HSS Hospitals Services Sector
© DHA, Hospitals Services Sector, Monthly Newsletter, Volume
13, May 2012
هيئة الصحة بدبي يُحتفى بها في المحافل الدولية
Thank you for reading HSS newsletter Kindly send us your valuable comments! E
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Editing Manager:
Amir Javanpour
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:أخواني وأخواتي يسعدني أن أكون أحد المشاركين في الكتابة بهذه النشرة الدورية المميزة لقطاع .خدمات المستشفيات إن ما يثيراالهتمام في اآلونة األخيرة التطور الملحوظ في الخدمات الطبية و لم يكن لهذا. هذا التطور الذي حظي باإلعتراف الدولي،المقدمة في دبي بل نتاج سنوات من العمل الجاد،التطور أن ينتج ثماره نتيجة عمل يوم أو ليلة دكتور يونس كاظم والتعاون المثمر والتكاتف لكل الجهود من أجل اإلرتقاء،والمضني والمتواصل لهذا المستوى المشهود وال سيما في الفترة األخيرة الذي أهل هيئة الصحة بدبي لنيل جوائز عديدة واعترافات .هامة في المحافل الدولية بالمستوى الراقي للخدمات الطبية المقدمة من قبل الهيئة :أخواني وأخواتي ً ،ال يخفى على أحد أن تقديمنا الخدمات الصحية لمجتمع دبي واجب إنساني يضفي على مهمتنا إمتيازا خاصا إال أننا بتعاوننا نحقق الهدف المنشود بتوفير العناية الطبية ذات،وعلى الرغم من أن هذا الواجب ليس بالسهل .الجودة العالية لخدمة مرضانا وتخفيف آالمهم ونعلم جميعًا،نحمد هللا جل وعال على وصولنا إلى القمة في نوعية الخدمات الطبية المقدمة من قبل الهيئة فلنمضي قد ًما في تعاوننا وإبداعنا وجودتنا،أن الوصول إلى القمة صعب ولكن األصعب منه المحافظة عليه .في تقديم الخدمات الطبية المتميزة يونس كاظـم.د .والسداد بالتوفيق لكم تمنياتي مع ،ويرضى وفقنا هللا وإياكم لما يحب المـدير الطـبي لمـستشفى راشـد
DHA is well recognized internationally Sisters and brothers, I am glad to participate in this extraordinary newsletter of Hospitals Services Sector.
noble job. Although it is not an easy job, we can still perform at high levels with the cooperation of all parties to reduce the pain of our patients.
One of the noticeable improvements in healthcare services sector in the emirate of Dubai, is achieving international accreditation for healthcare facilities. This improvement did not happen overnight, it was accomplished after working hard for several years in cooperation with all concerned parties. In the last few years, DHA secured a lot of important international recognitions because of their excellent delivery of healthcare services.
We thank Almighty Allah for what we have accomplished in providing safe and quality healthcare services for patients in DHA. We all know that reaching the top is a tough task itself and maintaining the level is even more difficult than expected. Let’s keep moving forward as a team to continue providing quality healthcare services through creativity and teamwork.
We all know that providing healthcare services for the community of Dubai is a humanitarian act which makes our jobs a
May Almighty Allah bless all of you and I wish you all the best in your future endeavors. Dr. Younis Ameen Kazim Medical director, Rashid Hospital
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Nuclear Medicine
She came few days after her appointment for a renal study and was very scared. When I asked her why, she said that she was waiting for her sister to come and take care of her children in future. I discovered later that she thought she had a fatal cancer when she was sent to Nuclear Medicine! This may be accepted from an ordinary patient but it was also observed among some doctors who sent their patients to us as if we are oncologists or radiation oncologists! Why is this happening?! Nuclear Medicine is not one of the classic medical specialties. It’s a mixture of Nuclear technology and medicine. It can make early diagnosis, conduct staging and function and prediction of diseases and their outcomes. It can also treat certain diseases with a different approach rather than conventional treatment. In the early fifties, a famous Arabic singer
“Om Kalthom”
had Thyrotoxicosis ‘Grave’s Disease’. No single surgeon was daring to perform surgery for her because the voice nerve passes too close to Thyroid gland. If it is injured, Om Kalthom would never sing again and the doctor’s future will be in dark… A call in the night came from USA to Egypt president telling him there is a cure without surgery by Nuclear Medicine. No one knew what it is? All that they thought is ‘Atom Bomb’. Om Kalthom was cured by Nuclear Medicine and kept singing for another 30 years to give us “Enta Omr & Al Atlal” I can talk days about Nuclear Medicine but it is worth searching in internet to discover a new world in medicine that many still do not know.
