Learn an English Word
Nutritional Facts
CAUTION
Alertness , a warning against danger Eg: The police cautioned the city dwellers of a gang of dacoits thought to have entered the city.
Pineapple
Fresh pineapple is an excellent source of antioxidant vitamin C. The fruit is rich in B-complex, riboflavin and thiamine. What’s more, fresh pineapple is low in calories.
VAATSALYA TIMES
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2012
Vaatsalya Chronicles
Candle Light Musings
Life and Journey of Dr. V. Renganathan former Vice President
Page 2
Dussehra Celebrations at Vaatsalya
Swami Vivekananda The Day Pain Died World Anaesthesia Day Page 3
Feature on Diabetes by Dr. Haroon
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Vaatsalya Turns Eight ... !
D
ear Friends, Its a great privilege for me to be writing to all of you to congratulate you on the 8th anniversary celebrations of Vaatsalya. Over the last 8 years, we have built a new model of healthcare, which is now cited as a pioneering model. The Porter Prize awarded to Vaatsalya is a testimony to that. More importantly, we have continually focussed on building an organisation which is based on ethical practice, which encourages development of our team, and which values the contribution
A
of each individual to Vaatsalya. This is also the right time for us to make investments in building for the next seven years. In the beginning of the year, we had committed to focus on training, quality and performance management; and to make them the building block for our future. I am happy to note that we have made significant progress on all fronts. While the journey is long and will require lot of hard work from all of you, we have made a good beginning. We are the largest hospital network in India to focus on Tier II and Tier
III towns, and this year we want to grow even further, by venturing into Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The years ahead will bring new challenges, new areas of expansion and new learnings for all of us. As long as we work together towards our goals, with our values held strong in our hearts, the spirit of Vaatsalya will forge ahead. I am honored to be a part of this team of Vaatsalya which is bringing affordable healthcare to small towns. Thank you all for your efforts and contribution. Dr. Ashwin Naik CEO, Vaatsalya Healthcare Solutions
New Lease of Life at 90!
rare surgery of an elderly person was successfully accomplished at Vaatsalya Hospital, Anantapur. G. Yerrinagappa, a laborer in the Chedulla village of Anantapur district was brought to the hospital with a fractured thigh bone (trochanteric right femur). His wife, Saraswathi said, “He rolled over and fell from a cot while he was sleeping. The pain in his hip was so intense that he couldn’t move at all. We rushed him to the emergency ward at Vaatsalya hospital.” One look at the patient was enough to caution the doctors that this surgery was not to be a regular one. At ninety years of age, Yerrinagappa was susceptible to contraction of infection, reaction to anaesthesia or blood clotting, if the slightest precaution was not maintained. An Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) surgery was For online version visit www.vaatsalya.com
Page 5
performed in the next one hour while Yerrinagappa’s family waited anxiously. First, the broken bone was put back into place. A 135-degree angle plate (with a 75mm Richard screw) was then placed on the broken bone and 4 cortical screws were used to hold the broken bone together. Dr. Anand Naik, (Orthopedic Surgeon) who performed the surgery disclosed, “ORIF surgery was required in Yerrinagappa’s case because casting or splinting alone would not have healed the fracture correctly. At his age (90 years), the chances of damage to nerves and blood vessels, formation of blood clots in the leg that can break off and travel to the lung, causing pulmonary or cardiac complexities are high. However, he did not have any history of cardiac or blood pressure problems. This was a plus point that helped us operate on him immediately after a quick
B. Kalyani Hospital Correspondent Vaatsalya Hospital Anantapur
assessment of his bodily conditions.” Post the surgery, Yerrinagappa was advised to walk 2-3 times, initially with the help of support (crutches) in order to avoid any complications. Wife, Saraswathi heaved a sigh of relief as the staff nurses helped Yerrinagappa walk a few steps to understand his range of motion post the operation. Hospital Administrator Gopal Sharma added, “Our wellequipped ICU and good intensivists go a long way in providing the best service and care to our patients”.
