Skims_ A commitment to Quality Health Services? HOW CAN WE DO BETTER?

Skims_ A commitment to Quality Health Services? VISION_ MISSION_VALUES-No name, no blame(no accusations);no shame in acknowledging-HOW CAN WE DO BETTER? While assessing Health Care Quality From the Patient's Perspective--beyond “Pads, pens, prescriptions."It's not just political correctness. It's good medicine . To achieve the improvement in the quality of medical care: building bridges among professional pride and patient satisfaction –All need vision and health Care reforms and above all a human touch. To achieve success in this mission -We Need Honesty And Facts, bold statements..Not Fear And half truths –With your own organization, abiding by the “praise in public, criticize in private” philosophy can help contribute to a smooth sailing ship, but there are times when you can invoke the family clause with integrity says Dr Fiaz Fazili-------------------------------------------------------------- Medicine is not a trade; it is a calling where the physician not only thinks with his head but also with his heart." - Prof. Mohandas,; SKIMS - A Vision ; Maintaining the Health of the Worlds swelling population ranks amongst the highest of social priorities and healthcare providers stand in the front line of this all-important effort. Beyond politics the valleyitis definitely acknowledge the founder of this premier Institute ,Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah had a vision of building a world class hospital in state in treating sub-speciality diseases(medical and surgical) in a period of ---years.,where Individuals within valley and around, were assured access to quality health care regardless of ability to pay in a clean environment. Mission-. The Beginning. The SKIMS had its genesis as an independent Governing body with its team leadership in Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah.His dedicated team of imminent professionals like DR Ali Jan ,Dr Allaqband ;Dr. M.S .Khuroo; Dr.A.A Guru , Dr M. Shafi ;DR Nagpal who laid firm foundations to this noble mission. Subsequently, Sheikh and his team member’s international travel exposed them to the highly impressive standards of hygiene and competence of medical services in the West. Whenever they travelled abroad they became more and more conscious of the difference in the standards of healthcare. Our doctors, they believed were as talented as any – the difference therefore, was in the environment they operated in and in the technology used. Since they could not change the existing environment they were in , Shaikh Abdullah decided to create the environment for himself. The idea of setting up his own hospital took root in his mind.Shaikh Abdullah grew obsessed with an overpowering desire to provide similar standards of professional health care in state . He left no stone unturned, no expense spared until in 1983-4 SKIMS opened its doors to the public. On it the founders of SKIMS saw the foundations of a mighty hospital which would be different from any other .SKIMS was created true to this vision. The hospital was designed by architects after studying innovations in hospital design the world over. The result is a path-breaking structure – The campus has extensive planting with lush green environment and the rooms with generous views of greenery. Separate entrances for emergency, outpatients and inpatients and their attendants They looked around at the shrubs and trees, breathed in the fresh air and foresaw a green campus that would be a healing environment for patients. All this went into the creation of modern (-Modern institute of research,technology,patient care). SKIMS quickly grew into a premier multi-specialty hospital, continuously adding new departments that collaborate in the treatment of complex cases. From diagnostic scans and computer navigation to miniaturized instruments, the hospital has invested heavily in the latest technology, resulting in precise diagnoses, minimally invasive treatments and faster recovery periods. Thus, the seed of desire sown with dedication and nurtured with concerted effort sprouted and now stands before us as the imposing structure of SKIMS . They say from a small acorn grows a mighty oak and that’s true for SKIMS too. It grew from the seed in the mind of one man. That man was Shaikh Mohammad Abdullah, beyond politics if this man is admired for anything –it is SKIMS soura. Putting Patients First - A long standing reputation for quality health care along with premier diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities enabled us to treat the most complex , high risk and complicated patients, a factor which had resulted in the institute being recognized amongst the best tertiary care hospitals at international level and a treatment destination for all patients even from neighboring states providing quality health care to patients of all age groups including new born.The number of complicated surgeries, gastroenterology interventions, therapy for cancer patients performed during years and the commitment to provide highest quality of medical care with compassion and concern for each patient's well being had earned SKIMS the recognition of a "Center of Excellence" in multi specialty care. Our dedication to building a patient driven environment through the creation and exchange of knowledge is the decisive factor for our success. We the professionals constantly strive to upgrade our professional health care services by increasing our knowledge and