The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital has played a significant role in reducing the infant mortality rate in South Gujarat by providing a wide range of super specialised services.
Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital organised a State-level Symposium on ‘Evidence Based Care of the High-Risk Neonate’. Held at the Shrimad Rajchandra Ashram on 7-8 February, 2019, the symposium was attended by a team from the Neonatology Department of Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (LPCH), USA. The faculty included Dr. Nilima Ragavan – Clinical Professor of Paediatrics; Dr. Peter Acker – Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine; Mr. Robert Gales – Respiratory Therapist; Ms. Arlene Sheehan – Chief Neonatal Nurse Practitioner; Mr. Paul Cole – Neonatal Transport Specialist and Ms. Kelly Andrasik – Occupational Therapist. The government faculty members included Dr. Sheela Aiyer – Professor of Paediatrics and Dr. Shwetal Bhatt – Associate Professor of Paediatrics from SSG Hospital, Vadodara. Panellists from Government of Gujarat included Dr. Jayanti Ravi – Principal Secretary and Commissioner of Health; Dr. N. B. Dholakia – Additional Director, Medical Services, and Dr. Prakash Vaghela – Additional Director, Family Welfare. Dr. Uma Nayak was the observer on behalf of Gujarat Medical Council.
Through the medium of informative lectures, panel discussions and hands-on orientation, delegates were trained on neonatal resuscitation, ventilator hands-on management, developmental intervention in the NICU, family centred care, preparing a baby for transport and practising simulations and mock codes. The event was attended by over 150 government paediatricians, senior nurses and medical students from across Gujarat. All participants were granted credit points towards the Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme of the Gujarat Medical Council.
Such initiatives are a testament to Shrimad Rajchandra Hospital evolving into a centre of learning and excellence in the area of neonatal care.