A new medical leadership team will transform HMC's clinical services to world-class Academic Health System (AHS) status

In line with Qatar's National Heath Strategy and the Qatar National Vision 2030, the AHS will build the knowledge economy in academic medicine

New Clinical Information System will provide personal health record for every citizen in Qatar integrating patient records to improve effectiveness of care

Doha, 6 October 2012: Dr Hanan Al Kuwari appoints a new medical leadership team comprised of internationally respected experts to lead HMC's transformation into a world-class academic health system. The new chief and five deputies will work very closely with the medical staff towards transforming clinical practice in HMC.

Dr Hanan said: "As part of our ambition to become a top performing healthcare organization in the region we have designed a new leadership model, one which is distinctively Qatari in its culture and values and which embraces the best of international practice and expertise." She added: "We have invited the brightest and best to lead our medical profession in the continuous pursuit of high quality healthcare for our patients. This is an important step in our journey towards excellence. We will continue to search for talent within HMC, in Qatar and abroad as we transform the future of healthcare in Qatar."

HMC aims to be a patient-centered healthcare provider that will develop to meet the healthcare needs of the expanding population of Qatar. Many recent improvements to medical care were driven by patients needing easy and more timely access to emergency and routine treatment.

For example, following the introduction of a telephone booking system, Hamad now aims to offer patients a convenient and timely referral to see a hospital specialist. Early results from six clinics across Hamad General Hospital (HGH) indicate that waiting times have reduced on average by 75% in the last year. Also in that period waiting times for MRI scans have been reduced by over 80%.

Harnessing the latest information technology for the benefit of patients, HMC signed a US $100m contract with the global company Cerner to implement a world-class clinical information system. This will allow doctors to see their patients scan results on screen quickly so that they can discuss them with their patients. It will improve diagnoses and clinical decision making and improve the speed and effectiveness of care.

HMC has also implemented a new and advanced Medical and Non-medical Electronic Incident Reporting System designed to make care as safe as possible.  Qatar is only the second country in the region to introduce this special system, joining seven other top healthcare providers around the world.

Chief of Medical, Academic and Research Affairs, Professor Ed Hillhouse, said: "Our drive to transform into an academic healthcare system supports Qatar's journey of becoming a knowledge-based economy. It will ensure that the latest discoveries in science and medical technology can translate into patient benefit at the bedside as quickly as possible." He also said: "Research is an integral part of our approach to deliver new technologies and treatments which will, in turn, support the evidence-based clinical improvements of the future. I am encouraged that our researchers were awarded US$10m in research grants by Qatar National Research Funds last year."

Professor Hillhouse, who joined HMC in 2011, was previously Professor of Medicine at the well respected University of Leeds where he held senior academic posts as Dean of the School of Medicine, Faculty Dean of Medicine and Health and Dean for International Development. He has also held the post of Foundation Professor of Medicine and Director of the Molecular Medicine Research Centre at the University of Warwick, where he established the Medical Research Institute and laid the foundations for biomedical and clinical research. He is a founder member and Consulting Director of the International Association of Academic Health Centers and is passionate about the role of Academic Health Centers as vehicles for innovation and health improvement.

HMC sets high standards and these are underpinned by specialized education and training for its staff. The organization's healthcare education vision is led by Dr Abdullatif Al-Khal, Deputy Chief of Education, who has gained extensive international healthcare management experience over more than 20 years. As well as being the Director of the Medical Education Department, Dr Al-Khal was the previous Chair of the Department of Medicine, and the Chair of the Infectious Diseases Division and the Communicable Diseases Clinic at HMC. He is also the Manager of the National Tuberculosis Program and the Director of the Clinical AIDS Program.

Dr Al-Khal said: "I joined HMC in 1989 as a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and my experience has led to a strong appreciation for the importance of high quality medical education and continued professional development. I take great personal pride in HMC's development of a strong educational environment and a culture of learning that supports our academic healthcare aspirations."

