-Dr.P.Sukumaran, Dean & Medical Director, Sri Ramakrishna Hospital
Sri Ramakrishna Hospital (SRH) announced on Friday that it has increased its COVID-ward’s bed strength from 50 to 150 in order to assist the State and Local Administration’s efforts to curb the impact of the novel coronavirus in Coimbatore.
The hospital’s Dean & Medical Director Dr. P.Sukumaran stated that the Govt of Tamil Nadu announced them as a designated COVID Hospital on April 3, 2020 and immediately a separate ward to treat COVID patients was formed with 50 beds and a separate team of doctors & paramedical staff. The COVID-ward is set up in a way that it does not affect patients who come to the hospital for consultation and treatment for other specialties.
As the threat of Coronavirus has increased and the bed-strengths of other private hospitals is getting filled along with Government Hospital beds, SRH has risen to the occasion to share the load and save as much as people as possible in this perilous times.
Dr.P.Sukumaran said SRH has a dedicated COVID-19 Team that consists of 4 doctors (1 Pulmonologist and 3 General Physicians). Under them 51 Assistant Physicians are sorted along with 150 nurses and 15 technicians. These members are exclusive to this COVID-ward. It must be mentioned that the laboratory of Sri Ramakrishna Hospital is recognized by ICMR and accredited by NABL for doing all COVID tests.
These staff take care of the COVID positive patients on a shift basis. They are given separate accommodation and food support. They work a week, take rest at the facility and go under self-quarantine. When they return to duty, they are subjected to COVID-Test. Only after assuring that they are COVID-negative, they are assigned schedules.
In case if any serving medical staff gets affected, free treatment is given for them. SNR Sons Charitable Trust, the parent organization of the hospital has shielded these staff with an insurance policy for Rs.5 lakhs (each), shared Dr.P.Sukumaran.
For patients with severe COVID symptoms, the ward has a separate 15-bedded ICU. All the beds will have monitors, ventilator facility and also be equipped with high flow nasal oxygen support that has 50 liters capacity, the Dean added.
“The Pulmonologist from the COVID team visits the patients in the ICU daily. Our pharmacy keeps the special medicines (like Remdesivir, Corticosteroids, Tocilizumab) and gives them whenever need”.
The hospital has prepared a separate menu for patients to boost their immunity and health. Nutrient supplements including Zinc, Vitamin C and Vitamin D3 are given. Kabasura Kudineer is also provided. Symptomatic patients are equally given utmost care.
Being a Trust run institution, this multi-specialty hospital keeps affordability available for all. People with TN Chief Ministers Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme are provided the package where the fee is same as the Government’s fixed fee. (Rs. 5000 for Ordinary Ward, Rs.7000 for Special Wards and Rs. 13000 for ICU wards per day) For those who are not covered under that scheme, a separate package is provided. (Rs. 7000 for Normal ward, Rs.9000 for special ward and Rs.15,000 for ICU Ward per day) When needy patients without the scheme seek the hospital’s service, flexible solutions are offered.