In today’s challenging times, healthcare has emerged as a massive concern for individuals in India. People look out for efficient hospitals and healthcare institutions which provide excellent healthcare services. This is where the leading super specialty hospitals come into play. These hospitals treat different serious diseases with efficiency, while embracing innovative technologies.
The prominent super specialty hospitals treat different lifestyle diseases simultaneously, while looking after the patients with utmost care. These hospitals uphold healthcare and are dedicated towards the well-being of every patient. They offer treatments at affordable costs and aim at transforming healthcare through their dedicated endeavours.
One such remarkable super specialty hospital which has taken healthcare services to the heights of excellence is none other than Columbia Asia Hospital. The hospital practices patient-centred care and believes in treating patients like guests. This coupled with advanced technology, modern infrastructure, internationally certified consultants, and a host of other qualities make Columbia Asia the preferred destination for international patients.
In an interview Insights Success, team Columbia Asia Hospital shares about its journey, the various challenges that it has faced, the various facilities it offers, and its plans. To know more about the hospital, please read below:
- Kindly brief us about the hospital and its initial journey.
Columbia Asia Hospital is an international private healthcare company founded by an American entrepreneur, Mr. Daniel Baty in 1996. Columbia Asia started in 2004 with one flagship hospital in Hebbal, Bangalore. Thereafter, began a rapid expansion in the country. Today, Columbia Asia operates 11 hospitals in India located in the cities of Bangalore, Mysore, Kolkata, Delhi NCR (Ghaziabad and Gurgaon), Pune and Patiala.
- Brief us about the CEO.Â
Dr. Nandakumar Jairam is the Chief Executive Officer, Chairman, and Group Medical Director at Columbia Asia Hospitals. He has been associated with Columbia Asia Hospitals since its inception in India from 2004.  He started as the Group Medical Director and was also on the board until 2017. When the board requested him to take the additional responsibility of being CEO, he accepted the same.
- Brief us about the services that the hospital offers.
With 100 to 200 beds per hospital, Columbia Asiaprovides a wide array of specialist services such as General Surgery, Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Internal Medicine, Oncology, Cardiology, Neurosurgery, Bariatric surgery, and super specialist services in Transplantations (Liver, Kidney and Heart), Oncology, Cardiac surgeries, Robotic Surgeries (Urology, Gastroenterology, Gynecology), etc. Some of the hospitals also offer specialized services like pediatric neurodevelopment and DBS (Deep Brain Stimulation). These are appropriately supported by ancillary services that include an Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Care Unit, Physiotherapy, Laboratory, Pharmacy, and Imaging. Recent we have added robotic surgery to the bouquet of services offered.
- What are the unique propositions that the centre offers giving it an edge over competitors?
Columbia Asia believes in value for money, accessible and high-quality healthcare, provided with empathy and care. The hospital has highest level of appropriate technology to serve patients and reach out to the insured group of people to provide healthcare services. The hospital primarily directs at middle class India in an ethical fashion and strongly advocate evidence-based practices, transparency, and accountability.
- What are the challenges that the hospitals across the country are facing?
Quality and affordability are two major issues, the hospitals across the country are facing. There is also greater need for accountability and transparency in the healthcare sector.Â
- Please share the latest technology that the hospital is utilizing to offer better services to patients.
Our referral hospital at Yeshwanthpur (Bangalore) has recently added Robotic Surgery for Urology, gastroenterology and Gynecology. We also have a new hospital in Pune which will begin operations by end of 2020 or early 2021 and this hospital will have high-end oncology with radiation therapy.
Besides the above, we constantly upgrade our technology, be it IT enabled services, Hospital Facilities management wherein we are already using Wind energy to power the hospital or equipment upgradation at the hospitals to support better patient care.
- How does the hospital intend to handle its Societal Responsibility? Please mention any special charity or program as such.
We engage in different activities involving society and organise free health camps for the general public.
- How is the hospital utilising technology for hospital management?
There has been a shift in technology in every industry, as a healthcare unit, even Columbia Asia has taken a step towards better technological advancements in all the hospitals. We were pioneers in adopting electronic medical record system for patient records. This enables easy retrieval and continuity of care. To keep better track of the patients and their requirements, the hospital has made inroads into artificial intelligence in the field of Radiology. Medical equipment uses AI for direct feeding of data from the point of use in the hospital. The data collected is further processed, which in turn provides visibility of trends and allows the doctors to use predictive analytics to treat high-cost and life-threatening conditions.
- Share with us the hospital’s views and measures taken regarding personalised healthcare.
We believe in an effective and affordable caring environment for our patients, with a passion for making people better. Our expert and highly skilled doctors provide accurate diagnosis and management and along with that we treat our patients as guests giving them maximum comfort with uncompromising clinical governance.
Our care is always patient centric with empathy, individualised attention, and highest levels of clinical excellence.
