VISION FIRST, PATIENT FOREMOST

KIMSHEALTH scripts a new metaphor of inclusive growth across international borders with its proprietary version of ‘Human Technologies’. 

KIMSHEALTH is a quaternary care hospital network offering end-to-end healthcare services, right from primary to quaternary care, in India and Middle East. By bringing quality healthcare closer to the masses, KIMSHEALTH has been quietly but surely adding momentum to the accessibility and affordability revolution in the field of healthcare delivery in the country. Indeed, since 2002 (when the Group was conceived with its flagship quaternary-care hospital at Trivandrum, Kerala in the southern tip of India), the institution has kept its patients firmly at the heart of its ethos of care and cure, committing itself to ensuring that affordability doesn’t come at the cost of quality.

HISTORY & LEGACY 

It all began with the sparkle of an idea in the minds of a small team of family and friends – Dr M I Sahadulla, Dr G Vijayaraghavan, Mr E M Najeeb, Mr E Iqbal and Dr P M Zuhara. The aspiration was to establish a modern healthcare organization that would conform to the highest benchmarks of best practices and quality standards internationally. This was a time when private healthcare was in its infancy in Kerala. In pursuit of a resounding value system focused on Ethics and Evidence-based Medicine, KIMSHEALTH embarked on the journey it believed had the potential to transform lives. Several hardships and obstacles later, buoyed by the commitment and dedication of their staff, shareholders and stakeholders and spurred on by the encouragement of thousands of well-wishers - KIMSHEALTH saw the light of day. It hasn’t turned back since, expanding its presence and spreading its healing touch steadily over the years.

TRAVELLING FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH

The journey is finding resonance within and outside its communities, and KIMSHEALTH today ranks among the top 10 hospitals in India with top-notch healthcare delivery systems, evidence-based medicine, high-end facilities and quality-oriented practices. 

It is one of the largest healthcare networks in the regions it operates in, having grown from a 250 bed to a 2000 bed healthcare group with hospitals in major cities like Trivandrum, Kollam, Kottayam and Perinthalmanna in India, and Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE in the Middle East. The Group today cares for over 2.5 million local and international patients annually through its multidisciplinary team of over with 900 doctors and 6,000 healthcare professionals located across these locations. Its 900-bed flagship hospital situated in the capital city of Kerala.

The group’s newest addition, KIMSHEALTH East is an outstanding healthcare facility with most modern Operation Theatres, ICUs of international standards and Transplant Program for Kidney, Liver, Pancreas, Heart and Lungs.  In addition, it is slated as a Center of Excellence for wellness, high-risk obstetrics, advanced Perinatology and Neonatology.

The Institution has been parallelly building an ecosystem of talent leadership with a very strong Academic and Research institution which runs 19 postdoctoral DNB courses, Nursing College, Nursing School and Paramedical Institute. 

The spark to drive social transformation is captured succinctly in its credo statements…  

MISSION: To provide high-quality cost-effective care with courtesy, compassion and competence.
 
VISION: To be a leading healthcare organization of excellence that transforms lives through exceptional care.
 
VALUES: Compassion, Affordability, Ethics, Quality, Excellence, Transparency, Innovation, Trust.
 
It all comes together seamlessly in the organization’s revamped new brand identity: KIMSHEALTH, integrating the wide gamut of services and solutions under a consolidated umbrella philosophy of One Brand, One Experience.

SAYS THE LEADER

Leading the odyssey from the front with vision, courage and empathy is Dr. M.I. Sahadulla who is the Group Chairman & Managing Director. An internist by profession and a Fellow of Royal College of Physicians, Ireland and London, Dr. Sahadulla’s experience in the healthcare sector ranges over 40 years, which spans across several countries such as India, UK, Saudi Arabia, USA and Other nations of the Middle East. Says Dr. M. I. Sahadulla: “KIMSHEALTH has been revolutionizing the art of healthcare delivery through its focus on quality, patient safety and ethical practices. The group has established a fine tradition of healing by upholding the strengths of competence, compassion, technology and digitalization. Today, KIMSHEALTH is the largest healthcare network in the state of Kerala and is among the top leading healthcare organizations in the country. With a team of dedicated professionals who bring experience and expertise, cutting-edge facilities, world class treatment protocols, we strive to deliver quality care balancing the high expectations of patients and the increasing cost of medical technology. For us healthcare is not just a profession but a calling, where our patients and their families become an integral part of our legacy.”

QUALITY ABOVE ALL 

The Group’s commitment to steadily raise the bar of excellence is manifest in its national and international accreditations that demonstrate some of the highest clinical success rates and signify the strict quality and safety standards.
 
