Fortis Hospital, Kalyan scales-up Critical Care program to build Center of Excellence

Mumbai: In response to the growing demand for specialized critical care services in Kalyan, Dombivali and its peripheral areas, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan is all set to transform its critical care unit into a ‘Centre of Excellence’. The hospital has created a blueprint for its transformation process with a special focus on evidence-based protocols, training, and capacity building of critical care specialists.

To execute this plan, the hospital has appointed Dr Rahul Pandit, Senior Intensive Care Consultant and Member of Maharashtra’s COVID19 task force to helm strategic development of the Critical Care unit. Dr Pandit has enormous experience in designing patient management protocols in critical care settings.

The pandemic has highlighted the need to strengthen critical care services within our country. It has also underlined the evolving role of critical care specialists in tackling healthcare emergencies of such magnitude. Fortis Hospital Kalyan has, therefore, taken measures to elevate its critical care practices to build a future-ready healthcare institute. Dr Pandit will play a key role in setting up ICU policies, protocols, and patient care algorithms for the Centre of Excellence. He will also be responsible to design academic programs for critical care doctors and nurses, at the center. With Dr Rahul Pandit at the helm of the Critical Care Management, the hospital has also initiated post-COVID19 OPD services from today.

Dr Rahul Pandit, Director-Critical Care, Fortis Hospitals, Mumbai, points out that the COVID 19 pandemic has compelled hospitals across the country to relook at their critical care practices. It has forced hospitals to revamp certain traditional models of caregiving and swiftly adapt to the present and future needs of patients.

“The critical care environment presents considerable risks to patient safety and we have witnessed this during the pandemic. We must remember that caring for critically ill patients is complex and resource-intensive. Having a culture of patient safety within the healthcare organization is often accepted as the primary way to improve the quality of patient care. But to do so, right resources, manpower and expertise has to be put in place. At our Kalyan center, we have identified areas of upgradation; this includes training and skill upgradation as well. The Center of Excellence (CoE) will exponentially improve healthcare delivery leading to better patient care outcomes”, Dr Pandit adds.

Dr Supriya Amey, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital, Kalyan adds, “The role of critical care has evolved rapidly during the pandemic; heightened patient safety while delivering quality outcomes have become even more crucial in the current times. With Dr Pandit at the helm, we would accelerate the existing program to drive academic programs & training of staff, implementation of best practice guidelines for patient management, adherence to infection control policies and championing patient care in critical care setting at our CoE. We are also glad that Dr Pandit will be able to offer medical advice to patients seeking post-COVID counselling, at our hospital.”