Accreditation - CAP and CAA

ACCREDITATION COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGY A GULF NEWS SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT

SATURDAY MARCH 30, 2019

Regulations for accreditation in place for UAE medical labs In its continued bid to follow best international practices and improve the nation’s healthcare system, the UAE adopted a mandatory regulation from February this year that requires medical laboratories to apply for accreditation with the relevant bodies he Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology’s (ESMA) new set of regulations announced earlier this year are mandatory for all UAE-based medical laboratories.

In keeping with the new regulations that came into effect in February, all medical laboratories operating within the UAE will have to gain accreditation from the relevant authorities.

The move by ESMA is in step with ensuring the development of a unified UAE system, one that is also expected to enhance the efficiency of medical laboratories nationwide, a top official from the ESMA was quoted as saying.

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The accreditation initiative by ESMA is expected to unify the UAE medical system and enhance the efficiency of laboratories nationwide

The Board of Directors of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA) has approved the project, which is expected to raise confidence among the public health, insurance companies, doctors and other relevant bodies in the UAE’s healthcare system.

Abdullah Al Muaini, Director General of ESMA confirmed that the development of the compulsory field accreditation project for medical laboratories is in line with the vision of UAE Government 2021, supporting sustainable development and enhancing the quality of life in the country.

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ACCREDITATION | COLLEGE OF AMERICAN PATHOLOGY

SATURDAY MARCH 30, 2019

NATIONAL REFERENCE LABORATORY (NRL)

Commited to delivering fast, accurate and reliable lab services A

bdul Hamid Oubeisi, CEO, National Reference Laboratory (NRL), talks about how the organization is helping raise quality standards in laboratory testing

Please tell us more about the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) and its relationship with Mubadala and LabCorp.

NRL is a Mubadala company, created in partnership with Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp), a leading global life sciences company. NRL is a growing network of laboratories that, together with the significant resources of LabCorp, offers a comprehensive menu of more than 4,700 tests; this includes a wide range of services, from basic blood testing to more complex diagnoses of genetic conditions, cancers and rare diseases. NRL provides broad, efficient and high-quality solutions for different clinical testing needs, to help reduce turnaround time and costs, compared to those of other referral laboratories.

Mubadala and LabCorp formed a partnership in 2008, to stimulate the overall development of the UAE’s laboratory sector and to bring the highest standards of clinical expertise to the region. With LabCorp’s support, NRL quickly became a UAE and regional leader and developed a reputation as an ethical, quality-driven, efficient and patient-centered laboratory, bringing the highest standards of laboratory expertise to the UAE and reducing the need for patients to travel abroad for test analysis and treatments.

How is NRL improving quality standards in laboratory testing and what is your impact on the healthcare sector in the region?

As most medical decisions depend upon test results, NRL is committed to delivering fast, accurate and reliable laboratory services through its robust foundation of quality and standardised processes.

NRL’s Quality Management system is designed to provide the basis of quality processes, guidelines and laboratory workflows to ensure the delivery of quality testing services, accurate patient results, high client satisfaction, and improved clinical outcomes for patients.

Quality is an essential aspect of patient care and

we are proud that NRL is a leader in laboratory quality management regionally.

All our laboratories are accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP), International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 15189 and Joint Commission International (JCI). This strategic decision has enabled National Reference Laboratory to become the largest CAP referral laboratory network in the Middle East, with nine CAP accredited laboratories. Eight NRL laboratories are also ISO 15189-accredited laboratories. NRL employees actively participate in CAP’s accreditation process by serving as inspectors and conducting quality-related seminars.

This level of involvement provides up-to-date industry knowledge that serves to enhance patient safety in every NRL facility.

I have been working in the healthcare industry for more than 18 years in various roles, including healthcare management, project development, strategy and business development, operations, and finance.

