International Nurses Day !!

There could not be another auspicious day to write this... International Nurses Day ... (Fortunately it also happens to be the FM (faciities management day) as I work in this segement... the front end warriors...

As you all are already aware that recently I was hospitalised @ Dinanath Mangeshkar Hospital (DMH) in Pune so not touching more on my personal points I straight enter to the core subject that I would like to highlight.  This is a mix of context in terms of the overall hospital management and also the service that nursing staff provides at this and all the places in the globe.  Hats off guys for being there.

I am in Pune for last over 17 years and staying in Kothrud for over 15 years.  Obviously DMH is the place we visit for all our medical needs as its easily accessible, closer.  Though these are the geographical advantage, moreover, why they attract you is the way they deal with you.  I have experience their best of the best healthcare service for my mother, my wife, myself for 2 to 3 times and many other relatives, friends etc.  I don't know why, but its always close to the heart.  

At the outset,  my sincere thanks and salute to the entire nursing fraternity who are devoting their life in serving the nation, globe in this very tough situation we are all going through.  

I also convey my special thanks to the entire Mangeshkar family to create such a fully equipped health care support.  Though the family is on the top of the ladder touching sky or beyond in Music world, having achieved this position there, they are also touching everyones life by creating such a fabulous facility for common man. 

Heartfelt thanks to Mangeshkar family.

When there is lot of talk and news is spread about bed availability and other malpractices around Covid care and when I convey my experience it is very hard to believe that something of that sort could be happening.  Yes it may be happening as people experience their real time incidences like am sharing.  

One full building and part of the another building is dedicated to fight Covid.  Right from the security proactively guide you where you are supposed to go.  If you have serious problems, you are directed to ER1 and ER2 (Emergency rooms).  If you have symptoms you are directed to Fever OPD.  I must mention here that they have let go one canteen and entire areas has been created as a Fever OPD.  There is helpdesk, doctors team, registration, Rapid Antigen test and then medicine (everything under one roof).  Moreover, the team is so supportive that they come to you, talk to you and guide based on your symptoms.  400 to 500 patients are daily visiting this place and everyone is attended to his fullest satisfaction and treated well. 

As I already gone through above process, and was having some  issues, it was early morning 5.30 am when we went there in less than 15 minutes I was put on oxygen.  The thoughtful thing they have done is that as soon as you enter, the entire sit out waiting lobby has been provisioned with the Oxygen stations and 15 - 20 people can avail this facility in one go.  By the time your relatives or attendants can find out the room availability, bed availability you are being treated.  The process is very fast right from registration to put you on the medical aid.  The guys really run around and make sure that you get it right in time.  Moreover, unlike other big corporate hospitals the staff is very courteous and they speak the native language which is an added advantage for localites. Sometimes not being professional but being courteous helps a lot for a patient.  As most of problems of any health hazard is the worry and administrative pains you go through while you are availing these services.  25% relief you get here itself. 

May be it was our good luck or what we got bed in less than an hour and there again I was quickly treated by the emergency staff.  It was early in the morning but we never felt as everything was happening in lightening speed.

I was on my bed where in no less than 2 mins, I was again put on required medical aid.  The staff kept coming in and checking required parameters and reporting it appropriately. 

I must share on example that there was an elderly patient besides my room, whose oxygen levels were below 80 always and the person was not eating at all.  His family used to send tiffin and also canteen food was arranged, but he used to refuse.  The nurse really forced him to eat and on three occasions she really fed him by her own hands saying that "you have to eat this otherwise the medicines will not work and you will have to stay here".  I also helped her by talking to the guy and telling him why eating some food is necessary.  This is actually not the job a nurse, but a patient care.  I really appreciate this gesture.  That is the reason I said there could not be better day that International Nurses Day to express our gratitude. 

Timely medicines, IV support, morning freshen up and sponging for patients who are not able to do on their own.  Continuous follow up on how they are feeling, are the patients sleeping properly. 

Though its very common, but timely checks on your BP, Sugar, Oxygen levels etc. without any follow up it used to happen.  While doing this, they also boost your morale by saying your values are much better than yesterday and soon you will be recovered.

I must mention the hospital food timings, they are just perfect and everything reaches you right in time with right quantity and balanced food.    By the time you finish the same and feel little relaxed, a team of two staff will visit and ask you to do some breathing exercise.  This is best part of the entire treatment.  As breathing is something that is a core thing you need to have a better control and improve upon.  Very light but effective exercises they recommend. They will come and ask you to do it everyday in their presence.  There also is a whatsapp number, you say a hi to that and the list of exercises with pictorial view and postures will be sent on your whatsapp.  You need to follow it on daily basis on a frequency that your doctor advises.

Same goes for the doctors visit, once in a day a main doctor visits you and wins you by heart by his talk and he gets connected very well with you and immediately after checking, he will as you to connect to your family and they speak to your family members updating the status.  So everyday my wife used to get updates directly from a doctor - what a relief.  In my case it was Dr. Vishnudas Telbhare.  I really appreciate his energies, the way he handles patient. He is more of a friend that a doctor and explains you in a simple language.  Everyone is fueled with energy and also with an objective of immediate cure and early discharge - rather than pulling on your stays and add on to your billing.  They are just opposite to this.  They want you to recover fast, go home and take good care at home, rather than staying in hospital for longer duration. Thank you doctor and entire team of doctors, nurses and other supporting staff. (person who are filling your water bottles, carrying your clothes from your relatives and returning the used ones with all the precautionary measures... persons carrying your medicines from the Pharmacy, canteen staff and the cleaning staff).  Everyone is just so courteous that they deal smooth. 

I dont want to mention the names  etc. but have seen patients dealing very rudely with these staff in terms of demanding services, unreasonable arguments with the lower staff, using unreasonable or unfair language to the staff.  They do not understand that they are dealing with all the patients at that floor, ward or room.  They expect a service like restaurants or hotel and treat the supporting staff very badly.  I am not convinced this kind of approach of patients.  They dont come out of their own suites and realise that they are in a suit of patient and not the one they move around and in a process this happens.  I asked the staff why dont you complain of these people, they said, sir its our duty and these are the challenges that we have to handle.  Hats off to this answer.

The discharge process particularly with mediclaim it is a lengthy process at every hospital as here multiple agencies are involved and no body really has a control on this process..... you are happily discharged with all instructions etc... you come our and even the Rickshaw fellow who is happily waiting for you to take you home.  Though my distance is just few KMs and the bill wont go beyond Rs.30/- none of the times they refused to come.

This is what I could express on International Nurses Day....

Imagine in the pandemic today what could be our fate without these guys around. 

So I repeat my salute to the entire fraternity and stop here...

Sharad Puranik

Pune, May 12, 2021.