One of Mahatma Gandhi’s quotes sheds light on the importance of health, “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.” Healthcare is paramount and considered a treasure in life’s journey. What adds gold to this wealth are healthcare professionals and hospital networks. From an affordable range of services to excellent patient care, these networks help humanity to uplift its lifestyle. One such distinguished organisation is KIMSHEALTH.

With the mission to provide high-quality, cost-effective care with courtesy, compassion, and competence, KIMSHEALTH has become one of the prominent healthcare providers in India. Relentless work and a keen focus on delivering quality healthcare services to patients are some of the factors that make the organisation unique.

Growth of the Healthcare Tree

Established in 2002 by Dr. M.I. Sahadulla, KIMSHEALTH has become renowned for providing comprehensive healthcare services. The hospital network has grown from a 250-bed hospital to a network of 2000 beds with a substantial workforce of over 3,500 individuals. The workforce includes over 1,000 doctors, nurses, and allied health workers. This healthcare network now sees an average of 7,000 outpatients daily, highlighting the scale and reach of its healthcare services.

Since its inception, KIMSHEALTH has been operating in the Indian healthcare industry for over two decades. The hospital network provides comprehensive healthcare services that encompass primary to quaternary care covering the areas of India and the Middle East. Over the years, the network has expanded to include seven more multi-speciality hospitals and nineteen medical centres outside India in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Dubai, and India.

The Power of Eight

Establishing itself as a pioneer in the healthcare industry, KIMSHEALTH achieved an important milestone in 2006 by becoming the first hospital in India to achieve dual accreditation from both the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) and the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI). It has emerged as one of the leading hospitals in India, being at the forefront of introducing the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in Kerala’s healthcare industry.

Additionally, the hospital works on eight primary principles that set it apart from other hospitals and the newly redesigned logo embodies these core principles and values defining the organisation in the healthcare industry. It symbolises compassion, affordable healthcare, ethics, quality, excellence, transparency, innovation, and trust, visually representing KIMSHEALTH’s commitment to these ideals.

Delivering Healthcare Excellence

Healthcare today has covered a wide geographical area across the globe and invested in providing various products and services to those in need. However, barely, some organisations can manage to make healthcare affordable as well as accessible to everyone. KIMSHEALTH, unique as a Blue Diamond, sets itself apart with the following features and values:

Excellence in Healthcare: KIMSHEALTH is committed to delivering excellence in healthcare services. The hospital strives to provide the highest quality of medical care, leveraging the latest advancements in technology and medical practices.

Patient-Centric Approach: The hospital’s core philosophy revolves around prioritising the needs and well-being of its patients. It ensures personalised attention, compassion, and respect for every individual, aiming to provide a comfortable and healing environment.

Innovation and Research: The hospital emphasises innovation and research to enhance medical knowledge and treatments continually. It actively engages in research activities and collaborates with national and international institutions to bring innovative advancements in healthcare.

Continuous Learning and Development: KIMSHEALTH places great importance on the continuous learning and professional development of its staff. The organisation actively encourages its professionals to stay updated with the latest medical practices and advancements through training, education, and skill enhancement opportunities. By doing so, the hospital ensures that the medical professionals stay well informed and equipped to deliver high-quality healthcare services that reflect the latest standards and advancements within the medical field.

Maintaining Brand Reputation

Apart from features that make KIMSHEALTH a distinctive choice for healthcare services, several efforts by the hospital ensure making an impact on clients and their retention. They build trust, satisfaction, and long-term relationships with clients, patients, and stakeholders.

To maintain a positive brand reputation among clients, patients, and stakeholders, the hospital implements and maintains several strategies including:

Quality Healthcare: KIMSHEALTH places a strong emphasis on delivering high-quality healthcare services to its patients. Providing excellent medical care, state-of-the-art facilities, and employing skilled healthcare professionals, ensures positive patient experiences and outcomes.

Accreditation: KIMSHEALTH has accreditations from reputable organisations like the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals (NABH) and the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards International (ACHSI). This demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to meeting international quality and safety standards. These accreditations instil confidence in patients and stakeholders regarding the hospital’s credibility and reliability.

