Aster RV Hospital, in collaboration with the Integrated Liver Care (ILC) team, has successfully conducted the second session of its Support Group program for pre- and post-transplant patients and their families. The program is designed to create a safe and open forum for sharing experiences, addressing medical and psychological issues, and discussing apprehensions, and to provide a new session with a psychiatrist and psychologist. The session, held on 18th October, witnessed the participation of over 60 families, reflecting a strong need for holistic community-based programmes.
The Support Group program is scheduled to run quarterly and is headed by Dr Naveen Ganjoo, Senior Consultant – Hepatology & Integrated Liver Care at Aster RV Hospital. The program is a key component of the hospital’s commitment to helping liver disease patients and their families feel supported throughout the journey pre- and post-transplant.
The second session was co-conducted by Dr Murali Krishna, Psychiatry & Counselling Services, who brought valuable psychological insights and strategies for coping with the emotional aspects of the transplant surgery and life of patients with liver disease.
Commenting on the initiative, Dr Naveen Ganjoo said, “At Aster Hospitals, our focus extends beyond clinical excellence to holistic patient care and emotional well-being. This initiative reflects our belief that healing extends beyond hospital walls. By bringing together patients, families, and our dedicated ILC team, we’re creating a circle of care that offers strength, education, and emotional support. The enthusiastic participation in our first session confirms that such platforms are both meaningful and essential for long-term recovery and empathy amongst people.”
The support group program includes interactive discussions, personal stories, question-and-answer sessions with the doctors of the ILC team, and peer support. It is designed to address not only medical concerns but also the emotional and psychological challenges that transplant patients and their caregivers often face during the journey, which is long and difficult to handle for many.
Dr Rommel S, Consultant – HPB & Liver Transplant Surgery, Aster RV Hospital, added, ‘The Support Group program is a truly inspiring initiative that reinforces the human side of medicine. It’s not just about treating a disease; it’s about healing lives, building resilience, and hope. Such programs remind us that compassion and connection are as vital as medical care in a patient’s journey toward recovery. This is a wonderful initiative that truly makes a difference for humankind.”
This commendable initiative underscores Aster RV and the ILC Team’s unwavering commitment to delivering comprehensive care—focusing not just on treatment, but also on building a community of understanding, empathy, and resilience for transplant patients. When one must care for an ailing family member, Aster RV Hospital ensures that it supports not only the patient but also the family caring for them and guiding them through difficult times, not only as medical partners but as family, beyond medical walls.
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