All types of complicated surgeries were performed including laparoscopic surgery which was started in 1995 under the supervision of Dr.Nande, a Gastrosurgeon from Bombay Hospital which was later regularly done by Dr. Mahesh Ram, HOD Surgery of our Hospital.
All these surgical specialties would be crippled without a very efficient and updated aneasthesiology department. This department was setup by Dr. Kampani and flourished under the guidance of Dr. Goyal and Dr. Kishnani with the addition of updated versions of anesthesia machines, multipara monitors, new OT tables and lights during its march towards success.
As the hospital started dealing with critical patients a need for separate ICU was felt and a 4 bedded facility was started, equipped with cardiac monitors a ventilator and later a blood gas machine. Dr. R.D. Pathak was the torch bearer of intensive care services in Kasturba Hospital. As the demand increased more beds were added, more advanced equipments were procured and with time our skills and understanding of critical conditions improved and we were able to save many patients. Now we are equipped with latest monitors, ventilators and drug delivery devices at par with any modern ICU.
As the hospital marched forwards, other specialties were also established viz. nephrology, gastroenterology and dialectology and our doctors were specially trained for these superspeciality services. The dialysis unit started in 1994 under the guidance of Dr.M.M.joshi. ANC is functioning regularly whit two dialysis machines. We have also extended this facility to ICU and bed side dialysis is being done.
The UGI Endoscopy was made available in-house by Dr. Chandra and later Dr. A.K. Dave was trained for it at Bombay hospital in 1987. Initially the setup started with a fibreoptic endoscope and later a video endoscope was procured. Till date more than 5000 diagnostic endoscopies have been done.
A regular chest department with an isolation ward was established in Kasturba Hospital by Dr. Dheer. The department catered to all cases of T.B, COPD and other chest diseases keeping abreast with all new developments in inhalation therapy. Regular PFT was also started and is being done to monitor occupation hazard due to dust pollution. Recently the isolation ward has been renovated to provide a good ambiance to the patients. Dr. Alpana Tiwari was trained in bronchoscopy which is an important diagnostic as well as therapeutic tool.
The hospital got a new face lift with construction of new OPD Building and administrative Block in 1992. This provided ample sitting space to OPD patients. The emergency medicine department was also shifted here and the number of beds were increased to keep patients under observation. Minor OT was also set up in this area to provide prompt surgical facility for minor problems. Deluxe private wards were built to provide comfort to convalescing patients. Free ambulance services were provided since the beginning of medical services. This facility was of great help in that era when all did not have personal vehicles. This hospital also helped the patients even after their demise by providing facility of hearse vehicle and Mortuary. This facility was available only in our set-up and still is functioning efficiently with 6 cubicles. It is being utilized by outsiders also.
The obstetric & Gynaecology department of our hospital was the first in MP to have Cardiotacography machine. It was the first to start diagnostic laparoscopy in Bhopal. It was also instrumental in providing safe child birth in the community. This deptt. Also carried out family planning activities and achieved its allocated targets.
Pediatrics department was also started to care for the children and new born with a facility of nursery. The first HOD was Dr. Sawant. School health programme and well child clinics were also started by this deptt. Vaccination of all newborn babies and children was completed as per WHO recommendations.
The radiology department was started by Dr. Agrawal in 1965 and geared up after Dr. Rajni Mehta procured new-X-ray machines, CR System was started in 2007. USG was started in 1994 after Dr. Anita Chandra took training in ultrasonography and this important diagnostic tool was made available to our patients through her efforts. USG of small parts and obstetric Doppler was also started by her.
Ophthalmology deptt. Was started in 1965 by Dr. S.R. Pathak. It was one of the best equipped eye department at that time with facilities for investigation and treatment of all common eye diseases. It had a separate orthoptic section. We had facility to investigate squint and many squint surgeries were done. Many new equipments were procured as phako machine, operating microscope, automated computerized perimeter, A-scan bio meter, automated lens meter etc. Since 2000 phacoemulsification cataract surgery with foldable intra ocular lens is being successfully done. Advanced glaucoma surgery has been started under the guidance of visiting consultants.
The department of ENT was established by S.N. Pandey in 1965 who along with his team treated all ailments of ear, nose and throat. This team performed many surgeries and bronchoscopies, oesophagoscopies and diagnostic nasal endoscopies. They have also helped in saving many critical patients by performing tracheostomy.
