Monday, January 26, 2015 khaleej times
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Significant progreSS in patient care The UAE has established itself as one of the top destinations in the Middle East for medical treatments with JCI-accredited avenues BY Farhana ChowdhurY
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he UAe medical sector is gaining momentum as a hotspot for healthcare tourism. Aside from its transformation into a booming hub for qualified staff, sophisticated techniques and state-of-the-art technology, medical institutions are further backed up by the Joint Commission International (JCI), an internationally recognised certification for medical organisations that sets standards in the field and aims to improve quality of patient care. The accreditation assures pa-
tients of the top notch care provided by the hospitals, which in turn is expected to draw in medical tourists from all over the world. Research firm Business Monitor International earlier reported that medical tourism in the UAe is growing by 15 per cent every year. The Department of economic Development’s Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) division further noted that the city is looking forward to over 20 million more by 2020 — all potential guests for the city’s healthcare services. The bar is constantly being raised as the UAe looks at opportunities to strengthen its offerings at affordable costs. The country is now on par with cost-effective destinations such as India and Thailand. It is keen to focus its sights on niche medical services. The concept of medical tourism not only helps patients receive the treatment they require but also boosts a country’s medical division and overall, the economy.
Along these lines, Dubai is expected to build around 22 hospitals as part of plans to attract 500,000 medical tourists a year and boost its economy by up to Dh2.6 billion by 2020. To keep up with the growing demand, Dubai healthcare City, a hub of leading medical institutions and research facilities, launched its own medical and health travel edition in english and Arabic to help individuals
around the world learn about the services offered in the healthcare free zone. The book is a result of extensive research along with a series of interviews with those involved in the trade, including patients and policy makers. Titled “Patients Beyond Borders Dubai healthcare City edition”, it features detailed information and serves as a useful tool for those seek-
ing medical treatment in the UAe find an ideal healthcare provider as per his or her needs. Dubai, being an attractive environment for investors and businessmen, enforces regulations that govern medical professionals as well as a number of internationally accredited hospitals and health centres that all add up to the factors that make the city an ideal destination. — farhana@khaleejtimes.com
The accreditation assures patients of the top notch care provided by the hospitals, which in turn is expected to draw in medical tourists from all over the world.
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khaleej times Monday, January 26, 2015
Joint Commission international
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Superior quality healthcare services LLH Hospital, Abu Dhabi, has become the hospital of choice through the sincere dedication of its medical team that attends to patients with compassion, respect and dignity BY Latha Krishnan LLh hospital, Abu Dhabi, has been offering its superior quality healthcare services to Abu Dhabi residents since 2007. Situated in the heart of the city, LLh hospital, Abu Dhabi has grown steadily over the years to become the hospital of choice, to the community in Abu Dhabi through the sincere dedication of its medical staff in attending closely to each patient’s medical needs with compassion, respect and dignity. “LLh hospital, Abu Dhabi was started with the vision to become the most admired and trusted healthcare service provider by offering cost-effective yet specialised and superior healthcare services to each patient complemented by personalised attention and care; and improving the quality of life for the community in which we live, and
Dr Lalu Chacko, Medical Director, LLh hospital, abu Dhabi serve the society at large. happily we are now well ahead on the path to achieve that vision. We have grown spectacularly in a very short time mainly because of our dedicated and high quality service,” emphasises Dr Lalu Chacko, Medical Director of LLh hospital, Abu Dhabi.
In 2009, this dedication to quality service enabled LLh hospital, Abu Dhabi, to become one of the fastest recipients of JCI accreditation among hospitals in the Middle east. It is one of the few hospitals in the UAe that is ISO Certified and may probably be the only hospital to receive the Sheikh Khalifa excellence Award three times in 2009, 2011 and 2014. In the initial year of its operations, LLh hospital, Abu Dhabi, received the Australian Council on healthcare standards certification making it the first one to do so in the region. “these are but a few of the feathers in our cap! And they and other accolades have come to us due to our fantastic team that does not compromise on the high quality care we give people of more than 125 nationalities that visit our facility,” enthuses Dr Chacko. LLh continues to serve the community successfully as the flagship hospital of the large group company, VPS healthcare, consisting of several hospitals and pharmacies in the UAe and Oman.
