Management

Protocols for Treating Common Monsoon Illnesses Released

KEM Hospital has taken some initiatives with respect to better management of the patients of infectious diseases

Revised treatment protocols for common monsoon illnesses were released recently at Mumbai's KEM Hospital. The protocols were released during a state-level CME and workshop on infectious disease held by the Department of Medicine of Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital from the 25th to 27th April.

Since 2004, the medical faculty at KEM Hospital is actively involved under the guidance of Dr Lata Bichile, Professor and HOD, Department of Medicine, Dr Dilip Karnad, Dr Sanjay Mehta, Dr Raminder Singh and Dr Santosh Salagre to formulate and revise the treatment protocols at various levels.

"Infectious diseases have a major impact on the healthcare services of the city of Mumbai, especially during monsoon period. Due to imbalance in environment, increasing urbanisation and natural calamities, many infections affecting a large sector of masses have re-immerged and have posed challenges in diagnosis and treatment. This CME on infectious diseases is planned after observing the tremendous impact of these diseases on our population," said Dr Bichile

"When few years back on 26th July, Mumbai went under water and leptospirosis became rampant, KEM was the first Hospital to manage significant load of patients in a big way. Hence the main aim of organising this CME is to impart the experiences that we have gained by managing such calamities with the other district and state level healthcare institutions," said Dr Santosh Salagare, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, KEM Hospital.

The Hospital has implemented some noteworthy initiatives with respect to better management of the patients of infectious diseases. One of them is a special fever OPD erected in KEM casualty area which functions 24X7 and offers clinical evaluation- immediate blood tests, treatments and indoor admission.

"The main objective of this CME was to discuss protocols relevant to our clinical scenarios and maintain uniformity in patient management. This CME will offer a platform to discuss new concepts, atypical, difficult and interesting case situations, with thorough discussions on them," said Dr Bichile. The keynote address on febrile emergencies was given by Dr ME Yeolekar, Dean, KEM Hospital. The CME was attended by delegates from various medical colleges and peripheral hospitals from all over Maharashtra.

The other lecturers include Dr DR Karnad who spoke on malaria, Dr V M Kothari on leptospirosis, Dr AM Devis on dengue, Dr MY Nadkar on enteric fever, Dr S Salarge on newer diagnostics and therapeutics in Encephalitis, Dr SS Mehta on infections in pregnancy, Dr AG Rajadhyaksha on skeletal tuberculosis and Dr Bichile and Dr A Sonawale on infections in rheumatology.

EH News Bureau