StartUp / Founder Story
Startup ecosystem signals, funding, and strategy insights. Topic: Founder-Story. Updated briefs and structured summaries from curated sources.
From Silent Suffering to Systemic Change | Dr. Garima Sawhney on Women, Work & Healthcare |SheSparks
Full timeline
0.0–300.0
Women face significant health challenges due to hormonal cycles and societal pressures that prioritize others' needs over their own. Pristyn Care aims to address these issues by providing patient-centered care in aesthetic gynecology, focusing on improving communication and predictability in treatment processes.
- Women experience hormonal cycles and biological clocks that significantly impact their health. Societal norms often lead them to normalize pain and prioritize others over themselves
- A stigma surrounds discussions of womens health issues, leading to feelings of judgment. This stigma causes women to neglect their own health in favor of family and work responsibilities
- Organizations need to evolve and understand that womens health issues do not diminish their work output. In fact, women often demonstrate remarkable strength and balance in managing their health and responsibilities
- Pristyn Care was founded to address gaps in patient care, particularly in aesthetic gynecology. The organization aims to provide treatments for issues often surrounded by social taboos
- Patients often face uncertainty when approaching hospitals, which leads to fear about their treatment journey. Pristyn Care seeks to make this journey predictable by addressing common patient concerns
- Dr. Garima Sawhneys experience in various hospital settings revealed significant gaps in communication and predictability in patient care. She identified the need for a system that informs patients about their conditions and treatment processes
300.0–600.0
Pristyn Care was established to improve patient care by addressing gaps in communication and predictability in surgical processes. The startup focuses on standardizing minimally invasive surgeries to enhance patient experiences across various locations.
- Pristyn Care was founded to address significant gaps in patient care, particularly in the predictability of surgical processes. The goal was to make surgeries more understandable and less intimidating for patients
- The healthcare system often lacks clear communication regarding treatment timelines and procedures. Patients frequently do not understand why certain treatments are necessary or when they should be undertaken
- Dr. Garima Sawhney identified three main gaps in healthcare: patient communication, doctor engagement, and hospital capacity. These gaps informed the foundational principles of Pristyn Cares approach to healthcare delivery
- The startup faced challenges in attracting both patients and doctors, as many doctors preferred established institutions. Building trust and demonstrating value were crucial for Pristyn Cares growth
- Standardizing processes for minimally invasive surgeries became a key focus for Pristyn Care. This approach aimed to enhance patient experiences while ensuring high-quality care across various locations
- Healthcare is inherently hyperlocal, meaning that solutions must be tailored to specific community needs. Pristyn Cares model seeks to address these local variations while maintaining consistent care standards
600.0–900.0
Pristyn Care has established criteria for doctors that prioritize softer skills essential for patient interaction, ensuring a consistent consultation experience across locations. The startup emphasizes ethical growth and innovation measured by the impact on patients' lives rather than solely on revenue generation.
- Criteria for doctors joining Pristyn Care include specific qualifications. However, training emphasizes softer skills that are essential for effective patient interaction
- Standard operating procedures ensure consistency in patient consultations across various locations. This allows for a uniform experience, regardless of the doctors location
- A care coordinator is assigned to each patient upon joining the platform. They guide patients through their healthcare journey without providing medical advice
- Pristyn Care has implemented a comprehensive system for patient admissions. This ensures that all formalities are handled efficiently before surgery
- Transportation services are provided to reduce patient anxiety on surgery day. This includes pick-up from home and drop-off after the procedure
- Ethical considerations are paramount in healthcare. Pristyn Care emphasizes that sustainable growth cannot occur without maintaining high ethical standards
- Innovation at Pristyn Care is measured by its impact on patients lives. The focus is on the effectiveness of treatments rather than just revenue generation
900.0–1200.0
Measuring patient feedback, such as the Net Promoter Score (NPS), is crucial for understanding healthcare service impact. Effective communication and trust between doctors and patients significantly influence treatment decisions and adherence to care plans.
- Measuring patient feedback is essential for understanding the impact of healthcare services. Transparency in metrics like the Net Promoter Score (NPS) drives improvement within the organization
- Conversations in medicine often hold more significance than diagnostics. Trust is built through effective communication, which influences treatment decisions and patient adherence to care plans
- Women are conditioned to normalize pain, viewing issues like painful periods and fertility problems as common. This cultural mindset leads to a lack of awareness about the importance of addressing these health concerns
- Stigma surrounding womens health issues often prevents open discussions. Women may fear judgment, which leads them to prioritize family and work over their own health needs
- Workplaces must evolve to accommodate biological realities affecting women. Policies should be developed thoughtfully to support womens health without being misused
- Healthcare professionals need to recognize that conditions like hormonal imbalances and fertility issues are not choices made by women. These are biological realities that require attention and care
1200.0–1500.0
Pristyn Care has established itself as a leader in treating gynecological conditions in India, particularly through innovative approaches like aesthetic gynecology. The organization emphasizes the importance of communication and empathy in patient care, which significantly impacts treatment outcomes.
- Work output should not be measured solely by hours worked; it should focus on the quality of output. Women often manage multiple responsibilities and can deliver exceptional results despite challenges
- Pristyn Care began with general surgery and gynecology, introducing aesthetic gynecology to address social taboos around issues like virginity and urinary tract infections. The organization has become a leader in treating these conditions in India
- A patient in her late 50s had been taking antibiotics for over a decade due to recurring urinary infections. After learning about a laser procedure, she sought treatment and was able to stop her medication after five months
- Communication plays a crucial role in patient care. It helps build trust and encourages patients to seek necessary treatments. Many women are unaware of available solutions due to stigma and cultural barriers
- Leadership in entrepreneurship requires understanding people rather than just focusing on operational challenges. Building a strong organizational culture is essential for success and requires addressing the needs and concerns of team members
- A defining moment in medicine for Dr. Garima Sawhney was realizing the importance of empathy and communication in patient interactions. Her journey into gynecology was influenced by her fathers belief in the value of serving women in healthcare
1500.0–1800.0
The speaker discusses the challenges and rewards of being a gynecologist, emphasizing the joy of witnessing new life. They highlight the importance of human-led healthcare, particularly in addressing women's health issues that are often misunderstood.
- Choosing gynecology brought unexpected challenges, such as the lack of a fixed schedule. Deliveries can happen at any time, which initially raised doubts about this career choice
- The first delivery experience changed everything, bringing immense satisfaction and joy. Witnessing the happiness of families reinforced the belief that gynecology was the right path
- A common misconception about health tech startups is that they can replace healthcare. In reality, healthcare must remain human-led, with technology serving to enhance the field
- Womens health involves navigating hormonal cycles and biological clocks, which are often misunderstood. These realities, including menstrual cycles and menopause, require proper support and acknowledgment
- Misunderstanding womens health can lead to significant mental trauma. It is crucial to provide support rather than dismiss concerns as mere excuses
- The conversation around womens health needs to shift towards empathy and understanding. Addressing these issues can lead to better outcomes for women in both personal and professional spheres