and metabolism pathways. If we link this pharmaceutical to radioactive sources, they both become visible and we can follow them in the body. We call them ‘Tracers’ or ‘Radiopharmaceuticals’. A tracer goes to Thyroid allowing me to see gland’s shape and function. Another tracer goes fast to Kidney and comes out with urine giving me the chance to assess renal function and drainage. The more tracers we can get, the more organs can be assessed. What makes Nuclear Medicine different from Radiology is: 1. Nuclear Medicine follows the function of the organ and shape comes second while Radiology is better for shape and worse for function. 2. Radiation in nuclear medicine comes from “nucleus” of the atom while Radiology comes from “orbits” of the atom. For this very reason it is called Nuclear Medicine. Nuclear Medicine is subdivided to Diagnostic & Therapeutic divisions. The diagnostic part is more popular and known while therapeutic part is fundamental but unique. The diagnostic part covers almost every organ starting with Brain, Heart, Lung, GI tract, Liver, Spleen, Bone Marrow, Nasolacrimal duct, Salivary glands, Genito-urinary and Musculo-skeletal systems. Only few doctors know that we treat beside Thyroid disorders, other organs like Joints, Lymphoma, Polycythemia Vera, Ascitis, Neuroendocrine disorders, Neuroblastoma, etc We are located in Dubai Hospital but serving the population of Dubai and the Northern emirates. We have excellent reputation in Endocrine disorders, Nuclear Oncology, Cardiovascular and Paediatric diseases. We also offer Bone Mineral Densitometry (BMD) for Osteoporosis, although it is not a nuclear medicine. I hope you know Nuclear Medicine now better than that lady who had wrong information.
What is Nuclear Medicine then? One of the medical specialties that became available after 1950s only. Radio-isotopes are invisible but can be detected by special devices called ‘Detector’. Gamma Camera revolutionized this practice in 1970s and made it more popular than ever before. Different pharmaceuticals have different target organs
Dr. Abdul Rahim Al Suhaili MD, MSc., Eu Board Assoc. Prof, Consultant and Head of Nuclear Medicine Dubai Hospital
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Interview w ith Dr. Abdulla M Thank you for sparing time for this interview from your busy schedule, would you please introduce yourself? My name is Abdulla Mohammed Qassim, Consultant Neurosurgeon in Rashid Hospital. I am married with four children. Dr. Abdulla Qassim
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Consultant Neurosurgeon education, work experience and when you joined DHA? Rashid Hospital
I graduated from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in 1998 and joined DHA then as a junior doctor. In 2002, I obtained MRCS diploma and was kindly awarded a scholarship from DHA to specialize in the discipline of Neurosurgery. I completed training in Neurosurgery in Ireland and was awarded Certificate of Completion of Surgical Training (CCST) in 2011. During that time, I obtained postgraduate Masters Degree in Neurosciences from University of London (Imperial College) and FRCS (Neurosurgery) from Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. Congratulations on your award in DGEP, kindly tell us more about this exciting achievement. I was honoured to be nominated by DHA to compete for the award and the DGEP team in Accreditation and Excellence Programs Section has strongly supported that nomination through all stages and at the award ceremony itself. Actually, I started by trying to advance administrative practices within the Department of Neurosurgery and created new initiatives in favour of teaching and education. This was done in phases but took quite a short time due to the strong support I received from my colleagues, hospital administration and staff. We already saw the fruits of these changes but it will take some time before the fruits ripen. I saw that you presented the award to your parents at the Ceremony, what was behind this decision?
