Bangalore
Baptist Hospital (BBH) on Bangalore-Hyderabad national
highway is largely involved in the treatment of poor and middle
class patients. It is a US based International Mission Board's
hospital which was opened in 1973. Initially the general hospital
started with an 80 bed capacity and today it has grown into
a 150 bed hospital with a "Private Patient Care Wing".
According
to the BBH Public Relations Officer, Shakina Jeswill,
the hospital exists to serve people, regardless of their religion
or socio-economic background. This holistic care is given
in a cost-effective manner. The values of service, honesty,
respect, stewardship and performance are emphasized. Since
1989 the Bangalore Baptist Hospital has been managed by the
Christian Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) in Vellore,
India. Apart from the regular surgeons of the BBH, volunteer
medicos from USA including surgeons serve here throughout
the year.
Specialties at BBH include medicine, surgery, obstetrics-gynecology,
pediatrics, ophthalmology, ENT, orthopedics, dermatology,
ultrasound, laparoscopy, and dentistry. The facility is equipped
with X-ray, ultrasound, ECG, endoscopy, licensed blood bank
and pharmacy, 24 hour casualty, and birthing room monitors,
ventilator, and a good laboratory. The medical library is
constantly being upgraded through purchases and donations.
More books, audiovisual aids, and teaching materials are needed
to allow the ongoing development of staff.
BBH
is under the supervision of Dr. Abraham John (Head-Administrative
Services) Dr Santosh Benjamin (Director and CEO).
The daily schedule typically begins at 9 am with the Chief
Therapist visiting bedside patients. One can see the hospital
with good number of both in-patient and out-patients on all
the days here. From the beginning the poor and rural population
have received much benefit in BBH. Care of the whole person
is a priority. The pastoral care department addresses spiritual
and emotional needs of patients and their families. Recently
the hospital is promoting palliative care, the active care
of patients whose disease is not curable, says Dr Santosh
Bejamin.
The Community Health Services of BBH take health
care and education to the communities around and beyond the
hospital. Programs include nutrition, maternal child health,
tuberculosis and leprosy control, and health education. A
high protein food supplement is produced and used in the treatment
of malnourished children. BBH conducts a number of free breast
cancer detection camps in Bangalore to create awareness among
the general public and for easy detection of the disease.
Lately, the BBH has launched 'Private patient evening clinics'
from April on Mondays and Thursdays. Consultants in Medicine,
Surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopaedics
and ENT, ophthalmology, dental treatment, dermatology and
psychiatry available to the patients.
The
hospital is also participating in the Government's leprosy
programmes including the TB control programme. Since the hospital
is located on the periphery of Bangalore, about 50 per cent
of its patients are from the rural areas. Almost 10 per cent
of all services of the hospital charged to patients go as
concessions. One quarter of all patients receive concession
on their bills ranging from 25 per cent to 100 per cent of
the charge.
The hospital has the Rebekah An Naylor School of Nursing
where nurses and other medicos are trained in a professional
way to work in mission hospitals.