“Our healthcare infrastructure is equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology that can help perform the most complex and high-risk procedures in the safest environment. The sustenance of Quality in healthcare delivery is an essential and important factor which is only possible by implementing effective systems in place. At KIMSHEALTH, we leverage Key Performance Indicator as an effective tool to measure the patient outcome. 72 mandatory indicators help our departments to ensure that the outcome is measured and benchmarked to international standards. Any spike/trends in KPI are duly noted and addressed. Regular audits are performed on clinical outcomes and these results are shared with every staff member”, says Dr G Vijayaraghavan, Vice Chairman, KIMSHEALTH
 
Committees form the backbone of the Quality system.13 clinical and 10 non-clinical committees contribute extensively to enhance the quality of care.
 
Every employee who joins KIMSHEALTH has to go through a rigorous screening and onboarding program. Clinicians and paramedical staff have to undergo a stringent credentialing and privileging process which ensures that patients are in safe hands. Mandatory on-the-job training is part and parcel of enhancing the skills and competencies of staff.
 
In keep with the institution’s ‘Patient first’ motto, patient experience is part of this quality framework. The very latest Client Management Systems are actively used to iteratively refine the patient experience and, indeed surpass expectations. There are five portals for reporting patient complaints and suggestions, while effective and quick grievance redressal system ensures that patient suggestions and complaints are addressed with due importance, with no complaint ever left unheard. Clinical governance and ethical practices completes the picture of a culture that is progressive, ethical and inspiration. 

ACCOLADES & RECOGNITION 

An upshot of this meticulous pursuit of excellence is that KIMSHEALTH has been consistently ranking in the top 5 positions in the context of hospitals in India. It has also acquired a slew of quality accreditations from various prestigious quarters. Currently, KIMSHEALTH has 8 accreditations which include – ACHSI, NABH, NABL, NABH – Nursing, Medical Imaging Services, Blood bank, Emergency Department & National Neonatal Forum Level-III B for Neonatology. KIMSHEALTH has also been recognized as an EPIHC centre for ethical practices in healthcare. The team has also bagged the Patient safety award in the year 2009, Golden Peacock Award for Quality in Health Services in the year 2013 and AHPI award for Quality beyond accreditation. And Dr M.I Sahadulla (Group Chairman & Managing Director) is the only Asian Healthcare Leader to receive the prestigious ACHSI Gold Medallion for his contribution to Quality and Patient Safety.

A HEART THAT BEATS FOR SOCIETY

A socially responsible citizen, KIMSHEALTH has played a leading role in giving back to society, conducting sustainable community building campaigns and activities in fields like health, empowerment and engagement with compassion and courtesy and. A robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program today runs a diverse plethora of foundations across India and in the GCC region and has been providing free and subsidized care for the needy. 

Some of the dynamic Foundations in India include - Hrudaya Spandanam, Guruvandanam, Spine Foundation, Dialysis Foundation, KIMSHEALTH Charitable Trust, Touch a Life Foundation, Liver Foundation and Voice Foundation. In the GCC region, we have aligned with the Royal Charity Organization to provide free care to widows and orphans in addition to working with numerous governmental organizations, corporate and community associations on multiple initiatives.

KIMSHEALTH - Jaipur Foot Centre is another successful example of the organization’s CSR activity. It is a first of its kind joint charitable venture with Bhagavan Mahaveer Sahayatha Samithi (BMVSS) in Kerala to donate limbs, callipers and aids and appliances free of cost, and maintains an ‘open-door policy’ to welcome anyone with a disability to seek relief irrespective of geographical, social background, gender bias or religious affiliation. 

“At the core of KIMSHEALTH lies key pillars such as clinical excellence, state-of-the-art technology for diagnosis and treatment, ethics-based and quality-focused practices, academics and accreditations, IT base with comprehensive in-house HIS and management team backed by blue-chip PE investors. Patients have always been central to our operations and we devote our growth to them as they provide us with the inspiration and consistency to introduce new solutions and excel in our services within an ethical and transparent framework. We hope they will continue to provide us with new opportunities to redefine our healthcare delivery model and take the patient experience quotient higher and higher. Through KIMSHEALTH, our team has found our true voice and purpose, and we will continue in our quest to connect with the hearts of people by adding value and meaning to impact lives”, said Mr E M Najeeb - Executive Director, KIMSHEALTH. 

Technology for patient care at KIMSHEALTH 

“Healthcare is still largely inefficient.  There are inefficiencies for patients who are trying to access care and there are also inefficiencies for the healthcare workers who are taking care of those patients.  Our focus is on implementing technology that will provide patients with a seamless customer friendly experience.  Similarly, for Healthcare providers having tools to assist them with repetitive tasks and administrative requirements for providing healthcare so they can focus on caring for the patient”, said Dr Sheriff Sahadulla, Group CEO, KIMSHEALTH.

He also added that there are four key focus areas which they have chosen to augment their growth and quality focus across entities  

1. Technology and Digital Transformation
2. Standardized Clinical Practice
3. Accreditation across our entire Healthcare System
4. Learning Platform for our Employees
 

*This story is published by VOH team*