There is no doubt that DHA has strongly supported me from my MRCS days in 2000 until CCST in 2011 and no words of thank you will be enough. Through those years, the person who stood by me at every step and helped me
ohammed Qassim
to overcome the hurdles of being away from home was my dear wife. Not to forget, this journey started long time back when only my parents were there for me and without them, none of this would happen. What should DHA do in order to get more awards in the future? DHA has won previous awards in the same and other categories, and this reflects the hard work of the DGEP team and they should keep up the good work and keep an open eye for potential nominees from early on. What is your message for DHA staff in order to win DGEP award next year? I suggest that staff visit DGEP portal, thoroughly review the criteria for various categories and adapt their objectives accordingly. The main aim should be better performance and winning the award is a welcome bonus.
Interviewer: Amir Javanpour What is your favorite past time in the free time that you manage to get? Free time is a precious commodity and one must try and fill it with useful activities. I like to spend time with my family, look after the garden at home, meet friends and read If you flash back in time, will you go for the same profession again? There is a saying in the Emirati tradition: If the word “if”’ was a plant and they tried to plant it, it will never grow. When you practice medicine whole-heartedly, the intellectual and emotional feedback is so immense that I would not want to pursue anything else as a career rather than medicine. To me, working as a Neurosurgeon is a gift and duty that I value very much. Finally, what are your plans for future? We will sustain the new changes that we made in the Department of Neurosurgery and further elaborate on them with time to set our department as a successful model for delivering individual care to patients. Thank you very much Dr. Abdulla Mohammed Qassim and once again congratulations for obtaining DGEP award.
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Pharmacy Perspectives Rosemary Essential Oil May Boost Brain Performance
Hailed since ancient times for its medicinal properties, we still have a lot to learn about the effects of rosemary. Now researchers writing in Therapeutic Advances in Psychopharmacology, published by SAGE, have shown for the first time that blood levels of a rosemary oil component correlate with improved cognitive performance. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is one of many traditional medicinal plants that yield essential oils. But exactly how such plants affect human behaviour is still unclear. Mark Moss and Lorraine Oliver, working at the Brain Performance and Nutrition Research Centre at Northumbria University, UK designed an experiment to investigate the pharmacology of 1,8-cineole (1,3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[2,2,2]octane), one of rosemary’s main chemical components. Results indicate for the first time in human subjects that concentration of 1,8-cineole in the blood is related to an individual’s cognitive performance - with higher concentrations resulting in improved performance.
Skin Creams, Soaps & Lotions Marketed as Skin Lighteners & Anti-aging Treatments: May Contain the Toxic Metal
Mercury
FDA notified healthcare professionals and warned consumers not to use skin creams, beauty and antiseptic soaps, or lotions that might contain mercury. The products are marketed as skin lighteners and anti-aging treatments that remove age spots, freckles, blemishes and wrinkles. Adolescents also may use these products as acne treatments. Investigations in the past few years by FDA and state health officials have turned up more than 35 products that contain unacceptable levels of mercury.
Recommendations: Advised to check the label of any skin lightening, anti-aging or other skin product used. If there is no label or no ingredients are listed, do not use the product. If “mercurous chloride,” “calomel,” “mercuric,” “mercurio,” or “mercury,” are listed on the label, stop using the product immediately. Thoroughly wash hands and any other parts of the body that have come in contact with the product.
Fake Drugs Increasing on The Net Fake drugs are increasingly being sold on the Internet in a global counterfeit medicines market that has doubled in the last five years to more than $75 million. The medicines, many of which are life-threatening, have even turned up in the legitimate supply chain and found their way into pharmacies, according to a review by Dr. Graham Jackson and colleagues published in the March issue of IJCP, the International Journal of Clinical Practice. The problem is so big, experts on Internet security reckon that one in four of all spam adverts sent by email is for a counterfeit or unlicensed drug. A survey of 423 doctors by UK medical newspaper GP found that one third said they had treated, or suspect they had treated, a patient suffering from the side-effects of substandard prescription-only medications bought over the Internet Counterfeit medicines pose an every-increasing threat to public health, including death and inadequate healthcare as a result of self-medication.