HMC actively encourages and facilitates research that leads to evidence-based healthcare practice which has the potential to improve patient outcomes and enhance the patient experience. Three new appointments to the medical leadership team underpin the efforts to build a culture of academic medicine in Qatar.

Professor Sten Lindahl, who joined HMC in early 2012, is a passionate advocate of the importance of integrating research & development into clinical practice to drive innovation in healthcare. Professor Lindahl was previously Professor of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care in Sweden at one of Europe's largest academic medical centres and has held numerous Chief and Chair roles in Sweden and the USA. He has been chairman and vice-chairman of the Nobel Committee for the Nobel prize in Physiology or Medicine, and is a member of the Nobel Assembly.

A massive new project is laying the foundation for a national health IT framework that will provide a personal health record for every citizen in Qatar. The Clinical Information System (CIS) will improve healthcare delivery by digitizing the entire public health system, including all Hamad hospitals and Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs). The system will give clinicians on-screen access to patient data and enable individuals to schedule appointments, send messages to their doctor and create a personal health record to better manage their health and use of healthcare services.

The project is managed by another prominent Qatari doctor, Dr AbdulWahab Al Musleh, Deputy Chief, Clinical Informatics, who has extensive administrative experience, gained over 24 years at HMC.

"When I chose to go into medicine, I made a commitment to HMC, our patients and to myself to support our efforts to raise the standards of care here. By introducing the latest advances in healthcare research and technology, and featuring leading edge products and services, we will establish a healthcare legacy for future generations," said Dr Al Musleh. "This new system will provide data for ongoing research, disease management and healthcare planning purposes that will greatly benefit Qatar's residents."

Dr Al Musleh trained in surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in 1988, where he had been an active member in the college. He successfully completed his fellowship in surgery from RCSI in 1994 and attained his certificate from the Arab Board that same year. Dr Al Musleh has been previously Chairman of Emergency and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Department at HMC. He is an active member in many clinical and administrative committees throughout HMC. His numerous contributions to other organizations include the Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee (DAGOC), where he was the Healthcare and Doping Control Program Manager.

The top team has been enhanced further by the arrival in the past month of Professor Michael Richmond and Dr Penelope Gordon.

Professor Richmond, Deputy Chief for Clinical Affairs, has extensive clinical and health management experience. An anesthetist by professional background, Professor Richmond was previously medical director at one of the top-rated teaching hospitals in the UK, where he radically improved clinical services. He will be reviewing and improve the quality of clinical services delivered at HMC.

Dr Penelope Gordon, Deputy Chief -for Professional Development, is an experienced Consultant Radiologist and hospital manager. Previously the Director of Medical Education in Portsmouth Hospitals, she has extensive experience in medical education and was awarded a Masters degree in Medical Education in 2003. She has been a Clinical Director of Radiology and then a Clinical Director in Portsmouth, with a special interest in chest radiology and breast radiology. Dr Gordon completed a NACT UK/Wyeth Travelling Fellowship to North Carolina University in 2008.

The appointment of this high caliber medical leadership demonstrates HMC's determination to achieve the highest standards possible in serving the people of Qatar.

About HMC:
Hamad Medical Corporation is the premier non-profit healthcare provider in Qatar. It was established by Emiri decree in 1979 and manages eight highly specialized hospitals, namely, Hamad General Hospital, Rumailah Hospital, Women's Hospital, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Heart Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital, The Cuban Hospital and Al Khor Hospital. Since its establishment, HMC has rapidly developed medical facilities capable of providing state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of diseases that previously could only be managed in overseas medical centers.

HMC prides itself in providing quality and cost-efficient healthcare for all patients regardless of nationality, in line with the State of Qatar's pledge of "Health for All". For this purpose, the Corporation implements a policy of continuous improvement of all management systems and patient care protocols. HMC's ethos is based on three key pillars which are Health, Education and Research.

For more information about HMC please visit www.hmc.org.qa

For more information about this article, please contact:
Corporate Communication Department
Hamad Medical Corporation
Tel. No.: +974 4439 5272
Fax No.: +974 4439 5002
E: julhaque@hmc.org.qa     

© Press Release 2012