Having worked for NRL since 2011 in different leadership positions, I feel extremely honoured to have been part of this business, which has afforded me the opportunity to learn and develop new skills, experience and knowledge before becoming CEO. Being in this position has allowed me to have a clear vision to tactically lead NRL to become a fast-growing healthcare network of ten laboratories, and to play a role in advocating healthcare quality standards for patients.

I’m also very grateful for having such an experienced and dedicated team in NRL, and the crucial support of both LabCorp and Mubadala.

“Quality is an essential aspect of patient care and we are proud thyat NRL is a leader in laboratory quality management regionally.”

ABDUL HAMID OUBEISI CEO, National Reference Laboratory

Ultimately, patient care is at the forefront of all that we do at NRL and we are proud to dedicate ourselves to improved patient outcomes. We fully support the development of the healthcare system in the UAE through our state-of-the-art laboratories, focus on scientific excellence and innovation, best-in-class quality management systems and the employment of highly skilled, well-trained employees.

Can you tell us more about NRL’s network of laboratories?

National Reference Laboratory currently operates a network of 10 laboratories. NRL owns two stand-alone laboratories in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

In addition, we manage several laboratories within the Mubadala healthcare network, including those

of Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Healthpoint hospital in Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi, and the three laboratories of Imperial College London Diabetes Centre in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. NRL also manages the laboratories of Etihad Airways Medical Centre, in Abu Dhabi, and of Valiant Clinic and King’s College Hospital London, both of which are in Dubai.

During your long career in healthcare here in the UAE, you attended a number of academic programmes associated with universities and institutes from the UK and the US. Can you elaborate upon your role within NRL?

PA RT N E R C ON T E N T

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Technical list

Prepared by ESMA in the form of a technical list with the support of the National Accrediting Department, the critical national project seeks to launch mandatory areas of accreditation in various sectors for conformity assessment activities in the period 2018-2021.

The ESMA’s National Accreditation Department will play a federal role to monitor the implementation of the system, as part of the State’s directives to promote medical tourism within the country as well as ensure that medical services are best served through the establishment of national best practices. The medical tourism proceeds were estimated in a study conducted three years ago, in billion dirhams for about 300,000 tourists.

What are your plans for the future?

The healthcare market in the UAE and wider GCC is very active and full of opportunities, so the demand for reliable laboratory management partnerships is increasing.

We will continue to grow our presence and capability in the UAE. In addition, we are also focusing more of our resources to develop our business outside the UAE. We already have a number of clients in the region, and we are very keen to grow this part of our business further.

NRL, with the support of Mubadala and LabCorp will continue to increase the spectrum, coverage and overall efficiency of laboratory testing in the region, while implementing international best practice reference laboratory processes and setting a new benchmark for quality standards.

NRL will also continue to support the education of current and future laboratory technicians, physicians and other healthcare professionals in the science of laboratory medicine.

On that note, we are jointly organising a scientific and educational event on April 13 with the College of American Pathologists (CAP) on recent changes to its accreditation requirements and other quality-related matters. This type of event is pretty unique in the region and demonstrates our strong commitment to quality and education of healthcare professionals.

All medical labs operating in the UAE are required to obtain accreditation for the examination services provided according to ISO 15189 Requirements

Dr Rehab Faraj Al Ameri, Director of the National Accreditation Department at ESMA, explained that the technical requirements document for the accreditation of medical laboratories was prepared by a qualified technical team

in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council.

In accordance with the provisions of Article (11) and the Cabinet Decision (35) for the year 2015 concerning the UAE system for the control of conformity assessment bodies, the conformity assessment authority shall be required to obtain accreditation for all related activities in the areas of compulsory accreditation as determined by the Authority.

Dr Al Ameri stated that all medical laboratories operating in the UAE are required to obtain accreditation for all examination services provided according to the standard ISO 15189, as well as in accordance with the requirements of the National Accreditation System.

