Dr. G. Venkataswamy
In 1976 …Dr.V, feeling the urgent need, started an eye clinic with 11 beds, to create an alternate, sustainable eye care system to supplement the government’s efforts
Genesis
Began here- as an 11 bedded clinic in 1976
Small team with a big mission
Money
Tamil Nadu
Pondicherry (2003)
Coimbatore (1997)
Theni (1984)
Madurai (1978)Tirunelveli (1988)
Aravind Eye Hospitals (4000 Beds)
Amethi (UP) - 2005
Kolkatta (WB) - 2001
Core Principles in delivering health care
Giving ValueGiving ValueFinancial
Sustainability
Financial
Sustainability
Efficient Service
Efficient Service
Reaching the People
Reaching the People
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PATIENTCENTRED CARE
PATIENTCENTRED CARE
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Vision Centre (Primary Eye Care)
Covers a
population of
50,000
Staffed by
Ophthalmic
technicians
Active case finding
at community level
Linked to Base
Hospital
Low Cost Wi-Fi 802.11b Connectivity (open spectrum)
Unidirectional antenna
Line of Sight 4 MBPS Up to 75 KM
Collaboration with Univ. of Berkeley (PhD students)
Wireless connectivity @
4mbps
Marratech Software for tele-conferencing
collaboration
Examination by Vision Centre Technician
Each patient examined at the Vision Centre is discussed with the Ophthalmologist through videoconferencing
Consultation with Ophthalmologist at Aravind
Eye Hospital
Primary Eye Care IT Enabled Centers – 30 in Tamilnadu
Impact Dramatic Reductions in cost Access to good eye care Increased coverageScalability: Currently 12 – will become 26 by year
end Replicated in
Baramati, Maharashtra (Intel) Tripura (Govt. of Tripura & India) – will be
scaling it up to 60 locations
Patient Statistics 2007 - 08
Paying Free Total
Out Patient visits
1,321,317(55%)
1,074,783(45%)
2,396,100
Surgery 122,900 (43%)
162,845(57%)
285,745
Cataract Surgery: 70% is free
Volume Handled Per Day
6000 Outpatients in hospitals 4-5 outreach screening eye camps
Examining 1500 people Transporting 300 patients to the hospital for
surgery
850 – 1000 surgeries Classes for 100 Residents/Fellows & 300
technicians and administratorsMaking Aravind the largest provider of
eye care services and trainer of ophthalmic personnel in the
world
ProductivityProductivity
Ensuring Efficiency & Quality
Practices Clinical Protocols Standardization of procedures Usage & Balancing of Resources Surgical Techniques & Technology Quality & reliability of resources Medical records Staff Training & Discipline
Resource Balancing
Quantum & Quality of resources Balance between resources Appropriate use reduces cost Maintaining the resource quality (skill) -
at the required level Eliminate non-productive activities &
waiting time
Comparison of surgeon productivity
0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500
Bar 1
Bar 2
State-of-art technologies in surgery
Less energy required for doctor
Greater safety Ease of use
Planning for Expected load & Monitoring
Yearly/Monthly Planning Planning for the next day –scheduling
patient, staff & equipment Planning for supplies & spares Ensuring that resources match expected
workload Expected Patient load Weekly report Monthly report
15
Quality – always current
Early adoption of relevant technologies
Skills & Perspectives upgraded through international visits and exchanges
QualityQuality
Exchange of Residents with the leading US institutions
Continuous improvements based on patient & employee feedback
Giving value
Using emerging technologies to reduce the response time to patient complaints
Quality Assurance process
Gathering evidence
Regular review & follow-up on decisions
Use of Wi-Fi PDA’s by Housekeeping staff
Teaching & TrainingOphthalmologistsTechnicians Administrators
Affiliations: MCI, NBE, RCO-UK, JACHPO-USA,
MGR Medical & MKU Universities
Mission & Objectives Produce quality products Provide at affordable cost Support avoidable
blindness effort Self sustain and grow
Turning apparent disadvantages into
realized opportunities
•In eighties all surgical consumables were imported & expensive
•Aurolab was started in 1992 to produce intraocular lenses (IOLs)
Backward Integration
Intraocular Lens Division
Pharmaceutical Division
Suture Division Blades Division
InstrumentsDivision
Making Eye Care Affordable
Exported to 120 countries
Impact: Price of IOL came down from $ 80 to $ 4 making cataract surgery affordable
• ISO 9001/CE Mark/US FDA approval
• 7% of global market share in IOL
• 5 million people see the world through Aurolab implants
• Patents
Aravind Medical Research Foundation
Community based
Genetics
Microbiology
Epidemiological surveys
Clinical trials
Aravind Eye Care System
Eye Bank
Hospitals
Aurolab
Out Reach
Research
“Aravind Eye Care System”
LAICO
IT
Training
“Intelligence & Capabilities are not enough. There must be the joy of doing something beautiful..”
Dr.V