Doha, 28 May 2014: Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Ambulance Service Medical Communication Center has been named an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) by the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch (IAED).

This achievement of HMC's Ambulance Service Medical Communication Center, which is the first in the Middle East to receive this accreditation, is the result of two and a half years of hard work and commitment to meet the 25 requirements of the IAED.

A ceremony, in honor of the accomplishment, was held in La Cigale Hotel this week in the presence of special guests from the IAED, Hamad Medical Corporation and the Ministry of Interior.

The Ambulance Service Medical Communication Center provides a number of tools to the Ambulance Service to triage the received calls and deploy the most appropriate resource in a standardized and consistent manner.

This system has been implemented in several countries across the Middle East and provides pre-arrival instructions to the dispatcher which is given to the caller in case of an emergency. Following this protocol helps in collecting accurate and consistent documentation and data capture that gives several opportunities for data analysis and research.

HMC Managing Director, Hanan Al Kuwari PhD said: "Hamad Medical Corporation continues to advance its facilities and services to meet the increasingly demanding needs of a growing population. Many of our services are internationally accredited and this great achievement for the Ambulance Service shows their high level of commitment towards delivering safe and efficient healthcare and highlights how Qatar's healthcare system continues to be a leader in the region."

Dr. Robert Owen, Chief Executive Officer at Hamad Medical Corporation Ambulance Service said, "The Ambulance Service team is delighted to receive this prestigious accreditation. Our highest priority is to deliver quick and effective care to the people of Qatar. The Communication Center works within a very critical time frame and has to handle numerous emergency calls during the day. This accreditation is a testimony to the high quality of care we strive to deliver and shows the level of commitment we have towards delivering safe and effective healthcare."

"This accreditation confirms that our center is among the internationally recognized Accredited Centers of Excellence world-wide who provide superior, up-to-date public care and efficient resource utilization to achieve maximum results in emergency situations."

About HMC
HMC is the principal public healthcare provider in the state of Qatar for over three decades and is dedicated to delivering the safest, most effective and compassionate care to all patients.

HMC manages eight hospitals, incorporating five specialist hospitals and three community hospitals.  HMC also manages the National Ambulance Service as well as home and residential care, all accredited by Joint Commission International. While HMC continues to upgrade its facilities and services, it has also embarked on an ambitious expansion program, targeting the areas of need in our community.

HMC is leading the development of the region's first academic health system and is committed to building a legacy of healthcare expertise in Qatar. We collaborate with partners who are key experts in Qatar and beyond, including Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Partners Healthcare, Boston.

We are also the first hospital system in the Middle East to achieve institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education - International (ACGME-I), which demonstrates excellence in the way medical graduates are trained through residency, internship and fellowship programs.

For more information please visit: www.hamad.qa

© Press Release 2014