Left to right : Dr. Anand Yerrinagappa after the surgery
Naik
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VAATSALYA TIMES
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2012
Vaatsalya Chronicles “The journey is the treasure.”(Lloyd Alexander) Dr. Renga (as he is known at Vaatsalya) donned multiple hats and has been a troubleshooter, a counselor, a negotiator, a spokesperson and most importantly an individual who has been the conscience keeper of the organization and helped keep up the SPIRIT of Vaatsalya. This October, Vaatsalya team bid him farewell and wished him luck for his future endeavors. Vaatsalya Times (VT) team got into a small off-the-record chat with him to know the man behind the suit (or the T-shirt!). Excerpts from the talk: VT: Could you share a significant
incident in your childhood that shaped you as a student and as an individual? I grew up in Madurai, one of the few cities which never sleep. I attended government aided elementary school and as I remember majority of the students were poor and some came to school because they will get one free mid-day meal. This experience helped me cherish whatever I have. All my schooling was in Tamil medium and I learnt English as one of the language requirements. Almost all students were uncomfortable with English and so was I. The problem got aggravated in pre-university when I had to switch to English medium. It was so horrifying that I had to memorize even the lab procedures on the mornings of practical exams. The necessity to focus on English came through an ultimatum from an elder brother who was upset that his brother (I) couldn’t converse in English. He simply said “I don’t care if you get your degree or not but you MUST speak in English”. Well, in a year’s time I was debating in English (but never won any)! Did I master the language in 1 year? No, it was all inside me all those
years because I had been reading English newspapers and listening to news in English. When I was in the USA, I had to relearn English because Americans speak slowly and they write short sentences which are easy to understand. Indians generally believe speaking English “fast” is the way to prove our command over the language. We also love writing “paragraph” sentences. Both of these are not considered as marks of proficiency in English. VT: How did you decide on returning
to India from the U.S.A? VR: The reason for the transcontinental move was to start “Biotech Wizard”, a start-up focused on competitive analysis for the pharma/biotech industry. VT: Is there something that you now
think you should’ve done differently? VR: Biotech wizard was too difficult to build and would have served only a small market. I should have chosen a product which had a large customer base and could be built over time. VT: How did Vaatsalya happen? VR: I was introduced to Vaatsalya/ Ashwin by an acquaintance, whom I met in Bangalore Biotech Expo 2005. Subsequently I met Ashwin
Dr. V. Renganathan served first as Vice President Alliance and then as Vice President - Chronic Disease Management at Vaatsalya. He has been a part of the foundi ng-team and is one of those people who have known how Vaatsalya started up, what struggles it went through, what the small victories were and what the big battles were. at the Vaatsalya headquarters which was in the ground floor of a house in Koramangala. I liked the concept though I was very new to the healthcare industry. Both Ashwin and Veeroo were very open-minded and let me in to Vaatsalya. VT: How has the journey at Vaatsalya
been? VR: It was good overall. Though time to time we faced some difficulties, we grew steadily under the leadership of Ashwin. If Ashwin is the General, Veeroo and Rocky are the captains who are winning the battles. VT: Having been associated with
Vaatsalya since its inception years, you have seen it growing from a small group to a large organization. Did you perceive the company in its present avatar, back then? How do you see Vaatsalya ten years from now? VR: I did not perceive how Vaatsalya would grow. Sure it would face issues in the future but will grow nevertheless because healthcare is a growing industry and because Vaatsalya is a strong player in its segment. VT: You are an exercising buff, and
you’ve developed your own set of exercises with an iron bar. Could you share some of your thoughts / views on this?
