Doha, 15 April 2013: The role of integrated Clinical Information Systems (CIS) in transforming the delivery of ealthcare in Qatar will be among the issues discussed in a conference taking place this weekend in Doha.

The Clinical Information Systems International Conference, the first of its kind in the region, is hosted by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in partnership with the Primary Health Care Corporation (PHCC) and will be held on 20 April 2013 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Doha.

Dr. AbdulWahab Al Musleh, Deputy Chief of Medical, Academic and Research Affairs for Clinical Information Systems, said the conference will be a platform for all healthcare industry experts to come together, learn and discuss the various opportunities and challenges that will be faced during the implementation of this system.

"It will also allow all program planners, physicians, nurses and other IT industry experts to get engaged with the program and understand how best they can contribute to this transformational journey," Dr. Al Musleh said.

The implementation of the CIS system is a joint program between HMC and PHCC, and the implementation within both HMC and PHCC's existing services will see the creation of a single, integrated Electronic Health Record (EHR) for every patient, moving away from paper-based processes. This EHR will provide immediate access to patient data, access to order certain prescriptions and investigations, such as x-rays and other tests.

Dr. Juliet Ibrahim, PHCC's Executive Director of Clinical Affairs and CIS Program Steering Committee Co-Deputy Chair said "The true value of the implementation of such a CIS program will be the impact on enhancing patient care." A CIS program will also help streamline processes and enhance patient care, allowing authorized clinical staff to share and view patient records on a common platform and have access to the patient's complete medical history, enabling them to make more informed decisions.

The conference is being held in partnership with PHCC, and is sponsored by HP, OCSHI Solutions and Services, Aamal, Dell, Cerner and Partners HealthCare International. A celebratory gala dinner will be held at the end of the conference, which is sponsored by Kulluna.

Registration to the conference is still open to anyone working in healthcare or information technologies sectors, with limited spaces available. To register for the conference, please visit cisconf.hamad.qa/en/

About HMC
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is the principal public healthcare provider for the State of Qatar. The Corporation manages eight hospitals along with further specialist clinical, educational and research facilities, and is growing in capacity each year around the diverse needs of the evolving population. HMC's ambition is to become an academic health system; a world leading center of excellence in clinical care, medical education and research that transforms into significant clinical advancements. 

HMC believes in excellence in healthcare, education and research with each supporting the other to provide world-class quality patient care in a safe and healing environment.

As well as four general hospitals situated in the most densely populated areas of Qatar, HMC also manages four specialist hospitals, looking after patients with the most prevalent conditions, including cancer, heart conditions, rehabilitation, and a hospital providing specialist treatment for women. HMC also operates the national Ambulance Service and a home healthcare service.

The Corporation was the first public healthcare system outside the United States to achieve Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation for all hospitals simultaneously. JCI accreditation is based on quality and safety across all clinical and management functions. HMC is 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 contact:
Corporate Communications Department
Hamad Medical Corporation
Tel. No.: +974 4439 8919
www.hamad.qa

© Press Release 2013