Aster Medcity: Top of the range

Aster Medcity is a preferred destination for international travellers looking for comprehensive medical care

Aster Medcity, located in Cheranalloor, a suburban town near Kochi, is set on 40 acres of land with an attractive waterfront. It was officially launched on May 6, 2014 and is the fulfilment of a dream of Dr Azad Moopen. The building and facilities are comparable to the best hospitals in Dubai.

Aster Medcity is a 670-bed quaternary care facility with one multispeciality hospital and eight separate Centres of Excellence (COEs) in Cardiac Sciences, Neurosciences, Orthopaedics and Rheumatology, Nephrology and Urology, Oncology, Women's Health, Child and Adolescent Health, Gastroenterology and Hepatology. "The facility is patient-centric in terms of design and philosophy, and lives by its simple promise: We'll Treat You Well," says Dr Harish Pillai, Cluster Head for Kerala and CEO, Aster Medcity.

Dr Pillai explained that the COEs are specialised so that when a patient walks in, the most effective treatment is offered. "If you look at our Orthopaedic Department, for example, the patient walks into the registration centre for orthopaedics. We have a dedicated waiting lounge and X-ray facilities just for orthopaedic patients. Beds are also provided so that patient movement is restricted to that particular area."

Special focus on treatments

Aster Medcity has a core Out Patient Department (OPD) with other specialities such as Internal Medicine, Dentistry, ENT and Psychiatry. All these specialities have individual consultation rooms. The generalised treatments happen in the core OPD areas. Dr Pillai said, "We also have a wellness centre. It starts with all the executive packages. The Platinum Package is well appreciated by VIPs as well as celebrities."

The OPD was launched on February 24, 2013. In August 2013, the first inpatient was taken in and a full-fledged Emergency Department became operational. Today, it boasts of 22 Emergency Departments with world-class facilities plus two ICUs on wheels and the First Responder Programme, which are bike ambulances that provide immediate medical response to patients. Currently there are 12 theatres, which are completely modular and fitted with the best available technology.

Dr Pillai continues, "We have automated, fully fledged operation theatres and ICUs. We have South India's first ICCA (IntelliSpace Critical Care and Anaesthesia) ICUs. All software is inbuilt for infusion pumps and ventilators. Right now we have 70 critical care beds at the ICU. It can go up to 135.

"We have three cathlabs, out of which two are clarity cath labs and the other one is a hybrid cath lab. Our hybrid cath lab is the first in India. We also have the latest technology such as the Da Vinci Robo that is being used in theatres for Minimal Access Robotic Surgery (MARS). The Robo does not do the complete surgery but the advantage is that with minimal access, it can perform a keyhole surgery with precise accuracy and better results. Furthermore, the centre has Rapidarc, for radiation therapy. Rowa Vmax is a pharmacy-dispensing robot, which dispenses medication with accuracy."

Treatment follows a holistic approach at the facility. Kerala is renowned for Ayurveda. Keeping this aspect in mind, Aster Medcity offers complete and holistic Ayurvedic treatment as well.

Dr Harish Pillai, Cluster Head for Kerala and CEO - Aster Medcity

State-of-the-art rooms

Patients at the facility are treated to a luxurious waterfront environment as they walk in. The highest category of a room is called the Presidential Suite, which has three rooms with all amenities. It has a dedicated patient room while relatives can stay in the other two rooms. One can also request for a dedicated chef. VIP rooms have a large single room where the patient is treated. "All these rooms have a good panoramic view of the river outside. So this is where the actual healing process takes place. The other category is the general ward beds," says the CEO.

The facility's international lobby is dedicated to VIP patients and international/GCC patients. Translators ensure that there is no communication gap between the clinicians and the patients. Specialists take care of every patient so that they don't feel that they are away from home and have nobody to take care of them. There is a dedicated international wing and lounge as well for international patients to interact with each other.

Another unique factor of Aster Medcity is its ICUs. Dr Pillai says, "Our ICUs are pretty large cubicles unlike other hospitals here. This is part of our patient-centric approach and offers a complete continuum of care from the time they enter until discharge. That's where our focus is."

CSR Initiatives

Aster Medicty has made a tremendous difference to the lives of the people living in the area. Eighteen per cent of the employees are from the surrounding villages. "We have BPL (below poverty line) families in the surrounding villages. We provide insurance and free access to hospital facilities. A number of free camps are conducted for the people who need it the most," says Dr Pillai.

Achievements and Future Plans

Aster Medcity offers medical treatments that are not offered by majority of the hospitals in Kerala. The facility has won various awards and the prestigious JCI, NABH and ISO accreditations.

It has a helipad and patients can be airlifted from the airport by a chopper. Dr Pillai ensures that patients not only get the right clinical treatment but also the highest standards of service. He emphasised, "The whole idea is that the patient and relatives should feel comfortable. For this we have an annex building, which has an optical shop, salon, spa, laundry and bank, among other conveniences.

There are ambitious plans to start heart transplant procedures at Aster Medcity. "We have a well-qualified cardiac team. We will be starting the procedures here shortly," Dr Pillai concludes.

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