With Robotic assisted Joint Replacement Surgery, Lokmanya – an orthopedic multispecialty dominates the space; ensures delivery of happy joints

With Robotic assisted Joint Replacement Surgery,

Lokmanya – an orthopedic multispecialty dominates the space; ensures delivery of happy joints

The breakneck advancement in technology coupled with globalization has been metamorphosing Indian economy since last few years while driving unprecedented growth across diverse industry verticals. Indian Healthcare industry is also not untouched with this wave of transformation. The industry as a whole has been experiencing a boost in terms of rise in innovative healthcare, corporatization of healthcare facilities and expansion of its coverage across all the corners of the country. Not to mention, increasing health consciousness in people has influenced the innovation and growth in this sector tremendously. The panorama of healthcare services in India today has drawn attention of healthcare seekers all over the globe for providing best infrastructure facilities and high standards of patient care in the areas of advanced medicine at very cost effective plans. The Orthopedic Joint Replacement & Treatment facility in India has been one of these specialties and the country is among few of the most preferred destinations when it comes to orthopedic implants & treatments. The market observes an expeditious growth with great surge in global demand stimulated by rising awareness about the impact of joint problems. Recent reports reveal on account of huge influx of medical tourists, more than one lakh joint replacement surgeries are performed in India every year which is marked by a rise of 15%-20% in the number of patients.

However, the people in India itself are less aware about the treatment and replacements. Surveys conducted across the urban population in India clearly indicate that only ten percent of it is conscious about getting a treatment for ailments related to joints. Even if patients are aware, they don't want to get a surgery for their condition and prefer alternative or non-surgical treatment therapies over Joint surgeries for their fear of post –operative complications.

A chain of superior hospitals across Maharashtra, LOKMANYA groupthrives as the leader in single specialty high-end orthopedic tertiary care andhas taken a giant leap towards uprooting this cause. LOKMANYA Group of hospitals has introduced the Robotic assisted Joint replacement surgery in Indian orthopedic care space. Assured success in joint replacements towards ensuring a healthy life ahead was the prime motivator behind this initiative.The chain runs five hospitals operational at Nigdi, Chinchwad, Mitramandal, Aundh and Kolhapur with an aggregate bed capacity of 300 beds. All of them are dedicated to high-end orthopedic surgeries like Joint Replacement, Trauma, Arthroscopies and Spine surgeries and are equipped with the best-in-class healthcare infrastructure for the patients as well as doctors. Right from the first year of its incorporation, LOKMANYA has been recording consistent growth and maintaining impressive performance with an aggressive and committed professional team of managers and Doctors. Lokmanya's unique portfolio envelops services in treating disorders ofBone and Joint including Knee, Hip, Shoulder, Spine. It also covers Sports Medicine Treatment, Paedriatic Orthopedic Treatments and Physiotherapy services.

LOKMANYA is the brainchild of Dr. Narendra V. Vaidya an internationally acclaimed Joint Replacement & Spine Surgeon. Under the guidance and strong leadership of Dr Vaidya, brilliant and accomplished surgeons conduct more than 2000+ Joint Replacement Surgeries, 350+ Spine Surgeries and 1000+ Trauma Surgeries every year. LOKMANYA also maintains high end Trauma Center offering emergency healthcare services to the cases of road traffic accident, industrial accidents as well as domestic trauma patients. A strong patient centric culture drives the hospital management to constantly upgrade its healthcare standards. There is a strict adherence towards innovation and a constant focus on adoption of new medical technologies towardsensuring best treatment to the patients.

All units are empowered with a panel of distinguished doctors and surgeons who bring with them profound expertise in diverse branches of high end Orthopedics. The panel of doctors has a cumulative experience of more than 200 years. These highly qualified and skilled doctors possess rich background in international trainings and have been associated with the hospital for a past many years. Some of them have authored papers for international medical journals of eminence.

