Diani Beach Hospital
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Diani Beach Hospital is a high-tech modern health facility that lies on the white sands of Diani Beach, on the South Coast of Mombasa, Kenya.
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[edit] History
More than nine years of operations have made the Diani Beach Hospital an integral part of Diani, a tourist resort identified with the chain of hotels and luxurious villas that line Diani Beach.
The influence of Kenya's hospitality industry is more than just a proponent at the hospital, conceptualized and brought to fruition by Dr. K S Rekhi, a common personality in most hotels in Mombasa's South Coast, where his career in medicine coalesced as a doctor on call for many of the hotels in the areas.
As a resident of Diani for over 20 years, Dr. Rekhi appreciated the dilemma most of the residents of this area had to contend with, in cases of medical emergencies, since the only other well-equipped hospitals were more than 35 km across the ferry on Mombasa Island.
The hospital is accessible to everybody and has filled a big void in comprehensive health care that had for a very long time forced patients in the area to endure the inconvenience of long distance travel to seek similar medical attention in Mombasa.
Diani Beach Hospital was opened in July 1997 and is located on the Diani Beach Road adjoining the Leisure Lodge Golf Course, and thus offering a magnificent view from the balcony of the private wards.
Today Diani is proud to have one of the country's most well equipped hospitals with high standards of medical care at the Kenyan Coast. The hospital's high standards are comparable to most of its European counterparts.
Diani Beach Hospital is proud to be recognized by IAMAT (International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers)
The success of the hospital was probably inevitable given the background of Dr. Rekhi, the man behind its founding, who for a long time had been attending to visiting tourists in their hotels. He understood the challenges posed by demanding patients who seek the high standards of medical care of the western world.
The design and ambience of the hospital also tends to maintain the continuum of the tourists "pampered status" in the hotels, as is reflected in the size and the orientation of the rooms, the furnishing and the extras like satellite TV, DVD and provision for internet browsing in the rooms.
The Hospital now boasts a huge array of departments, which include the all the out patient services; a 24 hour well stocked pharmacy offering a wide range of generic, branded and OTC medicines; a laboratory which houses state-of-the-art technology, such as COULTER analyzer for full blood count, Humalyzer for blood biochemistry, ELISA, Coagucheck to check Prothrombin time, and QBC for the rapid detection of Malaria parasites; our new, larger X-ray machine can tackle all common orthopeadic, abdominal and chest X-Rays; our Minor theatre deals with procedures like closed reduction of fracture-dislocations, Dynacast application, suturing, dressing of wounds, incision and drainage of abscesses, simple excision biopsies and triage of casualties following accidents. All necessary instruments and accessories are autoclaved to ensure zero-risk of cross infections; our Major theatre is equipped with all the standard operating room accessories like anesthesia equipment and operating table, the theatre enables us to carry out routine operative procedures like appendicectomy, hernia repairs, C-section and uncomplicated general surgeries. Anesthetists and surgeons from our panel of consultants are readily available round the clock to take up either routine or emergency surgeries. The Hospital also has 2 fully-equipped ambulances at its disposal for emergency road evacuation of casualties either to the hospital or to a referral hospital in Mombasa. The ambulance is dispatched to the site with a qualified doctor and a paramedic/nurse on board. Established in January 2003, the ICU/HDU boasts of the latest gadgets in critical care. Some of the routinely handled cases include drowning, stroke, heart attacks, poisoning, road traffic accidents, metabolic complications of diabetes, acute asthmatic attacks, respiratory, cardiac and gastro-intestinal emergencies. The highlight of the ICU has been the recent successful thrombolysis of a 36-year old patient with acute myocardial infarction. The ICU is proud to have a portable ventilator, defibrillator, cardiac monitor, pulse oximeter, piped oxygen supply and suction machines.
Moving on, the hospital also proud of its In-Patient services. ‘Comfort with care’ is the motto of our inpatient services. We have three levels of admitting facilities – Private, Semi-Private and General Wards. The Private rooms are all en suite with attached bathroom, air conditioning, TV with Satellite connection, DVD players, fridge, attendants' couch, piped oxygen delivery and bedside nurse call system. Almost all rooms offer a panoramic view of the neighboring lush green Golf course.The Semi-private rooms offer twin-sharing accommodation with common bathroom. These rooms have air conditioning and TV with Satellite connection.
There are 2 General wards – Male and Female with three beds each in ward.
2006 marked the opening of our new state-of-the-art physiotherapy department which is equipped with Short-wave diathermy, Laser therapy, Traction therapy, Interferential therapy, TENS, Ultrasound therapy among others and will ensure complete prevention and correction of disabilities and rehabilitation of both acute and chronic musculo-skeletal ailments including physical handicap in patients. Qualified Physiotherapists manages the department. We also have highly talented personnel doing reflexology and autobionomy.
The hospital also hosts a Podiatrist / Oesteopath who conducts 'foot care clinics' once every three months. Diabetic foot care, care of ingrown toe nails and other podiatric services are available. A highly-qualified Osteopath is available to handle musculo-skeletal ailments, especially of the spine.The Osteopath is also capable of offering Reflexology services.
The conclude the list of available services at the Diani Beach Hospital, an Ante Natal Clinic and Well Baby Clinic have been opened in out New Wing.
[edit] Community Outreach
The hospital takes pride in the fact that it has consistently taken part in social welfare programs in the local community. It offers free vaccination to all needy children of the locality who are below 5 years twice a month.
The staff of majority of the hotels and resorts are treated free of cost. Plans free dental camps for school children will be undertaken and we are constantly looking at new avenues to take active part in the community based programs.
[edit] International Recognition
The hospital has earned international acclaim and is mentioned in such leading travel guides like Rough Guides to Kenya and Lonely Planet.
The hospital is a member of the IAMAT (International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers.)
[edit] Affiliations To Insurance Companies
When it comes to payment options the hospital strives to make it as hassle free as possible. We are renowned internationally and most leading insurance providers have identified us as the preferred providers in the South Coast of Kenya.
Some of the leading international Health Insurance Companies that we work with are BUPA, AXA, SOS, ELVIA, CEGA, ADAC, MONDIAL, MEDICALL, EUROP ASSISTANCE, etc. The list is quite exhaustive.
Locally [Kenya] we are the preferred providers for AAR, RHEAL, HERITAGE JUBILEE and many more.
We also accept all leading currencies and credit cards as a mode of payment should someone wish to settle
[edit] Milestones
1997: Commencement of the hospital with 2 private rooms, General wards, pharmacy, laboratory, X-Ray, Major and Minor theatres, and Emergency Room.
1998:Addition of 6 more private rooms.
2000:Upgradation of the laboratory with newer equipments like Humalyzer 2000 and a Biochemistry analyzer.
2003:Inauguration of the ICU/HDU equipped with state-of-the-art equipments like AED portable Ventilator, cardiac monitor.
Addition of Coulter automated blood cell analyzer to the laboratory.
2004:ELISA machine added to the laboratory, coagulation profile analyser.
First thrombolysis of a patient with Acute Myocardial infarction (heart attack).
2005:Construction of a new wing under the main hospital.
Construction of the Semi-Private wing.
Upgrading of X-ray department with acquisition of new bigger X-ray machine.
2006: Start of a modern dental unit, physiotherapy, C.M.E room, CSSD (Central Sterilisation Department).