Patient-Centric Approach: The hospital prioritises patient comfort, safety, and satisfaction throughout the entire healthcare journey. KIMSHEALTH builds trust among patients and fosters positive relationships with them by listening to their needs, providing personalised care, and ensuring clear communication.

Transparent Communication: KIMSHEALTH maintains open and transparent communication with all stakeholders. It provides accurate and timely information about services, facilities, treatment options, and medical advancements. This approach helps establish trust, reduce misunderstandings, and maintain a positive reputation.

Continuous Improvement: KIMSHEALTH consistently strives to improve all aspects of its operations. The hospital regularly assesses and evaluates its performance, patient feedback, and industry trends to identify areas for enhancement. Implementing continuous improvement initiatives, demonstrates its commitment to delivering the best possible healthcare experiences.

Community Engagement: Though the masses are not directly involved in uplifting healthcare, it is of high importance to include them in healthcare awareness, such as knowledge about health, its services, benefits, precautions, preventive measures, etc. For that, KIMSHEALTH actively engages with the local community through various initiatives. It participates in health awareness programs, sponsors community events, and collaborates with local organisations. By being a responsible and active community member, the hospital reinforces its positive brand reputation, demonstrating its commitment to social responsibility.

Approachable and Affordable: KIMSHEALTH Hospital and its dedicated staff offer a wide variety of healthcare services, striving for the well-being of its patients. Blending its primary principles and values that revolve around patient care and hospitality, the hospital has become one of the best hospitals in India. In order to touch every corner that needs affordable medical attention, it implements the following plan and provides top-notch healthcare solutions.

Multi-tiered Pricing Structure: KIMSHEALTH adopts a multi-tiered pricing structure where services are priced differently based on the level of care required. This approach allows for greater affordability by offering a range of options to patients with varying financial capacities.

Government Schemes and Insurance Coverage: The hospital actively participates in government healthcare schemes and collaborates with insurance providers to aid patients in availing services at reduced costs. This involvement allows for wider coverage and financial support for patients who may otherwise struggle to access quality healthcare services.

Free/subsidised care: KIMSHEALTH allocates a certain percentage of its resources to provide subsidised or charity care for economically disadvantaged individuals or those who cannot afford the full cost of treatment. These programs aim to bridge the affordability gap and ensure essential healthcare services are accessible to all. Some of the recent initiatives include Hrudaya Spandanam, completing one hundred free heart surgeries, the Touch a Life Foundation for cancer patients, the Spine Foundation, the Liver Foundation, the Dialysis Foundation, and the Voice Foundation for needy people.

Telemedicine and Remote Consultations: KIMSHEALTH utilises telemedicine and remote consultation services to expand access to healthcare. This approach allows patients to seek medical advice and consultation remotely, reducing the need for physical visits and making healthcare more accessible, particularly for individuals in remote areas.

Collaborations and Partnerships: The hospital collaborates with pharmaceutical companies, research organisations, and other healthcare institutions to leverage joint resources, share knowledge, and reduce costs. Such partnerships can contribute to affordable and accessible healthcare through shared infrastructure, technology, and expertise.

Bringing Innovation to Healthcare

Over the past few years, innovation has brought about significant changes in various industries, transforming work and lifestyles. Although healthcare has been slower to adopt innovation historically, it has experienced remarkable advancements, particularly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic acted as a catalyst for healthcare innovation, leading to impressive progress in a relatively brief period.

Focusing on quality patient care with the incorporation of advanced techniques, KIMSHEALTH has implemented innovative technologies. They include automated sponge tracking and electronic health records (EHRs) to improve patient outcomes and enhance efficiency. The hospital has also integrated telemedicine services to increase accessibility to healthcare, particularly for patients in remote areas. Details are mentioned as follows:

Automated Surgical Sponge Tracking

The issue of unintentionally leaving gauze pieces, sponges, or surgical instruments inside the body during surgical procedures has always been a concern. These occurrences can result in serious complications, harm to the patient, and damage the reputation of hospitals and healthcare professionals involved.

