Doha, May 11, 2008 - As part of its ongoing commitment to leading the development of healthcare in the State of Qatar, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) today announced the launch of an initiative dedicated to improving and enhancing services for its patients.

With this announcement Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Managing Director of HMC is introducing the staff of the Corporation to a new concept in health care improvement that is expected to have a significant impact on the way care is delivered within HMC in future.

"HMC is proud of its achievements in health care and its role in training the coming generation of health professionals, but we also know that there are many things that we can do better" said Dr Al Kuwari.

"Everyone working at HMC understands that we are on a journey of continuous quality improvement.  We are proud of our achievement in being awarded JCI Accreditation for all of our 5 facilities, but that is not the end of our journey.  It is just the beginning.  The Centre for Healthcare Improvement is a resource for all of our staff, a resource that will better equip and support them as they face the challenges ahead," Dr Al Kuwari concluded.

The Corporation is creating a "Center for Healthcare Improvement", which will be a designated purpose built area providing the resources, manpower, and structure, that is necessary to make change programs successful.

Initially the Centre will concentrate its efforts in three broad areas;

  • Innovation and Development,

  • Service Transformation and Service Improvement, and,

  • Strategic Enhancements

To mark this new concept, Dr Al Kuwari launched an information brochure and organized a program of lectures and presentations during this week.  Senior specialist staff of HMC, and guest speakers from WCMC-Q, Partners Harvard Medical International (Boston USA), and the Joint Commission International (JCI) will be addressing staff on topics that include, effective working in teams, integrating care, designing better patient care environments, and clinician - patient communication.

The Center is being introduced to staff this week so that they can begin to focus on the areas of work that will be the highest priority for the Center's attention, and is a clear statement that the work of the Center begins today.  A dedicated area within HMC has been designed and is being fitted with state of the art facilities conducive to learning and innovation.  It is expected that the facilities will be formally opened later this year. Recruitment of core staff has commenced and it is expected that, after the summer months, a number of high priority projects will be underway.

The Center for Healthcare Improvement will help departments within HMC to develop proposals for improvements in Healthcare in any area of work where there is an identified need.  The Center will act as the vehicle to support, direct, and develop proposals into realistic process improvement plans, and to provide access to the support needed to implement these plans.

The work of the Center will be managed through a program management board led by Dr Al Kuwari, who is in turn accountable to the Board of Directors for ensuring quality of care at HMC. 

Dr Latifa Al Houty, Chairman of the Board of HMC, who was present to introduce the concept to the executive staff, assured them that the Centre is strongly supported by the Board and said:  "My responsibility as Chairman, along with my fellow Board

Directors, is to ensure that the community can have full confidence that HMC will deliver reliable high quality care. I am delighted that our Managing Director, Dr Hanan, has taken this important initiative."

The Center is the first of its kind in the Region with a sole purpose of improving patient care.  The Center will be a dedicated vehicle through which improvement projects can be developed and implemented.  Staff will be able to learn from the experience of other countries and health systems, and access resources from around the world that will assist them in developing their own service improvement strategies and plans. 

In her closing remarks Dr Hanan summed up the reasons that she has introduced this important innovation:  "We have established the Centre for Healthcare Improvement because we want to inspire, encourage and support our staff, and give them access to the resources they need, in order to reach their goal of delivering the best possible care to our patients."

-Ends-

About the Hamad Medical Corporation
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is the premier non-profit health care provider in Doha, Qatar, delivering approximately 95% of the State's health care services.  Established by Emiri decree in 1979, the Corporation manages five specialist hospitals: Hamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Al Amal Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, Women's Hospital and the Emergency Medical Service for the State of Qatar.  HMC is also developing Medical City to provide new state of the art facilities including a specialist Cardiology Hospital and a new Children's Hospital. HMC's vision is to achieve international recognition as a world-class quality health care provider.

For further information:
Shady Arafa
Hill & Knowlton Qatar LLC
Tel: +974 418 1292
Email: shady.arafa@hillandknowlton.com

© Press Release 2008