Promoting equity or keeping healthcare affordable
The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Centre for Africa
THESE CENTRE, part of the Sunninghill Hospital, boosts equity in private healthcare by, firstly, providing successful treatment for all children with heart disease on the African continent, especially those who would otherwise not have access to medical/surgical intervention. Secondly, they offer training and skills updates for the doctors on the African continent. And thirdly, they participate in international research on the plight of cardiac children in underdeveloped third world countries, in our case, Africa. All these is made possible through The Walter Sisulu Paediatric Healthcare Foundation which raises money for the project to ensure these children get medical help free of charge.
The Pretoria Eye Institute
THE PRETORIA Eye Institute had sustained this enormous outreach project to demonstrate, once again, its expertise and social responsibility to underprivileged people. This community project reached its peak during the Eye Care Awareness Week on 8 to 12 October 2007. It comprised training workshop for School Health Nurses on September 2007; screening of 75 children; free cataract surgery for 408 blind patients who were unable to afford the surgery. These patients were selected from waiting lists at government hospitals in Pretoria, Witbank and other rural areas in Mpumalanga. The patients from Mpumalanga were transported and accommodated with meals at the expense of the institute and its donors.
Involvement in and/or service to local community
Isipingo Hospital
INVOLVEMENT IN LOCAL community is not fashionable especially for hospitals. Isipingo Hospital, HOWEVER, sees community involvement as a source of pride and sense of service. They involved themselves in a variety of community projects chief amongst those providing learning space for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to acquire skills. Most of these “students” have basic training, or some work in old age homes. The matron oversees mentoring and help them access further professional education. Moreover, this exposure assists these semi-skilled “learners”upgrade their nursing skills. After the programme most are absorbed into nursing colleges or gainful employment. To this end, the hospital goes beyond the call of duty in helping to uplift the social conditions of its immediate community.
Milnerton Medi-clinic
ANOTHER ONGOING project is The Community Intervention Centre (“CIC”) which has provided FREE trauma and crisis intervention service for the Blaauwberg community for seven years. They currently handle up to 200 trauma cases a month. They work in full co-operation with the South African Police Service, providing them with trauma support either on-site or at their trauma rooms. The cases include rape, suicide, domestic violence, attempted suicide, murder, armed robbery, family crisis, death, and severe medical trauma and child abuse. An example of cases includes stillbirths, motor vehicle accidents, trauma after operations, depression, resuscitations, hijackings, deaths and cash in transit heists victims.
Marketing the industry
Netcare Unitas Hospital
EARLY IN 2008 leading gastroenterologists from Europe and South Africa gathered at Unitas Hospital in Tshwane to perform 30 live procedures. The event, which saw 70 South African specialists from public and private hospitals and 30 foreign specialists sharing new techniques, technology and skills, formed part of the Inaugural Endoscopy Congress hosted by the South African Gastroenterology Society (SAGES). Unitas promoted the private hospital industry and SAs medical excellence to both the world and the country. Participating specialists were able to witness the latest techniques, performed with leading edge technology, while views and experiences were freely shared with colleagues from several countries including the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and South Africa.
Establishing world-class medical services or technology
Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre
IN SEPTEMBER 2007, EHHC became the first hospital to sign a "One GE Healthcare" contract in South Africa, putting them firmly at the forefront of cardiology related technology. This state-of-the-art Information Technology allows the diagnosis of the disease at the earliest possible stage. A fully integrated hospital where information is freely available to those who require it but secure has been the vision of EHHC since inception. The digital hospital concept requires that all systems from theatre booking, radiology images, test results and all administration are linked. The level of integration of the hospital is such that a doctor in his room will be able to view and interpret radiology images as they are being performed. At the bedside, portable computers on wheels (COWs) will replace paper charts as the preferred means of monitoring a patient’s progress. Doctors and nursing staff will be accompanied on rounds by a COW which will be used to digitally record patient details. Prescriptions will be entered onto the COW and will print almost instantaneously at the pharmacy counter. By providing a rapid response to patient’s needs, Ethekwini Hospital will strive to deliver more efficient services which will, in turn, reduce hospital stays and result in better care for patients.
Netcare Unitas Hospital
A WHOLE new world is opened up for patients suffering from neuro-surgical and vascular diseases with the establishment of a state-of-the-art neuro and vascular unit at Unitas in the heart of Centurion. The unit established in October 2007 provides a dedicated facility where conventional open surgery could be combined with the most advanced endo-vascular techniques. Gone are the days when the only option for aneurysms, blood vessel blockages, vascular malformations and many other conditions was major invasive surgery, hours of deep anaesthesia, days in intensive care, and weeks of recovery. Patients will benefit from minimally invasive surgery by leaving the hospital much sooner and return to normal function more quickly. This new unit at Unitas compares with the best that the world has to offer and is a first for SA.
Public/Private Sector co-operation
Netcare Kroon Hospital
THE HOSPITAL purchased a new Somaton Emotion CT Scanner, and it is not only for the benefit of private hospital patients. The public hospital also benefit as they make use of the radiology department in an example of how the public and private healthcare sectors can work together. Patients are transported with their ambulance to the radiology department and made comfortable before their x-rays get taken.
