when she contracted swine flu. Doctors at Indraprastha Apollo hospitals, where she was admitted last month with severe breathing problem, said Rani was unable to maintain her oxygenation even with oxygen support. “”She was in severe respiratory distress and oxygen levels in her body were very low. We put her on non-invasive ventilator support immediately to support breathing but it did not help. Finally, we took a consensus decision after consulting the obstetrician to conduct an emergency cesarean,”” said Dr Avdhesh Bansal, senior consultant respiratory and critical care at Apollo hospital. Bansal said the surgery went off well. “”The mother continued to be critical. On the other hand, the baby was also in a critical state as his echo showed – severe heart disease (narrowing of aorta). It was like a raining of troubles,”” the doctor said. A team cardiac surgeons conducted surgery on the pre-term baby weighing only 2.2 kilograms to remove the diseased part of aorta and join the normal ends together even as her mother battled for survival. “”It took them 18 days to recover and presently both mother and the baby are fine and discharged on few weeks ago,”” said another senior doctor. Medical experts say women infected with swine flu viruses are five times more likely to lose their baby during pregnancy or just after giving birth due to defects.

In an inspiring and emotional convocation ceremony, the NSCB Medical College, Jabalpur batch of 2007 – 2013 experienced a day that will be etched in their memories forever as they took their oath in front of faculty and family. The Apollo Gold Medal was awarded to Dr. Astha Bansal for her excellent performance.

Sugar Clinic Muscat is the first international Sugar Center of the Apollo Group outside India and is in collaboration with the International Medical Centre, Oman. His Highness Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq al Said officially inaugurated the Sugar Apollo Clinic for Diabetes at a special gathering that was also attended by Sangita Reddy, Executive Director, Apollo Hospitals Group, India. Sugar Clinic Muscat offers a host of services which includes – full-time endocrinologist and diabetologist, diabetes foot clinic-equipped with latest screening capabilities, Diabetes Eye Clinic – manned by a full time Ophthalmologist and equipped with state-of-the-art non-mydriatic Fundus Camera, dietician and Physiotherapist. With an eye for education the Centre has a team of trained diabetes nurse educators who work closely with clinicians and individuals availing care at the Centre. Speaking on the occasion HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq al Said, said “”Diabetes is a growing menace in the country and I wish to congratulate Apollo Hospitals and the International Medical Centre team for initiating a unique concept to tackle diabetes for the residents of Oman””. Elucidating the concept of Sugar, Sangita Reddy, said “”Sugar is a unique offering which follows a structured care pathway and a multi-disciplinary team approach to work with the individuals affected with diabetes to improve clinical outcomes and quality of life. The Sugar Centre at Oman is part of the Sugar clinic network – and will be looked after by the governing body consisting of experts associated with the group in the area of Endocrine and Diabetes, Hypertension, Nephrology, Podiatry, Ophthalmology, Diet and Physiotherapy. This will assist the Centre to stay updated and facilitate on-going learning along with sharing of best practices. Further, patients availing care at the Centre will have an access to the super specialists from the Apollo Hospitals group for second opinion and through the clinics by visiting specialist from Apollo India in Muscat””, Sangita, added. V T Saileshwaran, Managing Director Apollo Medical Centre Oman added that the Centre has been receiving overwhelming response from the society and we are committed to continue the good work and reduce the burden of diabetes in Oman and the region””. To begin with, the diabetes services under the brand Sugar are being offered at the International Medical Centre facility located in Ruwi, Muscat. This will be progressively rolled out to other parts of Muscat and Oman so that they are accessible to as many individuals with diabetes in the region, as possible. Apollo Hospitals Chennai the first corporate hospital in India, was launched by Dr Prathap C Reddy, the architect of Indian healthcare in 1983. Over the years, Apollo Hospitals Group has grown to become one of Asia’s largest integrated healthcare organizations with over 8,500 beds across 53 hospitals, more than 1200 pharmacies and over 100 diagnostic clinics. The Group also offers medical business process outsourcing services, health insurance services and clinical research divisions with a focus on epidemiological studies, stem cell research and genetic research. To develop talent for the burgeoning need of superior healthcare delivery, Apollo Hospitals Group has 11 nursing and hospital management colleges. These achievements have earned Apollo Hospitals Group several accolades, including the Centre of Excellence from the Government of India and recognition from the Joint Commission International (seven of our hospitals are JCI accredited). In a rare honour, the Government of India issued a commemorative stamp in recognition of Apollo’s contribution, the first for a healthcare organization. Apollo Hospitals Chairman, Dr Prathap C Reddy, was conferred with the prestigious Padma Vibhushan, in 2010. International Medical Centre (IMC) is a comprehensive healthcare facility established in 2007 in Muscat for the purpose of providing quality laboratory and radiology diagnostic services to the residents of the capital city.

