CONSUMER PERCEPTION OF HOSPITALITY SERVICES IN JCI ACCREDITED HOSPITALS AT DELHI – NCR: AN EXPLORATORY RESEARCH ON GROWTH OF MEDICAL TOURISM

Purpose: This research focuses on understanding the consumer perception and scope of hospitality services provided to patients and their attendants, getting admitted for treatment at internationally accredited multispecialty hospitals. The study also gives insights into the relation among these service elements and their role in the overall satisfaction of patients coming to Delhi NCR as a medical tourist. Methodology: Literature review and interviews with hospital staff, involved as service providers, to find the hospitality services and facilities provided to patients coming to Delhi NCR as a medical tourist. The study adopted survey through questionnaire method to collect primary data, which is analysed through SPSS to study the perceptions of patients/attendants and its relationship with overall patient satisfaction. Main Findings: This research finds that the majority of the JCI accredited hospitals in Delhi-NCR, show fairly good focus on patient care and hospitality centric service style was in place. Hospitality aspects are considered as an opportunity to enhance service excellence and the same is supported by management to bring better patient satisfaction. However, the research found some neglected desires of patients and few areas of poor service delivery. Applications: Hospitals benefiting with medical tourism where attention to nonclinical services is magnified due to a higher expectation of the guest, will benefit from this research. This research would be valuable to healthcare organizations in doing their best to achieve greater patient’s satisfaction, which will improve our image as a destination for Medical Value Travel.  Novelty/Originality: This study explores hospitality services and their relative importance in patient satisfaction. This study describes higher patient satisfaction as an outcome of excellence in non-clinical services. The research outcome is based on primary data and offers a first-hand view of patients perceived hospitality service quality and its constituents

Antibiofilm, Antifouling, and Anticorrosive Biomaterials and Nanomaterials for Marine Applications

Formation of biofilms is one of the most serious problems affecting the integrity of marine structures both onshore and offshore. These biofilms are the key reasons for fouling of marine structures. Biofilm and biofouling cause severe economic loss to the marine industry. It has been estimated that around 10% of fuel is additionally spent when the hull of ship is affected by fouling. However, the prevention and control treatments for biofilms and biofouling of marine structures often involve toxic materials which pose severe threat to the marine environment and are strictly regulated by international maritime conventions. In this context, biomaterials for the treatment of biofilms, fouling, and corrosion of marine structures assume much significance. In recent years, due to the technological advancements, various nanomaterials and nanostructures have revolutionized many of the biological applications including antibiofilm, antifouling, and anticorrosive applications in marine environment. Many of the biomaterials such as furanones and some polypeptides are found to have antibiofilm, antifouling, and anticorrosive potentials. Many of the nanomaterials such as metal (titanium, silver, zinc, copper, etc.) nanoparticles, nanocomposites, bioinspired nanomaterials, and metallic nanotubes were found to exhibit antifouling and anticorrosive applications in marine environment. Both biomaterials and nanomaterials have been used in the control and prevention of biofilms, biofouling, and corrosion in marine structures. In recent years, the biomaterials and nanomaterials were also characterized to have the ability to inhibit bacterial quorum sensing and thereby control biofilm formation, biofouling, and corrosion in marine structures. This chapter would provide an overview of the biomaterials from diverse sources and various category of nanomaterials for their use in antibiofilm, antifouling, and anticorrosion treatments with special reference to marine applications