Care Hospitals, a fast growing chain of hospitals have entered a new phase of growth and has set an expansion plan worth Rs 400 crores. The recently inaugurated new standalone outpatient centre is a part of the expansion strategy. Dr Krishna Reddy, Director and CEO, CARE Hospitals throws more light on the growth strategy outlined by the hospital chain and its objectives, in discussion with Lakshmipriya Nair
Tell us about the rationale behind moving the Outpatients Centre? Would this serve as a precursor for more such outpatients clinics?
| Dr Krishna Reddy |
Primary reason was to decongest the main hospital. Secondary reason was to evolve a facility that addresses the long felt need of our patients – a facility that is not a hospital, as most of these people are not sick – they are either coming for health assessment and management or for getting evaluated for simple symptoms or for chronic management of some of the underlying chronic conditions like hypertension, diabetes, asthma etc. Third objective was to disengage those procedures that can be done out of a hospital on a day-care basis like dialysis, IVF, plastic surgery, eye surgery, minimal invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Medicine will witness these trends of increasingly taking care to the community away from the hospitals.
How is the new centre likely to enhance Care Hospitals’ existing service portfolio? Are there plans for standalone outpatients centres in future?
The main hospital was mainly designed with speciality services in mind and all other services were of support nature. OP and daycare facility has more comprehensive services – health management; women’s wellness; adult vaccination; advanced physio and rehab programme; advanced eye and dental care; dialysis centre; advanced diagnostic facilities; special clinics for chronic disease management; consulting rooms to accommodate ~100 consultants at a given time; 12/7 facilities; six day-care operation theatres etc. We have plans to replicate such centres in existing hospital locations. We will wait and study the model to decide upon standalone centres in future.
Are there any plans to foray into new spheres of services?
Instead of foraying into new services, we are looking at new methods of delivering current services in response to changing expectations and needs of people. The emphasis will be on the experience of a home away from home.
What are the hospital’s plans and strategies for the next fiscal?
We will continue to focus on optimising operations through systems approach. Our efforts will be in maximising value to patients in terms of quality per cost. We have commenced our project plans to double bed capacity and create centres of excellence over next three years. Given our philosophy, we are evolving strategies to reach out to patients, people and physicians.
Are there any expansion plans in the offing? If yes, how do you plan to raise funds for the same?
We have raised funds from Advent International in April 2012 to meet our medium term plans, which consist of upgrading existing facilities, enhancing capacity in existing locations in five states, and creating centres of excellence. We hope to double the present bed capacity in next 24 to 30 months.