All these departments have been able to function efficiently only due the support of our Pathology department. This department was established by Dr. Kekre and has updated itself by procuring automated analyzers and other new equipments. To give our patients the benefit of new and specialized investigations we entered in to contract with outside agencies. As all the departments started functioning, the need for a regular blood bank was felt and it was started in 1984 and was awarded license in 1992.
A detailed study was made with the help of Industrial Engineering department and based on its recommendations, additional manpower was sanctioned including Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, technicians and paramedical staff. In recognition of our distinguished services in medical field, our hospital was recognized for internship, house job and DNB courses. With this we upgraded our academics and regular teaching programs were started in the form of CMEs and seminars. To cope up with the demand of nursing college was started in 2003. The institute provides us with 50 trainee nurses every year to care for our patients. These young enthusiastic Florence Nightingales have proved to be of great help in running our nursing service.
Most of the cleaning and sanitation work was offloaded to external agency in 2003 so that we could focus more on patient care. Their expertise in mechanized cleaning has definitely improved the cleanliness in our premises. This hospital also has a well stacked Central Pharmacy and medical store. Both these areas have been computerized and have been functioning efficiently to dispense all prescriptions promptly. To look after the administrative activities and liasioning with the other departments in the factory, a well-staffed CMS office exists. Because of their dedicated work, clinicians can be spared to concentrate on patient care. Issue of medical token with photographs of employees and their dependents was started in 1997 and was a major step in keeping track of our beneficiaries.
A major process of computerization of OPD and indoor services like OPD slip, indoor admission registration was successfully implemented in the last 3-4 years. A major project of UHMS was conceived at corporate level and is being implemented because of the tireless efforts of Medical Deptt. Bhopal. Hospital Welfare Fund for the staff was set up with the help of Finance Department and in next ten years, the fund corpus accumulated to over Rupees 90 lakhs. Regular annual sports, cultural and educational activities were carried out for staff and their family with a “Mushayera and Kavi Sammelan” as part of Hospital Day celebration in the month of Nov. every year. Prize distribution and a sumptuous lunch for the staff and guests used to be the concluding function. Picnics and outings for staff were planned regularly.
Regular meetings of hospital advisory committee were carried out to get feedback of workers and suggestions and grievances to improve medical care. Hospital security received a boost-up with positioning of CISF in the campus which highly improved discipline. A total replacement of hospital beds, mattresses, bed sheets and dolis (trolleys) etc. was carried out to get rid of old and outdated materials.
We also have an active IMA branch in BHEL with 100% Doctors being its member. This started in 1969 with Dr. S.C. Mitra as its first President. The branch was most active branch in M.P. and have won Best Branch Award and participated in all national programs since its inception. Many scientific programs are being conducted under the banner of IMA BHEL Branch. This branch has the honor of hosting three state local conferences.
Another area of operation worth mentioning was our contribution to managing the “GAS DISASTER” in Bhopal in 1984. Probably the first bell of Bhopal gas tragedy rang in Kasturba Hospital when one of our doctors Dr. Baig was brought in a moribund condition. While we were busy in managing him with the best of our resources, a spate of serious patients started pouring in and by afternoon more than 2000 patients arrived. The entire team of our doctors and hospital staff stood to the catastrophe and accomplished an impossible task of managing our 10000 OPD and 1000 in patient load. The entire staff stayed in the hospital round the clock for 4 days and their meals etc. were arranged by the hospital kitchen. We had solid support of BHEL Management in meeting the challenge. Our factory staff buses and ambulances were deployed to pick up seriously affected patients from remote areas and they did a wonderful job for rescuing serious patients and even took the risk of exposure to remaining toxic gas in the area. Our contribution was highly acclaimed by everyone and even Mother Teresa visited our hospital to convey her appreciation.
A major setback that our hospital had to face recently was the collapse of a part of the North Wing on 26th April 2013. But with support of and timely and heroic action by Dr. Dheeraj (our DNB student) and Nursing staff present on duty the causalities could be minimized. Later BHEL Management thoroughly investigated the incidence and decided to demolish the whole structure and a new double storied building was constructed in record time and was inaugurated by our Director HR Mr. D. Bandopashyay.
Mr. D. Bandopashyay. The ground floor of this new building is being utilized for OPD services of all specialties except Medicine, ENT and Opthalmology. The 1st floor has been inaugurated by our CMD, Shri Atul Sobti, where the Medical and Surgical Wards will be started in near future after elevator facility is installed.
To conclude, Kasturba Hospital has come a long way and has tried to live upto the expectations of BHEL management and our patients. Despite some setbacks Kastuba Hospital has achieved its aim of alleviating disease and suffering in the BHEL community.