In a chat with The CEO Magazine, Dr. Narendra Vaidya – Managing Director and Chief Joint Replacement Surgeon at Lokmanya Group of Hospitals speaks about its robust management processes, "The brand's success has been entirely due to its management structure and corporate governance. LOKMANYA's management team has rich experience in the healthcare industry, and is adept at managing a multi-location organization. Company's senior management team is supported by a talented, second tier management team. The management enjoys an excellent working relationship with its team and has been able to maintain low attrition rates and high employee morale as a result. Together, management and the LOKMANYA's talented, highly skilled team have the shared vision, operational and industry expertise, and drive necessary to successfully achieve continued growth while driving stakeholder value. The management team believes that the Company is positioned uniquely to exploit numerous value creation opportunities going forward and is firmly committed to remaining with LOKMANYA to realize their strategic growth objectives for the business.

Renovating landscape of orthopedic procedures

LOKMANYA'Sall facilities are geared up towards reshaping the ways orthopedic treatment and services are delivered to the patients as well as to innovate ways for effective patient care. The infrastructure and services offered by them truly reflect the brand's vision. The hundred bedded tertiary care facilities at Nigdi and Chinchwadhave been serving patients for nearly four decades. The multi-specialty facility at Nigdi has positioned itself as a leading force in this space for its unparallel achievements in Joint Replacements, Spine Care, Arthroscopy, Sports Medicine, Pediatric Orthopedics and Trauma. Nigdi facility of Lokmanya is the first hospital in the entire Pune region to use the latest Computer Assisted Navigation technology for Joint replacement surgeries.The hospital at Nigdi is a level 1 Tertiary Trauma care center equipped with the most modern diagnostic equipment, quality infrastructure and healthcare deliverables. The facility has been structured to cater to advanced surgical procedures. It showcases state of the art technology complimented with five modular OT's, latest monitoring equipment, HEPA Filters, laminar flows and anti-bacterial walls.

LOKMANYA'S Nigdi facility is strategically located at the industrial belt of Pimpri-Chinchwad-Bhosari-Chakan along the national highway, NH-4; close to Mumbai-Pune Expressway and the new Katraj-Dehuroad bypass highway. These highways have the dubious distinction of recording the highest mortality and morbidity due to road traffic accidents in India. LOKMANYA provides EMS services along Mumbai-Pune Expressway and NH-4, Pune- Nasik Highway.In line with the mission of the brand, the hospital recently entered into a valuable tie-up with an international hospital chain in Sweden which has facilitated the training of the hospital's core and nursing staff in round the clock medical care particularly in OT, ICU, CCU and Trauma Care.

LOKMANYA'S 110 bedded hospital at Chinchwad is also located at the heart of Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. This 40 year old hospital has undergone multiple renovations and upgradation over last four decades thus transforming itself into a multi-specialty hospital trusted by the masses.The hospitalhas marked its prominence for its outstanding delivery of patient care. The presence of highly progressive departments including Department of General & Laparoscopic Surgeries, Department of Critical Care and Department of Medicine attribute exclusivity to the hospital.

Dr. Narendra Vaidya at LOKMANYA has developed and implemented a unique model of 20 to 40 bedded high-end boutique specialty Orthopedic Hospitals, exclusively providing high Technology, high Quality Joint Replacement, Spine and Arthroscopy services. These hospitals have demonstrated a financially efficient model with reduced ALOS (Average Length of Stay of Patient) and subsequently an increased ARPOB (Average Revenue Per Occupied Bed). These hospital models have been very well received by the society at large as they offer comfortable and hassle-free elective orthopedic servicesto the patients. The 20-bedded facility in the heart of Pune City at Mitramandal Square and a 40-bedded hospital in the elite Aundh area of Pune are based on this unique concept andis a boutique hospital offering services in Joint Replacement, Spine and Arthroscopies.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Lokmanya's all facilities areideally located very close to the PCMC's industrial belt along National and State highways with the mission of extending emergency critical care fororthopedic injuries; especially for cases of polytraumatized patients.The ever increasing rate of Road traffic Accident (RTA), industrial & domestic accidents inspiredDr Narendra Vaidya to initiate "Golden Hour Project" in 1996 and which was commissioned in year 2000 as Comprehensive Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Management.The Trauma Center was the first of its kind in India and aimed at reducing mortality and morbidity due to Road traffic accidents and injuries, through prevention, improved Pre-hospital trauma care, improved hospital care, improved rehabilitation and also with advanced research and training.The EMS facility has recorded treating 150,000+trauma cases till date. Today, this ISO certified dedicated Trauma center provides services to the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Punjab. Lokmanya's extraordinary efforts towards national road safety have been acknowledged by many National and International agencies. The managementwas conferred with Mahindra Navistar "Transport Excellence Award 2011" for Alternative Thinking.