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INTERNATIONAL DERMPATH CONSULT

Your total solution to your dermatology sample he skin is the largest system in the body and skin cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, although it is generally under-reported. Dermatologists are able to recognise most skin diseases based on appearance, anatomic distribution and behaviour; however, sometimes a skin biopsy is necessary and in these cases it should be interpreted by a Dermatopathologist. Dermatopathology is a joint specialty of dermatology and pathology that focuses on the study of cutaneous diseases at a microscopic and molecular level.

International Dermpath Consult FZ-LLC is the only laboratory in the UAE and the Gulf specialised solely in this field.

Founded and run by Dr Reem El Bahtimi, an American Board Certified dermatopathologist, the lab receives skin samples and referrals from across the Middle East.

With over 15 years of experience in the field of dermatopathology, Dr Reem was a consultant pathologist and director of Dermatopathology at the American Hospital Dubai between 2000-2012 before becoming the General Secretary of the Pathology Society from 2013 to 2015. She is also a Fellow at the College of American Pathologists, American Society of

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Clinical Pathologists, American Academy of Dermatopathology, and Member of South Carolina Medical Association, as well as the Emirates Medical Association and UAE Supreme National Blood Transfusion.

International Dermpath Consult offers a variety of services including transport media for both routine and immunofluoresence specimen; Comprehensive reporting for all types of skin conditions with clinical pathology correlation and images; Special stains for organisms; Immunostains for neoplasms including melanocytic and lymphoma cases; Immunofluoresence for blistering diseases, and second opinion for challenging dermatopathology cases.

All cases received by the organisation are reviewed by American-board-certified dermatopathologists. At International Dermpath Consult, we realise that behind every specimen is an anxious patient waiting for results. As such, we have individualised our service and offer quick turnaround times, with most specimens being released within 24 hours. The service is comprehensive and specialised, including tests for immunostains, immunofluorescence and molecular testing. The laboratory has a

state-of-theart information system allowing the i nt e g r a t io n of images and delivery of the report within seconds of DR REEM EL BAHTIMI their release.

Founder, International The system Dermpath Consult also alerts patients by SMS regarding sample registration and results. The laboratory follows all the international standards for specimen handling and reporting, and has been CAP-accredited since 2016.

At International Dermpath Consult, almost 50 per cent of the samples received daily are for pigmented lesions, to rule out melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Since 2015, International Dermpath Consult has reported over 250 melanomas.

As we approach skin cancer awareness month, International Dermpath Consult’s advice to the public is if you have a mole that is changing, growing or getting darker it needs to be checked by a dermatologist, and excised and reported by a specialised dermatopathologist. Early detection, proper diagnosis and treatment save lives.

ACCREDITATION

COMMISSION FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION – 20 YEARS A GULF NEWS SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT

SATURDAY MARCH 30, 2019

Setting benchmarks in education standards

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The UAE’s diversified system of higher education has been achieved through strict academic accreditation and maintaining global standards of excellence

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ENA College of Management (MCM) is an institute of higher education with the objective to contribute to UAE society by being a transformational leader in providing students with career-related education and training.

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tarting with the establishment of the United Arab Emirates University in 1976, the UAE has since seen rapid increase in the number of public and private higher educational institutes, as well as consistent improvement in the qualitative performance of existing institutes.

A strategic plan aimed at maintaining the tempo achieved by the higher education sector was set by the Ministry of Education/ Higher Education Affairs. Keeping this in mind, during the Cabinet reshuffle in 2016, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research merged with the Ministry of Education. The current Ministry of Education looks

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at the general planning of higher education and scientific research for the country Following the UAE Cabinet reshuffle in 2016, the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MoHESR) were merged to form the Ministry of Education (MoE). Accordingly, the present MoE oversees the general planning of higher education and scientific research in the UAE. The ministry is responsible for preparing draft laws for the establishment of federal governmental institutes of higher education and scientific research, as well as licensing and accrediting private institutes of higher education.