Understanding the importance of this issue, KIMSHEALTH has introduced the concept of barcoding surgical gauze through laser printing. This has made surgical items easily trackable during the procedure or before the surgery concludes. A reader is used to ensure that nothing is inadvertently left behind. This innovation serves as a digitalization process, improving the reliability and efficiency of surgical procedures.

Electronic Health Records and Telemedicine

Another key initiative by KIMSHEALTH is the implementation of electronic health records (EHRs) across their facilities. They enable healthcare professionals to access and update patient information electronically, leading to more efficient and accurate medical records. The hospital has also integrated telemedicine services through which patients can consult with healthcare providers remotely using video conferencing or other communication technologies. This approach improves access to healthcare, especially for patients in remote areas, and enables timely consultations, follow-ups, and second opinions.

Research for Quality Care and Healthy Lives

KIMSHEALTH invests significantly in research and development activities to drive innovation in healthcare. This not only includes funding and conducting studies, clinical trials, and experiments to advance medical knowledge but also plans to develop new treatments and technologies. The hospital also proposes to develop an R&D centre in India’s first Integrated Life Science Park, Bio 360, in Thiruvananthapuram. This upcoming greenfield facility will be equipped with advanced technology and infrastructure to support instrument calibration for medical devices and the production of consumables.

Moreover, for knowledge-sharing and exchange, KIMSHEALTH collaborates with leading research institutions, universities, and industry partners. By forging partnerships with academic and scientific communities, the hospital creates an ecosystem that promotes research collaboration and innovation.

The ‘Patients’ First’ Approach

KIMSHEALTH places a strong emphasis on providing high-quality medical care by implementing evidence-based practices, employing qualified healthcare professionals, and utilising advanced medical technologies to ensure effective and safe treatments for patients. It recognizes the importance of efficient and timely access to healthcare services and strives to reduce waiting times for appointments, consultations, diagnostic tests, and procedures to ensure prompt care.

Additionally, patient communication is important for better health outcomes; clear and open communication between healthcare providers and patients is a priority at KIMSHEALTH. The hospital ensures that patients are well-informed about their conditions, treatment options, and necessary lifestyle modifications. It also prioritises continuity of care and ensures that patients receive consistent and coordinated medical attention throughout their healthcare journey, including effective care transitions between departments, specialists, or healthcare settings.

Apart from that, KIMSHEALTH actively seeks feedback from its approach and utilises mechanisms such as patient satisfaction surveys to identify areas for improvement and address any concerns or suggestions. For KIMSHEALTH, upholding ethical principles and maintaining patient confidentiality is of paramount importance as it aims to build patient trust and satisfaction by ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of patient information.

A Planned Forethought

KIMSHEALTH has recently signed an MoU with the Government of Tamil Nadu, marking a significant milestone in their commitment to expanding healthcare facilities in the Southern region of Tamil Nadu. The hospital has commenced the construction of an extensive 200-bed Super-Specialty & Cancer Hospital in Nagercoil. This advanced facility will cater to the region’s growing demand for specialised healthcare services. It will also be equipped with a Bunker for radiation therapy, transplants, a fully-fledged emergency room, trauma care, and a Cath lab.

Additionally, KIMSHEALTH also plans to set up family health centres, pharmacies, and diabetic centres across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. These facilities will serve as convenient access points for primary healthcare services, ensuring that individuals and families can receive the necessary medical attention closer to their doorsteps. These family health centres will also house specialised departments such as general surgery, neurology, cardiology, ENT, general medicine, paediatrics, and gynaecology departments.

KIMSHEALTH’s expansion will involve setting up five more feeder medical centres and fifteen pharmacies around the locations where KIMSHEALTH already has mother hospitals (Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kollam, Kottayam, and Nagercoil) by the end of FY 23-24. This hub-and-spokes model will make it easier to manage the healthcare chain efficiently and significantly reduce travel times for a wider geography, ensuring that patients receive timely and specialised care.

Furthermore, the proposed expansion plans will add over five hundred beds to the existing capacity of 2000 beds, creating approximately one thousand new job opportunities. This initiative will benefit the employment prospects in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, contributing to the region’s economic growth as well.