This is a story of a woman who defied all odds and gave birth to a child. In a foreign country, five-month pregnant Shaheen Ahmad went desperately knocking on doors of different hospitals even as she was losing precious water from her womb. She was told that at 22 weeks, she had no chance to deliver a child that would live. She was advised abortion but no hospital was ready to admit her. “”For three weeks, even as I constantly lost amniotic fluid, I desperately consulted doctors in five hospitals in Jeddah but no doctor would admit me. I found myself in the most horrifying situation as I was losing my child but no one was ready to offer me treatment, citing that they did not have space or facility to treat my 22-week-old child if he was born alive””, says Shaheen, holding her miracle baby Shafi meaning ‘cure’ close to her chest. Shaheen says her desperate situation forced her Kutch-based parents to come look for a doctor in Ahmedabad who would be willing to take a high-risk pregnancy which was on the verge of termination. When Dr Sheru Zamindar of Apollo Hospital expressed readiness to take in Shaheen, she was faced with another dilemma – no airline would allow her to fly if she said she was pregnant and her water was leaking. “”I felt as if I was denying my child’s existence even before I lost him when I declared ‘not pregnant’ to the airlines to board the flight to Ahmedabad””, says Shaheen. Allah, however, had other plans for Shaheen. Luckily, she got admitted in the hospital on January 1 and only then she started bleeding. “”Doctor told us that since bleeding had begun, the child would have to be delivered. He was delivered tiny at 680 grams but survived””, says her husband Shakeel, a maintenance engineer working in a mall in Jeddah. “”This was one of the few cases where the baby was given surfactant, a drug that prevents immature lungs of premature babies from collapsing, inside the delivery room. Initial few weeks were difficult but international protocols of nutrition were followed and the baby who was destined to live defied odds and is now a healthy 1.5 kg. He had to be kept in the neonatal ICU care for three months but now has been discharged””, says neonatal intensive care specialist Dr Ashish Mehta.

Apollo Hospital, Bangalore has successfully removed a large tumor from the abdomen of an international patient from Iraq. The patient Fawazi was detected with a tumor 18 years ago, which grew in size and weight over time. The 65-year-old patient had earlier been operated in Iraq but the tumor recurred post the surgery. The tumor eventually grew in size and its sheer weight was becoming a hindrance. It was located in the posterior part of the abdomen, and due to size and weight it was compressing the ureter causing the kidneys to balloon out. The tumor had also grown around the blood vessels causing his legs to swell up like in filariasis. The tumor removal surgery was not recommended by surgeons in Iraq and the patient eventually decided to travel to India for his treatment. The surgical team at Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore was led by Dr Anil Kamath, senior consultant, Surgical Oncology along with Dr Pandu, surgical oncologist, Dr Raju, consultant urologist and Dr Sunder Narasimhan, vascular surgeon. The operation lasted for about 16 hours and during the process almost 10 liters of blood was administered to the patient. Post the surgery, the patient was kept in the ICU for two days and his subsequent recovery was nothing short of magical. Within a few days his kidney functions returned to normal and swelling in the leg reduced to almost half of what it was originally and the patient was able to get up and walk without too much discomfort. “The main challenge during the surgery was to get around the tumor which occupied the whole abdomen. A long abdominal incision had to be made. Surgery had to proceed cautiously as the normal anatomy was totally distorted. The ureter was stretched by the tumor and as their length had become thrice the normal, the ureters had to be cut and re-implanted elsewhere into the bladder. The next challenge was the blood vessels going into the right leg. As the tumor was encasing the blood vessels, both the artery and the vein had to be removed along with the tumor. This segment had to be replaced by the superficial veins from the other leg,” said Dr Kamath.

Aptly titled ‘APOLLO PROTECT’, the campaign will focus on encouraging vaccinations for the adolescent and adult population and it will be driven across the group’s integrated healthcare network of50 hospitals, 1500 pharmacies, 100 clinics, 4 Cradle Hospitals, Day Surgery Centers, Occupational Health Centers, Telemedicine centers and Patient Information Centers across the country. Speaking about the innovative social initiative, Dr. Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group said, “India has witnessed substantial strides in creating basic awareness about the importance of vaccinations, yet a lot more needs to be done to ensure that its benefits reach the remotest parts of the country. I would estimate that at least 2, 50,000 precious lives can be saved through this structured drive on Vaccination Preventive Diseases (VPD) and help avoid both chronic and acute conditions like cervical cancer, pneumococcal, swine flu and cholera.” Apollo Hospitals has been at the forefront of such interventions and has helped in preventing infection by inducing immunity through the use of vaccination. Commencing on the World Neighborhood Day, the campaign will witness a wider reach with valued support from neighborhood volunteers, corporate, various school and College Clubs, Rotary and RWAs to drive awareness among general public. “Vaccination in India has primarily been administered to new born babies with parents’ taking ample precaution for their children with timely inoculation. However, a large share of adults and adolescent children are neglected leaving many susceptible to even life-threatening, yet easily preventable maladies. This initiative will help save lives, improve epidemiological surveillance and also offer a reasonably inexpensive and valuable protection against diseases”, says Ms Preetha Reddy, Managing Director, Apollo Hospitals Group. “Soon, dedicated vaccination bays will be set up across all Apollo Hospitals and Apollo Clinics and subsequently, vaccinations will become a part of regular Health Check-up Programs,” she added.