Al Ain, UAE, 21 January, 2015: Tawam Hospital, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine and part of the SEHA healthcare system, has successfully performed three advanced microsurgery procedures involving reconstructive surgeries.

During the last quarter of 2014, the Plastic and reconstructive Surgery division of Tawam Hospital performed a free fasciocutaneous flap surgery to reconstruct a patient's foot after tumor excision. Another patient who had tumor removal from the mouth was operated on to reconstruct the oral cavity and tongue with a free flap. The third patient had a free bone flap transfer with the head of the bone by microsurgery technique to reconstruct the wrist joint after tumor excision.

Reconstructive surgery is performed utilizing a special microscope and precise instruments to execute intricate operations on tiny structures that are invisible to the naked eye. In a microsurgery, surgeons are able to repair transected blood vessels, arteries and nerves that are less than 1 millimeter in diameter with the use of high power magnification with stitches finer than hair.

"Tawam Hospital is very proud to have completed these advanced reconstructive microsurgeries successfully to help our patients. The intricate procedures also attest to the advanced medical expertise of Tawam Hospital and our team providing assurance to our patients that they are in good hands. We are happy to report that the three patients are now able to function normally," said Dr. Ammar S. Saleh Al Dhamin, Specialist of Plastic Surgery and Microsurgery who performed the surgeries. Dr. Al Dhamin has a clinical fellowship in Microsurgery Surgery from Dalhousi in Canda and he is a member of Surgeons College in Ireland.  

Tawam Surgery Department Chairman, Brian D. Gill, commended the team:  "This surgical team is world class.  As experts in their specialized areas of advanced surgical techniques, these surgeons and support staff have achieved a great milestone with the successful completion of these three microsurgical flap reconstructions.  We expect continued expansion of the microsurgical program here at Tawam Hospital and we all congratulate the operative team for excellent work."  Dr Gill has a diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Surgery.

"Performing advanced reconstructive microsurgery helps that surgeons trained abroad can share their expertise and help patients from the UAE and the entire region get the best healthcare available especially after removal of tumors," said Dr. Latifa Al Dhaheri, an Emirati Surgical trainee at Tawam Hospital who is part of the team responsible for the microsurgeries.

Tawam Hospital is also proud of its Emirati medical experts currently working at the leading institution. The hospital actively recruits and engages a national workforce. On average, the Emiratization rate at Tawam is 16 percent. Tawam Hospital is part of the SEHA Health System, owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Tawam Hospital is part of the SEHA Health System owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

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About Tawam Hospital
Tawam Hospital, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine, is a premier 440-bed tertiary care facility located in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. One of the largest hospitals in the United Arab Emirates, Tawam is committed to providing a continuum of quality healthcare which meets the needs and expectations of the UAE; and aims to provide high quality, cost effective medical services delivered in a friendly, safe and caring environment in accordance with the JCIA Standard of Care.  With over 19,000 admissions in 2013 and an average 68 per cent daily occupancy rate, Tawam offers services in specialties including oncology, neonatal care, emergency medicine, intensive care, surgery, urology, family medicine, fertility services, neurosurgery, nephrology, pediatrics, pain management, internal medicine and obstetrics & gynecology.

Tawam serves as a regional referral center for specialized medical care and is a national referral center for oncology services. Tawam Hospital received program accreditation in 2012 from the American College of Graduate Medical Education - International, and is a recognized intern, resident, and fellowship training site for the Arab Medical Board. Tawam Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission International Accreditation, last renewed in 2012, and its laboratory services are accredited by the College of American Pathology.

With an average of 300 daily inpatients, Tawam Hospital is the preferred destination for quality medical care in the UAE. In 2013, the ER unit received almost 96,000 patients, and hospital clinic visits exceeded 290,000. Tawam's team of renowned surgeons performed over 7,043 surgeries during the year of which nearly 1,950 day surgical cases, while the dental clinics served over 72,000 patients. More than 3,800 babies were born at Tawam Hospital in 2013. In the same year, the hospital performed over 20,800 CT/MRI procedures.

In response to the Voice of Customer, Tawam has implemented many initiatives to reduce the waiting time in the outpatient services leading to a significant improvement in the percentage of patients seen within 45 minutes attaining 73 percent by the end of 2013. Receiving a new Tomotherapy machine, and installing its own state-of-the-art bilingual Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) integrating voice, text and email communications, to increase customer service levels. In terms of recognitions, Tawam Hospital earned a number of accolades in 2013, including: positive accreditation for Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency programs at Tawam Hospital Academic Affairs, Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award, JCIA Accreditation for IVF/Cardiology Service and Tomotherapy, and many others. Tawam Hospital also successfully performed the first case of bilateral simultaneous carotid stenting in 2013.The hospital has also undergone physical expansion with the increase in parking spaces in 2013, and introduction of a valet parking service in 2014. Work is underway on Surgical and Medical Wards to provide a single room for each patient to provide more privacy, as well as the refurbishment of the Emergency Ward.

In treating its patients, visitors and employees with dignity, respect and equality, Tawam Hospital is guided by the following principles: treat patients as if they are family; embrace cultural diversity; deal in a trusted, honest and ethical manner; work as a team; continually improve quality; strive for a happy working environment with respect and mutual trust; encourage professional development and innovation through a constant process of learning; provide efficient healthcare to bring value to external and internal customers; and be a good corporate citizen.

Tawam Hospital actively recruits and engages a national workforce. On average, the Emiratization rate at Tawam is 16 percent. Tawam Hospital is part of the SEHA Health System, owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

About Johns Hopkins Medicine International
Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) facilitates the global development of the Johns Hopkins Medicine mission: to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care.

As the international access point to thousands of Johns Hopkins experts in medicine, nursing, public health and health care administration, JHI coordinates treatment for out-of-town patients who travel to Baltimore and for local patients with limited English proficiency. It also provides services in hospital management, health care consulting and clinical education through strategic alliances and affiliations in the Middle East, Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia.

About the SEHA Health System and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA)  
SEHA is health in Arabic.  The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC- whose marketing identity is SEHA - is an independent, public joint stock company created to develop the curative activities of the public healthcare system in Abu Dhabi. The company owns and operates all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi which together make up the SEHA Health System.  SEHA is committed to continuous improvement of customer care to recognized international standards and providing our customers and communities served world-class healthcare.  SEHA has partnered with internationally recognized hospital managers to achieve these goals.  These include Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Fresenius Medical Care.  SEHA owns and operates 12 hospitals with 2,644 beds, more than 60 ambulatory care, family care and urgent care centers and 2 blood banks.  SEHA is one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East with more than 17,000 doctors, nurses, ancillary care and administrative personnel in its employ.  Visit our website at www.seha.ae

For media enquiries, please contact:
Sumaya Al Harrasi
Marketing & Business Communications Manager
Tawam Hospital
Tel.: +971 3 7074646
Mobile: +971 553051305
Fax: +971 3 7074818
Email: sharrasi@tawamhospital.ae

© Press Release 2015