Doha, 15 September 2013: The Trauma Center at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is conducting a specially designed Outreach Educational Program for non-trauma practitioners on the care of patients with trauma injuries. The program aims to improve the capacity of general hospitals in outlying areas of the country to manage trauma patients with less severe injuries.
"The idea is that the hospitals that serve the outlying areas of the country will be able to manage a number of trauma patients that do not need to come to Hamad General Hospital (HGH) - where the Trauma Center is based - because they have small injuries," said Dr. Rifat Latifi, Professor of Surgery and Director of Trauma Services at HMC.
The program is part of an integrated plan of care aimed at reducing disability and death from trauma in the region.
"Every month, consultants from the Trauma Center team give a set of practical lectures at general hospitals including Al Khor Hospital, Al Wakra Hospital and the Cuban Hospital. We also hold visits and discussions with the medical teams regarding the management of difficult or unknown cases," said Dr. Latifi. The educational sessions cover a range of topics from safely transporting trauma patients to other aspects of managing patients with various trauma injuries, for instance, those sustained by people involved in motor vehicle collisions, falls, and other workplace or sports injuries.
"It is part of the Trauma Center's mission to lead injury prevention and outreach programs, and as part of our outreach program, we are working to educate medical staff who are not trauma surgeons, such as emergency medicine doctors, general practitioners, and other surgeons who do not specialize in trauma surgery, as well as nursing staff," Dr. Latifi explained.
Dr. Latifi added that they already have ongoing weekly educational sessions for medical and nursing staff at HGH, where the award-winning Trauma Center team headed by Dr. Hassan Al Thani receives and evaluates more than 5,300 trauma and injured patients each year. Severely injured patients are cared for by a dedicated Trauma team led by trauma surgeons and consisting of physicians of various specialties, nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and other healthcare providers.
Dr. Latifi said the educational program, which began in May, has had excellent attendance and feedback from the participants, and they are hoping to eventually expand the program to primary healthcare centers, which sometimes handle trauma cases.
Established in 2007, the Trauma Center has been recognized by the World Health Organization and Arab Health for its positive impact on the care of injured patients in the region. The center's establishment has led to a significant reduction in deaths among critically ill trauma patients admitted to HGH.
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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.
© Press Release 2013
