KLE Dr Prabhakar Kore Charitable Hospital
The Genesis:
At the time of inception of J N Medical College (JNMC), the Government District Hospital, Belagavi (DHB) was affiliated to it for clinical training. Dr. Prabhakar Kore Charitable Hospital(PKCH) was commissioned in 2004 for clinical training of JNMC students and has since been affiliated to the college. In consonance with the philosophy of the KLE Society, the PKCH provides free health care in the basic specialities to the poor people of this part of the country. At present, there are 1250 beds in the hospital and with 80 to 90% occupancy, it provides excelleant range of clinical material to the undergraduate(UG) and post graduate(PG) students and researchers.
Charity at its best:
The PKCH provides free health care in basic specialities. Any patient can opt for admission to PKCH. The stay, food, basic investigations, medicines, operations, deliveries, nursing and doctors care are totally free. Free food is provided from the ‘Annapoorneshwari’ scheme which runs with the help of generous donations from philanthropists.
Clinical Facilities :
Twelve basic clinical departments viz. Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Pulmonology, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Anaesthesiology and Radiology and three paraclinical departments viz.Pathology, Microbiology and Biochemistry are working in the PKCH. There are eleven major, and four minorfully equipped operation theatres, including laparoscopic surgical sets. In addition to the basic clinical specialities, Mother and Child institute, Kangaroo mother care, NICU, PICU, OICU, paediatric nephrology including dialysis, paediatric physiotherapy, arthroscopy and GI Endoscopy are some of the specialised tertiary level services rendered in the hospital. Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre is established in paediatrics dept to manage Severe Acute Malnourished(SAM) children. Pharmacology faculty look after Pharmacovigilance activities. Poison Detection Centre is another unique facility managed by the Forensic Medicine department. Clinical Skills Lab is also located in the PKCH. Central laboratory performs all basic investigations. Basic imaging services like X-Ray and USG are free; CT and MRI are subsidized.
Outreach Programs:
Several camps are conducted on a regular basis in the PHCs and UHCs attached to JNMC. This provides opportunity to the students to acquaint with the primary level health care. In 2012-13, as a part of Golden Jubilee Celebrations of JNMC, twelve Mega Health Camps were conducted in all the ten talukas of Belgaum District and two neighboring areas of Maharashtra; more than 35000 patients were examined, investigated and treated in the camps. These camps have contributed to increased
patient inflow owing to improved reputation of the hospital.
Government Schemes:
The PKCH is recognized by the Govt of Karnataka to provide health care to the BPL children under Balasajeevini and District Blindness Control Society(DBCS).
Teaching, Learning Facilities:
There are adequate number of teaching rooms equipped with AV aids and illustrative charts in all wards and OPDs. In surgical wards the teaching rooms have CCTV connection to the Operation Theatres. Radiology and Anaesthesiology depts have excellent museums. There is a digital library providing online journals and other reference books. In addition to regular teaching activities, workshops and other training programs are conducted by the University Department of Education of Health Professions like EBM, Patient Safety, and Clinical Audit. Clinical Skills Lab conducts more than sixty workshops in a year for UG,PG students of health sciences on basic surgical skills, and other procedural skills using simulators, endotrainers, models and manikins. Lecture halls in the hospital are equipped with AV aids and connected to operation theaters.; live operative workshops and international video conferences are regularly organised.
Research Facilities:
Abundant clinical material is a fertile data for the researchers. The three PHCs and UHCs also feed good number of patients. To its credit, the university boasts of several completed and ongoing community-based research programs funded by NIH and other Universities abroad. A great volume of research papers are regularly published in the national and international journals. Clinical trials supported by the pharma companies are also undertaken. The clinical material also has been the subject of study for Post Doctoral thesis leading to PhD as well as for PG dissertations.
KLE Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Centre (PKHMRC) (www.klehospital.org):
The PKHMRC is a 1000 bed tertiary care hospital giving health care services in superspeciality subjects viz. Cardiology, CVTS,Neurology, Neurosurgery, Urology, Paediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Cardiac Anaesthesiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Oncology and others. This was started in 1996; The architect of this hospital, Col. A K Sing also served as the first Medical Director, succeeded by Dr M V Jali who was the Chief Executive for ten years. Several services are shared between the PKCH and PKHMRC viz. CSSD, Laundry, Kitchen, Powersupply, AC plant, STP, Boiler, Incinerator, Blood Bank, Ambulance service. etc. Together the KLE Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospitals have 2250 beds- one of the biggest- under one roof in India. The laboratory of the hospital is NABL certified. The hospitals are undergoing for NABH accreditation.
The Leadership:
The hospital is close to the heart of Dr Prabhakar Kore, who serves the philosophy and ethos of the ‘Saptarishis’ of KLE Society- ‘Truth, Love, Service and Sacrifice’. Under his direction the PKCH is growing by leaps and bounds in all aspects. The members of Board Of directors of the KLE Society also are committed to achieve the goal set by the Chairman. Dr R S Mudhol, who had been the Medical Superintendent of PKCH from its inception, has always been fully committed to patient care consistently elevating the overall healthcare standards of the hospital. Dr. S.B. Patil was the subsequent Medical Superintended and carried the legacy forward. The former Principals of JNMC-Dr.V D Patil and Dr.A S Godhi, have significantly contributed to the growth of PKCH. The current Principal Dr.(Mrs) N S Mahantashetti is taking keen interest in monitoring the academic activities to the highest standard of excellence. Dr B G Desai, the current Secretary, and all the past secretaries of the KLE society have been tremendously supportive to the cause of education and health care at PKCH.
The Future – The ‘Vision’ Document :
KLE University, under the able leadership of the first Vice-Chancellor Dr.(Prof)C K Kokate has achieved the distinction of NAAC ‘A’ grade and MHRD ‘A’ category within five years of its inception With the hospitals playing a key role in this achievement. The University has allocated Rs six crores to be spent for further augmentation of the services of the PKCH. A ‘Vision’ Document-the road map of prospective development for the next five years- has been approved by the University; Dr. Prabhakar Kore, the visionary Chairman of the KLE Society and the Chancellor of KLE University, has extended an open invitation to all the HODs to suggest their plan to upgrade their departmental services in the hospital. When the plans are realized, there is no doubt that the hospital will be one of the best, not only in India but also in the world.