KOHINOOR HOSPITAL LAUNCHES INDIA’S FIRST CANCER TELEVIDEO ONLINE COUNSELING SERVICE
As a prelude to World Cancer Day on 4th February, Kohinoor Hospital’s ‘Hope Soars’ initiative for Cancer Care introduced India’s first live Cancer Televideo Online (CTVO) counseling service as a public service initiative to help patients and their families deal better with cancer.
The Hope Soars initiative for cancer care is slated to be the first of its kind in India to offer an interactive counseling line, open to the general public from Monday to Saturday between 10 am- 5 pm. The line would be operated by trained counselors who may be reached via a telephone helpline number, internet video-conference via Skype, web-chat on G-talk and on social media forums Facebook and Google Hangout. Hope Soars is hosted and managed by the Kohinoor Hospital Cancer Treatment Center (KHCTC) at Kurla.
Many cancer patients suffer from undetected, undertreated cancer related pain and depression. Being diagnosed with cancer is a life-changing experience for most people. It can affect not only the sufferer, but also partners and family. Cancer can have a huge effect on emotions, as well as on the practical aspects of a survivor. The counseling service will help patients and their loved ones to cope with a cancer diagnosis, providing an opportunity to talk to someone, learn new ways to manage emotions like stress, anxiety or sadness. It will help them set new life goals, find effective ways to talk to family and friends, improve communication with the doctor, find reliable information and manage challenges.
Aimed at providing a multi-dimensional approach to cancer care, Hope Soars comprises a patient support group and a counseling service. It offers a platform for cancer impacted patients and their loved ones to network, share experiences, encourage each other and counsel them through group activity. Some of the activities include meditation, yoga, laughter and music therapy, all conducted under the supervision and guidance of experts in these fields.
Speaking about the initiative, Dr Rajeev Boudhankar, Vice President, Kohinoor Hospital said, “Usually oncologists are busy with the medical treatment of cancer and have very little time to counsel patients on issues like pain and depression. Hence we felt that as care givers, it is our responsibility to encourage a multi-dimensional approach to cancer care. Hope Soars is a step in that direction.”
There are several studies, published in leading scientific journals, which show that patients who have been offered phone-counseling have seen greater improvement in their symptoms than people who have received usual care, Dr Boudhankar added.
About Kohinoor Hospital
Kohinoor Hospital is part of the well-known and fast growing Mumbai based Kohinoor Group. Kohinoor Hospital is Asia’s first and the world’s second LEED Platinum rated hospital building under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. It is a 175-bed capacity multi-specialty hospital, located at Kohinoor City, Kurla-
Vidyavihar. The hospital is equipped with world-class medical equipment and technology.