Lokmanya has been undertaking National Road Safety awareness programme funded by Ministry of Highways & Road transport to educate general population and school children on road safety, EMT training,Conducting exhibition,rally,educating Doctors on Pre- hospital care and trauma management and conducting Medical examination of highway drivers etc. The management regularly conducts workshops and camps to educate industrial workers about the medical conditions in orthopedics as well as for spreading awareness about other medical indications like diabetes, pregnancy for women amongst others.

Not only employees working in heavy industries, but also workforce engaged in Software industry are addressed by Lokmanya for realizing the brand's dream of healthy India. Most of the players including corporate giants and SMEs are primarily located at Hinjewadi, the IT hub near Pune which is very close to Nigdi facility of LOKMANYA. Majority of the workforce in this industry suffers from spinal disorders on account of long hours of work and lack of exercise. These employees have their health insurance covered and thus have easy and affordable access to healthcare facilities. LOKMANYA has tied up with TPA providers to ensure that all employees seeking medical intervention can be treated at the hospital. Besides employees, LOKMANYA also serves the families of these employees who are generally not covered under any insurance and lack awareness about medical conditions. Having conducted workshops and medical camps for employees' families, Lokmanya has generated good response leading to steady increase in the footfalls.

Spreading roots

LOKMANYA envisions extending its services to more and more patients suffering from bone,joint and spine related problems. Having developed plans to improve its band-width, the brand took first stepestablishing its first orthopedic unit outside Pune in Kolhapur as part of its expansion program. The 25 bedUnit at Kolhapuraims to reach masses across different regions of Kolhapur and Konkan belt. The brand has recently commissioned a 40-bedded hospital focused on Bone, Joint and Spine Care at Aundh, Pune, a rapidly grown elite area in Pune.

Pioneering Robotic Joint Replacement surgery in India

Lokmanya is the First Hospital in the country to launch the Robotic Technology in Joint Replacement and has already performed more than one thousand Robotic Joint Replacement surgeries till date.The hospital's team is a home to globally acclaimed expert surgeons who leverage this state-of-the- art technology to replace the knee joint, with precision while preserving the natural knee structure. This technology consists of a robotic arm which acts as a trusted assistant in the hands of the operating surgeon for achieving a higher level of precision when removing damaged tissue from diseased joints as well as when reconstructing the new joint.The hospital has launched the Robotic assisted Total Knee Replacement Surgery this year which is a boon for most of the patients suffering from terminal stage arthritis.

The Inspiration who drove Lokmanya's Success

Dr Narendra Vaidya – Founder & Managing Director at Lokmanya Group of Hospitals

Dr. Narendra VaidyaMS (Ortho), DNB (Ortho), MCH, ATLS (USA)is an internationally acclaimed and one of the most trusted Joint Replacement Surgeons across the globe providing expert consultations and surgical expertise in many countries. Being a globally expert Joint Replacement Surgeon, he takes the credit of more than 75,000 successful Orthopedic Surgeries in India and abroad and has performed more than 9000 successful Joint Replacement surgeries and more. As the managing Director, he has been the major driving force behind establishment of a chain of Advanced Super Specialty Orthopedic Hospitals in Maharashtra, Western Indiaunder the brand LOKMANYA Orthopedics.

Dr. Vaidya is visionary with a passion to fetch advanced techniques & technologies for patient benefits. His profound insights guided him to spearhead the robotic assisted joint replacement surgery in India. He performed the first Robotic Assisted Unicondylar Knee Replacement in India and the first Robotic Assisted Total Knee Replacement in the world outside USA and had his name inked in golden success. Dr Vaidya has a strong academic background; he has presented many scientific papers various national and international conferences.

Dr. Vaidya was felicitated with Rashtriya Ratna Award for his exemplary contribution during 2001 Gujarat Earthquake where he performed 87 surgeries in the ambulance turned operation theatre. For his exemplary contributions towards the development of Orthopedics and welfare of the society, hehas been honored with prestigious awards including All India Achiever's Award, Vishwa Vivek Puraskar, Sanjeevani Puraskar and many more.