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HSS Secured 3 places at DGEP Award
On 11th of April 2012 two employees from Hospitals Services Sector and a project were awarded by Dubai Excellence Award Program by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The awarded staff and project are: 1- The distinguished employee in specialized jobs Dr. Abdulla Mohammed Qasim Consultant, Neurosurgery Department, Rashid Hospital 2- The Unsung Employee Mr. Mohammad Abdulla Faridi, X-ray Attendant, Rashid Hospital
ement v e i Hospitals Services Se h c a r i e h t r ctoGovernment r represenProject ted would like to congratulate the employees fo 3- Distinguished Joint Trauma Center, Rashid Hospital for the project Events “Management”
Ergonomizing lifestyles Ergonomics is the science of designing user interaction with equipments and workplaces to fit the user (“Ergon” means work and “Nomus” means law). Ergonomic risk factors are found in jobs requiring repetitive, forceful or prolonged exertion of hands, frequent/heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying of heavy objects and prolonged awkward posture. Vibration and cold may add risk to these work conditions.
2) Using appropriate chair and making adjustments to prevent back & neck strain (120° back rest incline, back rest height till scapular blade, chair with arms rests, wheels and height adjustment).
3) Learning the right way to lift heavy objects to prevent The levels of risk depend on intensity, frequency and back injuries (to object, bend duration of exposure to these conditions. Although the the knees, tuck the abdomen) scope of ergonomics is much broader, the term here refers to work related factors that may pose a risk of musculoskeletal 4) Using handle coatings or special gloves to suppress disorder and recommendations to alleviate them vibration from power tools. Examples of ergonomic change to your work might include:
1) Adjusting position of computer keyboard (wrist pad), to prevent CTS.
Article contributed by Mr. Cecil George Philip Senior Physiotherapist, PMR Dept. Rashid Hospital
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Unknown Soldiers V
ery often in healthcare, we tend to focus a lot on key clinical staff/ administration and sometimes ignore the importance of those employees working either in non-clinical or in clinical environment without whom the organization would not be able to function. So in this issue of the newsletter, we would like to highlight again:
Unknown Soldiers
Their role in the organization does not place some of them directly in contact with the patient and as a consequence their contribution and commitment might be overlooked. However, their role is just as important to the safe and efficient functioning of HSS as that of everybody else.
This page identifies a few individuals who represent a far greater number of the HSS workforce and is an acknowledgement of their devotion and valuable contribution to safe patient care and hospital management. All managers/ supervisors are requested to nominate their staff for this page, (click here).
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Sheryan
is a new online licensing system for Health Regulation Department (HRD) – Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and first automated system for UAE in Dubai. It is for all healthcare professionals, both locals and expats and for all healthcare facilities who want to invest in the Emirate of Dubai, where applicants can avail all licensing services from their home or place of comfort.
• Completely paperless environment • No waiting time for healthcare professionals • Promotes global investment in healthcare facilities Recently DHA have signed an agreement with Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) that any healthcare professional who is licensed with HAAD can apply for DHA license and he/she will be exempted from assessment and Documents’ primary source verification and to be given same HAAD professional title, and Vice-versa. Furthermore, Health Regulation Department is working on migration of healthcare professionals of DHA Hospitals to Sheryan and workshops are going to be announced which will be conducted soon all over DHA Hospitals in order to train the Professionals and Hospital Coordinators about the system.
Fig.1 Sheryan was launched on 2nd of October 2011 by H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at GITEX Conference.
It’s quick, convenient, and a dependable way to manage applicants’ licensing needs, where applicants and licensees may check the status of their application and perform an indepth licensing information inquiry online.