The Founding Team : Left to right - Dr. Renganathan, Dr. Veerendra Hiremath, Dr. Ashwin Naik and Mr. Rocky Philip For online version visit www.vaatsalya.com
VR: 1975 was the year I joined a gym in Madurai for a price of Rs. 3 per month. I quit in a few months because I had better uses for those three rupees. As for exercise, I am my own trainer. My first rule is to avoid injury by not forcing the body to bend, twist or lift weights that it does not want to. For example, Crunches which people do to burn off fat in their bellies, is a useless
exercise and is guaranteed to cause neck sprain. Yet every trainer forces his/her trainees to do this exercise. My second rule is: Be regular and consistent. Again, I have often seen young guys sweating it out in the gym and they are never to be seen in the gym after a few months. I try to invent new exercises which are simple to do and require minimum financial investments. Yes, I have developed an exercise routine with a single bar which will exercise the entire upper body. If done regularly it could sculpt the abs and it requires only 15 sq ft of space. Even a person staying in PG/hostel can comfortably do these routines when watching their favorite TV channel. VT: An experience or incident that
changed the course of your life: VR: This incident happened in 1995. At that time I was living in the US and was visiting Chennai. One of my relatives suggested I should visit Stree Seva mandir, a charitable organization providing services for women and children, and make a small donation as well. At Stree Seva Mandir there was a creche providing free daycare service to some orphans and laborers’ children. The creche, which was one hall with a small kitchen at the end, was in a very dilapidated condition. We were told that during monsoon times, the roof would leak and (sometimes) snakes would enter the building. The floor was damp and some half naked babies were sleeping on tattered mats. I was videotaping the place and my wife was following me. Suddenly I found my wife along with my daughter were missing. They were outside and my wife was crying inconsolably because just the previous month we were searching for a daycare for our -2-
VAATSALYA TIMES
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2012
daughter (in the U.S.) and my wife rejected many places because they were not up to the mark; while at Stree Seva Mandir, babies of the same age as our daughter were sleeping on cold floors. The person-in-charge of the daycare said, “Don’t cry; you can change this situation. Why don’t you construct a building for these babies? ” They apparently had a site and a building plan but did not have funds for the project. We went to the office, committed to the funds for a building and headed back
to the US. We neither had the money ourselves nor had we ever undertaken a project of this nature. Undeterred, we launched a letter writing campaign, which was highly successful. In about 18 months Stree Seva mandir had a permanent structure which could house over 80 children. I was not socially conscious until this incident. Subsequently I helped my wife to found Sawera, an NGO focused on protecting women against domestic violence. Today Sawera is a US federal government recognized NGO and gets regular funding from the federal (central) government. VT: Is there something
that you didn’t venture into but now wish that you had done it?
VR: My very earliest entrepreneur ial idea was to build a Jasmine extraction plant in Madurai because Madurai is well-known for its Mallige. Other than this craving I neither possessed the knowledge nor the money to fund the project. Companies which entered the flower extraction business much later apparently made it big. So the only consolation is at least my hypothesis was right. VT: What changes will happen since
you’re leaving? VR: (Answers with a wink!) Three things that will change in the management at Vaatsalya:
1. The average age of managers will decrease. 2. The average BMI (Body Mass Index) will increase! 3. The average amount of hair per square inch of scalp on the heads of managers will increase!
The Day Pain Died - World Anaesthesia Day Suffocating the patient with Carbon Dioxide; Hammering on the head (to make a subdural haematoma type injury to make the patient unconscious/ semiconscious); making patients drink some opiates and alcohol to sedate them.… Can you guess what all these techniques were used for? These were the ancient and crude attempts for controlling and eliminating pain to conduct a surgical operation. On 16th October 1846, the possibility of performance of painless surgery was accepted by the world. William Thomas Green Morton, a student of Boston Medical School publicly demonstrated successful administration of Ether Anaesthesia. He performed the removal of jaw tumour of Gilbert Abbott in the amphitheatre of Massachusetts General Hospital. Since then October 16th is celebrated as World
Anaesthesia Day and Dr Morton is known as Father of Anaesthesiology. Anaesthesia is now considered one of humanity’s great inventions. It made possible pain-free operations and reduced suffering. Depending on the type of operation and procedure used, there are two types of anaesthesia: General Anaesthesia - which causes
Now-a-days, with advanced techniques and new drugs, patient safety and in all areas of surgery, obstetrics, intensive care and pain management is becoming easier. The role of anaesthesia and an anaesthetist is not limited to the operation theatre; the two play a major role in maintaining ICU
complete loss of consciousness; and Regional Anaesthesia - which causes loss of sensation from the particular body part which is to be operated on.
and other emergency departments, chronic pain management and labour analgesia. Like other branches, Anaesthesiology has sub-specialties
Compiled by Dr. Mali H. I. Medical Director & Consulting Anaesthesiologist, Vaatsalya Hospital, Gadag
such as cardiac anaesthesia, neurosurgical anaesthesia, paediatric anaesthesia, orthopaedic anaesthesia, ambulatory anaesthesia, etc. An Anaesthesiologist is often known as the ‘’Man behind the Mask’’; who they are still remains a mystery to majority of the people since they work within the four walls of the operation theatre, sometimes as a “less visible form” of patient care. However, the role played by a qualified anaesthesiologist is crucial. During the surgical procedure an anaesthetist will monitor the patient’s heart rate, blood pressure, breathing and other neurological responses till the patient is conscious again. People are now more aware of anaesthesia and it would not be surprising if in future a patient asks who her anaesthetist is.