The Commission for Academic

The CAA conducts a programme of licensure of institutions of higher education for each of their academic programmes in the UAE Accreditation (CAA) conducts a programme of licensure of institutions of higher education and accreditation of each of their academic programmes in the UAE. Through licensure of colleges

and universities and accreditation of individual programmes, the Commission strives to assure high-quality education that is consistent with international standards. A member of the International Network for Accreditation, the Commission serves these institutes as well as students, citizens and residents of regional countries.

Established in 2008 by the MoE, the National Authority for Scientific Research assists in the knowledge industry and supports innovation through the participation of institutes of higher education in the UAE. To ensure a generation of national researchers, the ministry aims to develop a national system of innovation in

a knowledge-based economy to create a strong base for research in higher educational institutes.

Benchmarking performance levels

Since 2008, the UAE has participated in many international tests to examine and benchmark the performance levels of its education system including PISA (Programme for International Student Assessment), TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) and PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study). The UAE received top ranks in the Arab world in line with the National Agenda, which calls for the country to rank among the top 20

in PISA by 2021.

In 2017, Ministry of Education (MoE) introduced the nationallevel Emirates Standardized Test (EmSAT) test to measure pupils’ knowledge of Arabic, English, Maths and Science.

The UAE also focuses on supporting education systems within the region, hosting Regional Center for Educational Planning (RCEP)-UNESCO, the technical arm of the UAE’s Ministry of Education that is responsible for building individual capacities, developing human resources and disseminating knowledge in the areas of planning and policies to fulfil national priorities in line with the international best practices.

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ACCREDITATION | COMMISSION FOR ACADEMIC ACCREDITATION – 20 YEARS

SATURDAY MARCH 30, 2019

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STRATHCLYDE BUSINESS SCHOOL

The stamp of quality assurance

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e were delighted to have been awarded accreditation for our MBA programme from the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation (CAA) in 2006, and are proud to be the only British institution accredited by the CAA. Alongside this accreditation Strathclyde Business School (SBS) was the first UK business school in the UAE to hold all three international accreditations (AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB), which provides students with the assurance that our MBA will provide the quality of education that they expect.

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AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH

Making a positive difference to the world ounded in 1997 by His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, The American University of Sharjah (AUS) has established a reputation for academic excellence and a rich campus life. AUS hosts over 5,200 students from 94 different nationalities, and this diversity has resulted in AUS being recognised by Times Higher Education as the university with the highest percentage of international students in the world.

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Located in University City, Sharjah, AUS is a not-for-profit, independent, co-educational institution that is based on the American higher education model. AUS offers 27 majors and 48 minors at the undergraduate level, 14 master’s degrees, and one PhD program through the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Architecture, Art and Design and School of Business Administration. Undergraduate programmes are designed to provide students with depth in their chosen field of study and opportunities to reflect on a diverse and increasingly interdependent world and their place within it through a comprehensive liberal arts core. Graduate programmes prepare students for career advancement and offer numerous opportunities for engaging in research.

As a provider of quality higher education in the Gulf, AUS is proud to be licensed and its programmes are accredited by

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WE CREATE THE INNOVATORS, LEADERS & THINKERS OF TOMORROW

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the Commission for Academic Accreditation of the Ministry of Education’s Higher Education Affairs Division in the UAE. AUS is also accredited in the US by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

AUS offers a range of internationally accredited programmes: The College of Engineering’s bachelor of science degree programmes in chemical engineering, civil engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering and mechanical engineering are accredited by the Engineer-

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US. The university is a member of AAICU (Association of American International Colleges and Universities), a leadership organisation of American international universities, whose members provide responsible delivery and quality assurance of American higher education outside the US. Research, scholarship, and creative work done by the faculty have been integral to the success of the university, and AUS is substantially increasing opportunities to support the advancement of knowledge in areas that have local and global impact.

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For over 20 years, American University of Sharjah (AUS) has been at the helm of the region’s intellectual, cultural and scientific development.

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27 bachelor’s programs | 14 master’s programs | 4 research institutes | 3 research centers Executive Education | PhD in Engineering Systems Management

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AUS has been ranked in the world's top 50 universities under 50 years of age.

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