In addition, DHA has signed up an agreement with ‘Prometric’ to enable 10 fields of DHA Healthcare professionals (RN, AN, Physiotherapist, Orthodontics, Radiologist, GP, General Dentist, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Paediatric, and Dermatology) to take an online examination and they can visit any Prometric centre in the world (across 135 countries). More information, Click here
Benefits of Sheryan:
• Highly cost-effective & efficient system • Quick and effective processes • Online examination eliminates all travel cost incurred by facilities and physicians • Economical, less time consuming and secure method of online testing • Unification of examination system
Fig.2 Launching of Sheryan at GITEX Conference
Article contributed by Dr. Hana Ibrahim Badran, MD, Health Regulation Department
Afya members participated in the “Walk for Autism” Walkathon As part of the global awareness campaign on autism, the Child Early Intervention Medical Center teamed up with Red Crescent, and hosted the ‘Walk for Autism’ to raise awareness on Autism on Saturday (21/04/2012) at Zabeel Park. 28 members of Afya participated in this walkathon to show their support and to comply with one of Afya’s criteria which is related to participating in a sport related activity through joining a walkathon or a marathon.
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1st Arab Neonatal Congress The 1st Arab Neonatal Congress was inaugurated on 4th April 2012 by Dr. Abdulla Al Khayat, CEO of Latifa Hospital and Chairperson of Organizing Board of Congress which was held for the first time in Dubai in cooperation with Emirates Medical Association at Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Dr. Abdul Rahim Mustafawi, president of EMA and Senior Consultant in Latifa Hospital delivered the speech on behalf of EMA; this was followed by welcome speech of Dr. Khaled ElAtawi, Congress President and Senior Specialist Neonatologist, Clinical Quality Specialist in Latifa Hospital.
The board appreciated Dr. Abdulla Al Khayat as ‘Figure of the year 2012’ being the first pediatrician of UAE beside his medical and administrative achievements. The Congress extended over the 5th to 7th of April 2012; Total attendance was 280 participants and included interactive lectures and workshops discussing focal topics in Neonatal Care and its related fields. Pioneers in the field of Neonatology with clinical and scientific expertise from across the globe were invited; 8 speakers from Western countries, 8 speakers from Middle East and Gulf beside 14 speakers from within the U.A.E. Six workshops were conducted addressing several topics; Neonatal Database, Neonatal Ventilation , Pulmonary Graphics, Neonatal Nutrition, Kernicterus and S.T.A.B.L.E Course, a specialized workshop for nursing staff. The Congress was
Latifa Hospital
accredited 16.5 hours of Continuing Personal Development (CPD) by DHA while the workshops were accredited 1-6 hours of CPD. On the sidelines of the congress on 4th of April 2012, and for the first time in the Middle East, a workshop on “Functional Echocardiography by Neonatologist” was held in Latifa Hospital. The course was directed by Dr. Martin Kluckow, Associate Professor, Neonatology, University of Sydney, in cooperation with Dr. Shahraban Abdullah, Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist, Latifa Hospital. This workshop pointed to the usefulness of using this type of imaging in diagnosing and treating different heart conditions in a newborn baby and extended over 5 hours and approved for 4 CPD hours by DHA.
For the first time in U.A.E. and the Arab world. Dr. Mahmoud Elhalik, Consultant Neonatologist and Head of Health Informatics Unit (HIU) in Latifa Hospital has announced, at the direction of Dr. Abdullah Al Khayat, launch of a project to establish “National Neonatal Electronic Registry”. The lead and the center arbitrary for this project will be Latifa Hospital and suggested database record will be designed and programmed in HIU of the Hospital to get statistical information for all newborns admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across the country. In his closing speech, Dr. El-Atawi announced the date of the next session of this congress which will be during the first half of March 2013.
Web-Based System for Incident Reporting Going Live now in Rashid Hospital Go Live across Hospitals Services Sector will be as follow: • • • •
Latifa Hospital 24th May 2012 Thalasseamia Centre, DGFC and DDC 24th May Dubai Hospital 6th June Hatta Hospital 19th June More information? Click here 8