Children’s Day Across Vaatsalya Hospital Children’s day falls on November 14th every year in India. Children’s day in India is celebrated on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday as a day of fun and frolic. The day celebrates For online version visit www.vaatsalya.com
the treasure of “childhood” in rememberance of Pt. Nehru who dearly loved children. Vaatsalya Hospital celebrated children’s day with a range of innovative and fun
filled activities across its hospitals in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. The activities included Healthy Baby Competition, Cultural Activity for Kids and Quiz Competition for
School Children etc. Along with the kids, the parents also participated in the events with lots of enthusiasm. Here’s a glimpse of celebrations across Vaatsalya hospitals. -3-
VAATSALYA TIMES
THE ALBUM
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2012
CHILDREN’S DAY CELEBRATION
VAATSALYA ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
For online version visit www.vaatsalya.com
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VAATSALYA TIMES
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2012
November 14th - World Diabetes Day Every year, November 14th is observed as World Diabetes Day. According to World Health Organization, more than 340 million people all over the world have diabetes. Diabetes is found in larger numbers in our country. If the patients do not keep diabetes under control, they face multiple problems. Important among them are untimely death, blindness, heart attack, paralysis, kidney failure, nerve damage,
the blood, practicing timely intake of food and by quitting smoking.
Diabetes and Eye Problems:
impotency etc., but a diabetic person can lead a normal life, if he/she keeps diabetes under check..
Persons with diabetes may face many problems related to eyes such as cataract and glaucoma. Many small blood vessels which supply nutrients to retina may be harmed because of diabetes. Because of this, the possibility of the eyes getting completely weak is upto 4 times more in diabetic persons than in non-diabetic persons. Diabetic patients may become blind or have double vision. They must see an eye-specialist immediately if they get redness or burning sensation in eyes. If diabetic patients want to avoid these problems, they have to keep their blood sugar, blood cholesterol and blood pressure under control.
Diabetes and Heart Problems:
Diabetes and Kidney Problems:
The possibility of getting heart problems is three times more in a diabetic person in comparison to a non-diabetic, healthy individual. Additionally if a diabetic person has the habit of smoking and/or has high blood pressure (B.P.) with a lot of cholesterol in blood, the chances of getting heart problems increase. The blood vessels meant to take nutrition to the heart get blocked in persons having uncontrolled diabetes. Common indications of heart problems are chest pain, back or shoulder pain, breathlessness, dyspnea, swelling of feet etc. These heart problems can be avoided by controlling the levels of sugar and cholesterol in
For people with uncontrolled diabetes possibility of kidney failure is high. The first indication of kidneyfailure is Micro Albuminuria, that is, appearance of small quantities of protein in urine. If it is not controlled at this stage, the protein continues to increase in content and the kidney fails. Such persons will have to get dialysis or get kidney transplantation done. If diabetes patients have dyspnea, swellings in body, weakness, vomiting, low output of urine, problem with respiration, they must see their doctor immediately. They should ensure that they get the Micro Albuminuria test done, as advised by the doctor.
Diabetes and Foot Problems: For persons with uncontrolled diabetes blood supply may be insufficient (for extended period of time) because of problems with blood vessels. In addition to this, they may also have problems with nerves. Their feet may feel less sensitive, as a result of which they may incur wounds on their feet repeatedly. In some people, the wounds may not heal and may develop into gangrene, leading to a stage when legs will have to be amputated. Diabetics should enquire from their doctor about the type of socks and foot wear to wear and about the ways to keep their feet clean. If there is severe pain, blisters, wound, and puss in legs or if the color of the legs changes to red or blue, they must see a doctor immediately.
Diabetes and Food Habits: Consult your doctor and diabetes specialist and learn about proper diet and follow regular food habits. Learn about food with more fiber and less calories. Fiber helps to keep your sugar under control. Avoid fried food. See that you have plenty of beans, methi, mint, coriander, spinach leaves, cabbage, radish, drum sticks, lady finger, cucumber, bitter gourd, capsicum and onion in your daily food. Potato, beet root, sweet potato and yam, should not be used. Butter, ghee, coconut oil, vanaspati should be avoided. Sugar, jaggery, ice cream and other sweet items should not be eaten.
