In today’s age, healthcare has emerged as one of the prime concerns for everyone. Moreover, the global pandemic has gravely impacted lives, businesses, and institutions. During such testing times, the leading hospitals and healthcare institutions have emerged as saviours. They are protecting lives and constantly researching to eradicate the lethal coronavirus.
One such prominent hospital dedicated towards healthcare and research is none other than Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, New Delhi (FEHI). With a legacy of over 32 years, it has established itself as a pioneer in the field of cardiac care. It is recognized for its path-breaking work and services to numerous heart patients.
“We are committed towards delivering the best outcomes and experiences to our patients”
Armed with clinical expertise and cutting-edge technology, FEHI has enriched numerous lives through its world-class treatment and compassionate patient care. It has set the benchmark for cardiac care in India and is recognized as a centre of excellence that provides the latest technology in cardiac bypass surgery, interventional cardiology, non-invasive cardiology, paediatric cardiology, and paediatric cardiac surgery.
Cutting Edge Technology & Services
FEHI is recognized as a centre of excellence that provides the latest technology in cardiac bypass surgery, interventional cardiology, non-invasive cardiology, paediatric cardiology, and paediatric cardiac surgery. It houses the most advanced laboratories performing a complete range of investigative tests in the fields of nuclear medicine, radiology, biochemistry, haematology, transfusion medicine, and microbiology.
The institute’s doctors have been recognized by Government of India, having received Padma Sri and Padma Bhushan Awards. It has performed the highest number of cardiac surgeries, angiographies, and angioplasties in the country.
The Accomplishment Saga
FEHI has achieved several milestones in innovation to its credit as follows:
- It carried out Asia’s first coronary artery surgery using bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS)
- It executed India’s first transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
- It performed India’s first subcutaneous defibrillator implantation procedure
- FEHI observed India’s first pacemaker implanted vs bundle pricing
- It introduced India’s first ever left ventricular assist device (LVAD)
- FEHI produced India’s first ever life vest
- It performed India’s first coronary shockwave lithotripsy
- FEHI is the first one to launch Critinext (electronic ICU)
An Erudite Personality
The person responsible for the success of FEHI is Dr Ashok Seth. He is the Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute and the Chairman of the Cardiology Council, Fortis Group of Hospitals. Dr Seth has led the field of interventional cardiology for the decades and has contributed extensively to the development, scientific progress, and education in interventional cardiology in India and across the world.
Dr Seth has been awarded by the National Honour of Padma Shri in 2003, Padma Bhushan in 2015, and ‘B.C.Roy National Award’ for the most ‘Eminent Medical Person’ of the country by the President of India in 2017. He has also been awarded the National Honour of Republic of Spain “Cross of Officer Insignia Order of Isabella the Catholic” conferred on National Day of Spain in 2010.
Embracing Technological Innovations
At Fortis Escorts, it is not just about being better, but making each day better. The institute has been at the forefront of innovation. Critinext, an E-ICU model, is Asia’s first tele-ICU, which provides ‘Intensive Care beyond Boundaries’. It is a fusion of critical care skills, technology, and innovation to provide compassionate 24*7 intensive care, to address critical care, staff shortage in the peripheries, and to enable remote to manage critically ill patients at site instead of transferring them to metros.
The institute employs advanced technology to maintain medical records, audio visuals, and smart alert system as rapid response tools and provide 24*7*365 monitoring assessment, support, and interventional services. This also enables them to bridge the knowledge and educational gap by providing teaching and training to doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff.
Battling the Pandemic Effectively
The hospital believes that the pandemic has certainly affected its operations. “We treat a lot of international patients, those who are rushed to the hospital with end-stage cardiac ailments, and patients who are brought in emergency and because of COVID, our ability to do the same was affected”, states team FEHI.
Supply chains were disrupted, medical travel for global patients was put on hold, a separate designated area had to be built for COVID patients, and all resources were dedicated to ensuring the pandemic was controlled. The OPD footfall was affected as it dipped to 15-20%, the infrastructure was redesigned with the end objective of ensuring the virus did not spread, elective surgeries were postponed, and many heart patients did not get the care they needed at the right time.
The hospital staff had to be regularly quarantined, making the workforce sparse, and some hospitals had to give monetary bonuses to staff to encourage them to come to work despite the risk. This led to a marked deterioration in their health. “However, from the second quarter of 2020, we started to witness improvement in the results. We did this by focusing on patient centric care and through the usage of information technology”, adds team FEHI.
Future Strides
After a tough year managing the pandemic, FEHI is moving forward as a stronger entity with its core values, focusing on its work as a responsible and reliable healthcare service provider, dedicatedly committed to patient care.
FEHI is excited about the cutting-edge clinical work being done at its hospitals. The institute has joined forces with IHH-Berhad. This will allow it to expand the brand. It is a partnership which has great potential to leverage clinical and corporate expertise.
Advice to the Young Healthcare Leaders
Team FEHI believes that the healthcare landscape is a rapidly changing and demanding one, driven by innovation, research, growing patient needs, technology, and globalization is also providing a great platform for Indian professionals.
It states, “We must nurture and develop leadership and excellence within ourselves to adapt to emerging situations and crisis. In a growing sector such as healthcare, there is a need for good doctors, allied staff, and caregivers, in specialties such as oncology, organ transplant, neurology, paediatrics, and mental health, where there is a disproportionate shortage of clinicians”.
FEHI believes that there will always be a demand for people who are not only highly qualified but are also caring, compassionate, and courageous.
