Al Corniche Hospital Hosts Important Conference on Neonatal Health

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Abu Dhabi, UAE (December 21, 2009) - The Born Too Early: NICU Conference was held earlier this month at Le Royal Meridian Hotel in Abu Dhabi. The Conference, focusing on neonatal health and hosted by Al Corniche Hospital was attended by more than 280 clinicians, many leading experts on the topic from around the world.

Neonatologists, Pediatricians, Neonatal & Pediatric Nurses, Midwives and Lactation Consultants from across the UAE attended the conference. The conference focused on education and clinical research in the NICU, respiratory challenges, developmental care and optimal nutrition for preterm babies.

"Al Corniche Hospital is the busiest maternity hospital in the UAE with the largest regional center for neonatology

with 50 NICU cots and we are near capacity 90% of the time," according to Dr. Judy Lee, Chief Medical Officer of Al Corniche Hospital. "We have also seen increasingly more complex cases over the past few years, adding to the many challenges our dedicated neonatologists face in the provision of neonatal care. Such a conference provides the opportunity to share and learn best practices as we maintain the best standards for our patients and the community."

As part of their Management contract of Al Corniche Hospital, John Hopkins sent two neonatal experts to speak at the conference. Dr. Edward Lawson is Professor and Director of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and Karen Frank is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in the NICU, both practicing at the campus in Baltimore, USA.

Joining the Johns Hopkins specialists are Professor Paula Meier, Professor of Pediatrics at Rush Medical College and Director for Clinical Research & Lactation in NICU at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA; Dr. David Todd, Career Medical Officer and Neonatologist at the Centre for Newborn Care Canberra in Australia & Senior lecturer Australian National University Canberra; Professor Joanna Hawthorne, Research Psychologist for Family Research at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Brazelton Centre, Great Britain; Sarah Larche Clinical Resource Nurse at Sheikh Khalifa Hospital, Abu Dhabi; and the Lactation Team at Al Corniche Hospital, Abu Dhabi.

"We have brought together some incredible practitioners in the world of neonatal medicine," says Ronald Lavater, CEO Al Corniche Hospital. "We are always striving to improve the care of newborns in this delicate stage of their lives and the opportunity to share knowledge from so many renowned doctors and specialists is vital in advancing our medical practices here in the UAE."

Al Corniche Hospital has been supporting the women of the region through pregnancy and childbirth for over 25 years. Al Corniche Hospital is a purpose-built obstetrics and gynecology facility with 235 beds, 14 delivery suites and 50 neonatal intensive care cots. With more than 10,000 births a year, Al Corniche Hospital is the busiest maternity hospital in Abu Dhabi. There are also more than 400 outpatient visits per day. Al Corniche Hospital is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services CompanyAbu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHASEHA) and managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International. Al Corniche has been named a "Baby Friendly" hospital which is considered the "gold standard" for Maternity Hospitals from the World Health Organization and UNICEF .

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© Press Release 2009