Compiled by Dr. Haroon H., MD Consultant Physician & Diabetologist Vaatsalya Hospital, Hassan
Diabetes and Exercise: Diabetic persons should exercise at least 5 days a week for 30-45 minutes. They should consult their doctor to find out the type of exercise that is good for them. Swimming, brisk-walking, cycling are good exercises. Not only does exercise keep blood-sugar under control, it also reduces weight, keeps the heart healthy, and helps induce a new and great confidence in an individual.
Important instructions to Diabetic patients: 1. Get the blood and urine tests done in time according to your doctor’s advice. 2. Know proper time and method of taking insulin and other medicines and the dosage from your doctor. 3. Keep blood control.
pressure
under
4. Do not smoke. 5. Keep blood cholesterol under control. LDL cholesterol should be less than 100 mg /dl and Triglycerides should be less than 150 mg /dl. 6. HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c) content in blood should be less than 7%.
All Vaatsalya Hospitals across Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh conducted awareness events on Diabetes Day. The initiative was recognised by the International Diabetes Federation. For online version visit www.vaatsalya.com
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VAATSALYA TIMES
NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2012
Congratulations
Candle Light Musings “When I asked God for strength He gave me difficult situations to face.
Employee of the Month October 2012
When I asked God for brain & brown He gave me puzzles in life to solve. When I asked God for happiness He showed me some unhappy people. K Srinivasulu
Kislay Anand
Aarogyasri Coordinator Zonal Head of Operations - SK Vaatsalya Hospital, Anantapur Vaatsalya Bangalore
Vidya Ravindra
Hospital Aide Vaatsalya Hospital, Chikmagalur
When I asked God for wealth He showed me how to work hard.
Premalata
Housekeeping Staff Vaatsalya Hospital, Gadag
When I asked God for favors He showed me opportunities to work hard. When I asked God for peace He showed me how to help others. Mahesh J K
Staff Nurse Vaatsalya Hospital, Gulbarga
Nagesh
Ward Boy Vaatsalya Hospital, Hassan
Basavraj S Jaali
Office Assistant Vaatsalya Hospital, Hubli
God gave me nothing I wanted He gave me everything I needed.”
Sharadamma
Staff Nurse Vaatsalya Hospital, Malur
- Swami Vivekananda Contributed By : P. Mahadeva Reddy, PCC, Malur
Deepa
OT Assistant Vaatsalya Hospital, Mandya
Manjunath B
Ward Boy Vaatsalya Hospital, Mysore
K.Gowri Bhavani
Veerabhadrudu
Staff Nurse
TPA Co-ordintor
Vaatsalya Hospital, Narasannapeta Vaatsalya Hospital, Proddatur
Word Search Puzzle
Manjunath C P Housekeeping Staff
We invite our readers to send us write-ups / quotes/ poems that linger on in their minds as food for thought at times@vaatsalya.com.. We will be happy to publish them in the readers’ own space : Candle Light Musings. CROSS WORD PUZZLE : THEME - OPPOSITES ATTRACT
Girish T S
Vaatsalya Hospital, Shimoga
Housekeeping Supervisor
Vaatsalya Hospital, Tarikere
Word Scramble Puzzle THEME : Eating Out! nrnDie hcnLu Rvesedre rWtseasi ieiusnC lMea eSevr etnegaVrai
Child
Prince
Baby
Manger
Born
Love
Wisement
Mary
Shepherds
Joy
Angels
Peace
Sing
elbaT
Savior
llBi
King
Btffue
ACROSS Find the given words in the maze of alphabets!
We would like to hear from you. Send your valuable suggestions & queries about Vaatsalya Times to times@vaatsalya.com or call our toll free number - 1800 425 88888 For online version visit www.vaatsalya.com
3. small 5. thick 6. full 8. long 9. fast 11. happy 12. cheap
15. hot 16. cool 17. heavy 18. arrive
DOWN 13. yes 1. noisy 2. beautiful 14. early 4. ask 7. new 9. hard 10. easy 11. buy
Complete the crossword with the opposite of the words given here
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