Providing hospital-based health care services is one of hundreds of ways in which Medical Mission Sisters around the world try to be a healing presence to those in need today.

Founded in 1948, Immaculate Heart of Mary Hospital is a 200-bed facility that provides professional, affordable health care for poor and ordinary people. It was the first Catholic mission hospital in the State of Kerala. Sister Josita Myladiyil is the Administrator, coordinating responsibilities with two other team members. Medical Mission Sisters serve on the staff with Sisters from 5 other religious congregations.

I.H.M. Hospital has departments of general medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, psychiatry, alternate therapies, part-time cardiology, physiotherapy, community health, and pastoral care. It also has a general nurses' training program with 30 students per year, and a female health workers' training program with 15 students a year.

During the past year, 4,892 patients were treated in the psychiatry and counseling department. Regular de-addiction programs are held for patients with chemical dependency and alcohol addiction. The pastoral care team provides family counseling and psychological assistance to patients who are staying at the hospital, and offers support during crisis situations.

Sister-Doctor Elizabeth Koonthanam runs the alternate therapy department at I.H.M. Hospital. Alternate modes of treatment are promoted by the community health department, and by pastoral team members. The community health department also conducts awareness programs on HIV/AIDS, and on sexually-transmitted diseases.

Our Sisters at I.H.M. Hospital face many challenges: the impact of globalization on health, changes in patient laws, pressures from the government, and the mushrooming of "super-specialty hospitals." They live out our mission of healing presence by keeping the hospital simple, meaningful, and effective, with essential life-saving facilities.

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