competence based on training methodologies of global standards. Through our essence of high teamwork we bring together all necessary disciplines and skills from many resources of our organization to serve our patients better and attempt to set the institution in a league of its own. Committed to 'Putting Patients First', skims consistently upgrades skills and technology to offer the best in global healthcare. It’s the only hospital in valley to have facilities for sub specialty care and several crucial medical and research fields.It has a brilliant Hospital administration specialists - masters in their specialties,; with no doubt members(Medics and Paramedics) of our present SKIMS team extensively work hard under very odd and difficult circumstances even at times when stones are pelted on them or ambulances are frisked dangerously.Staff of SKIMS strive to keep patient services intact update their knowledge and acquire new competencies to hone their skills, and most of them have earned international repute in their specialties, I wonder ,why our patients are not satisfied with service’s of SKIMS? A Hearsay or reality? Do our patients expect too much from SKIMs staff? Although patient care depends on a team work, duty consciousness but somehow this cohesiveness doesn’t percolate to the expectations of patient care.; hence a feeling of dissatisfaction amongst patients at large;Whether it is a system failure, organizational disarray, trust deficit or attitude problem. A number of common problems arise within the 'expectation zone',environment,circumstances where the patient or relatives appears rude, aggressive or generally unpleasant or is simply someone who does not want to follow hospital regulations .Have a close look at your staff?Staff are the shop window of the clinical practice. Consider carefully whether the frontline practice staff are the best advocates or driving patients away . How to manage your patients' and staff expectations in practice-? the issue of trust deficit needs to be addressed . OBJECTIVES and Scope for improvement; Setting best practice standards in health services, continuously improving performance and exceeding the expectations of patients and their families. Training and developing the best human resource as the key to deliver superior patient service. Consistently investing in technology and infrastructure to match International benchmarks. Building and maintaining long-term patient relationships, so as to become an essential resource for their well being. Continuously educating the community in the prevention of diseases—SKIMS works on all this .To meet the different needs of patients for hospital services, and to improve the hospital environment for the benefit of patients to serve the public with care, dedication and efficiency, and to encourage community participation in the system, resulting in better care and to provide rewarding, fair and challenging employment to all staff, in an environment conducive to attracting, motivating and retaining well-qualified doctors to the needs of the community for hospital services and of the resources required needs a relook . OUR VALUES-Equipment, facilities, training programmes, nursing standards are all built around the guiding principle of patient welfare. Everything we do, from Director to security guard, we do for our patients recovery ; freedom from pain; the return to perfect health; the resumption of normal life. Hence we encapsulated this in a motto – “Putting Patients First”. The symbol of a “chinar leaf “ depicting " the shehjaar", on every doctor’s coat and on signage's all over the campus, is a constant reminder to all its staff , everyday, of their motto. We believe in simple word “Cure the patient by Caring and giving Human Touch”.Healing ;Understanding;Managing;Advanced technology;Nurturing---Tradition;Ongoing education;Unity;Continuing quality care;Hope.. BURNING PROBLEM-The staff at SKIMS usually blame over crowdedness as an excuse of patient dissatisfaction .if SKIMS mission ,status and purpose is to be preserved certain bold administrative steps ate to be taken;sKIMS should not accept patients without referrals from District/sub district and or GMC associated hospitals for which modalities can be framed like a formal request through FAX can be sent to patient affairs(under Hospital administration)dept of SKIMs who are present 24x7 can in Consultation with concerned specialty and subspecialty(on call team, for routine opd appointment or emergency transfer prioritize/facilitate interhospital transfers on the basis of patient status and bed availability, while emergency admissions through emergency shall be open 24x7.Also SKIMS should provide Tele medicine facilities connection with District/subdistrict hospitals for consultation or interhospital transfer –this will definitely lessen burden on SKIMS specialized clinics. Managing expectations Managing expectations cannot simply consist of you trying to tell other departments and individuals in your organization what you can and cannot do. It must be a collaborative process in which both parties learn to understand and respect each other The key is properly managing expectations: your expectations and the expectations of your clients(patients). You all need to be on the same page, focusing on what you can each do to work well with each other. Dr.Fiaz Fazili i(Acute care & Trauma surgeon)_ is also a member of patient safety committee on joint commission of accreditations And Quality management standards.