LLh hospital, abu Dhabi was started with the vision to become the most admired and trusted healthcare service provider by offering cost-effective yet specialised and superior healthcare services to each patient complemented by personalised attention and care; and improving the quality of life for the community in which we live, and serve the society at large. — Dr Lalu Chacko
Committed to improving quality and safety in health care To maintain and earn accreditation, organisations must have an extensive on-site review by a team of Joint Commission health care professionals, at least once every three years
In the service industry, the move towards accreditation is seen as a natural progression of a key commitment to providing best care practices supported by evidence. especially in the managed care sector, accreditation is more than mere window dressing; it stands for accountability and recognises the need for continued evolution of quality services. A not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving health care quality, Joint Commission International (JCI) has been a central figure in driving improvement throughout the health care system across the world since its inception in 1994. As the international division of Joint Commission Resourc-
es, JCI has work with health care organisations, ministries of health, and key stakeholder organisations in over 85 countries. According to Dr Ashraf Ismail, Managing Director, Middle east Office of JCI, “Our focus is on improving the quality and safety for every patient care through the provision of accreditation and certification services as well as through advisory and educational services aimed at helping organisations implement practical and sustainable solutions.” JCI consistently raises the bar on quality, he says, adding, “Quality is a moving target. What is satisfactory today may not be acceptable tomorrow. Our mission is to transform patient safety and improve quality of health care for every patient across the globe. We set maximum achievable standards, but these are continually evaluated and upgraded as continuous improvement is a critical core value of the organisation.” Recognised as a global leader in providing technical assistance, education and quality evaluation services, JCI provides accreditation and certification preparation assistance to a variety of health care organisations and programmes. these include hospitals, diagnostic centres, medical transport and ambulance services, clinical laboratories, organisations providing care in ambulatory settings, disease or condition-specific care programmes, and healthcare providers across the care continuum including home care, hospice, long-term care and rehabilitation services. “JCI helps both new and experienced organisations to design and implement the clinical, facility and management structures to achieve operations improvement goals,” says Dr Ismail. “We carefully review an organisation’s procedures and practices, identify areas for improvement, and implement processes designed to improve the safety and quality of health care. In addition, we also identify risk points, and help the organisation incorporate practices proven effective throughout the world. One aspect of our role is to help organisations help themselves.” to maintain and earn accreditation, organisations must have an extensive on-site review by a team of Joint Commission health care professionals, at least once every three years, he explains. “All employees are required to participate and be accountable to maintain the level of performance of the health care organisation. the purpose of the review is to evaluate the organisation’s performance in areas that affect the care they provide. Accreditation may then be awarded based on how well the organisations meet JCI standards.”
Centres of excellence Medcare expands its reach to offer specialised medical care across the UAE Medcare, a premium private healthcare provider in the UAe, is expanding its presence across the UAe by developing centres of excellence in advanced specialities. Medcare is part of Aster DM healthcare, one of the leading healthcare conglomerates in the Middle east and India. Among its offerings is the Medcare Orthopaedics and Spine hospital, a premium and state-ofthe-art centre of excellence for all orthopaedics and spine related issues. With leading medical practitioners from around the world, Medcare Orthopaedics and Spine hospital offers a full range of advanced medical care. the doctors and the support staff are highly educated and well-versed with the best practices in the medical field, having intensive experience in treating all the cases in orthopaedics. the hospital consists of one of the largest and most com-
prehensive associations of private orthopaedic surgeons in the emirate. Dedicated exclusively towards orthopaedic care, the super-speciality Me d c a r e Orthopaedics and Spine hospital earned its reputation for being one of the finest medical facilities of its kind in the region. A multi-speciality Medcare hospital is also set to open in Sharjah. With a capacity for 110 beds, the hospital would cater to a wide audience across Sharjah and northern emirates. the hospital aims to provide the best in medical services as one of the largest of its kind healthcare facilities in Sharjah. Further diversifying its offerings into speciality areas, Medcare is also soon to launch a 75bed Medcare Mother and Children Specialised hospital in Dubai. the hospital would offer comprehensive mother and child care with an advanced neonatology unit, and a super-speciality centre for post-delivery dermatology and skin care. Commenting on Medcare’s commitment to quality care, Ala Atari, CeO of Medcare hospital, said, “We are very focused in our aim to ensure absolute and comprehensive care in various areas
We are very focused in our aim to ensure absolute and comprehensive care in various areas of healthcare. Our aim is to offer the highest quality facilities and talent to ensure our patients are offered the best medical care of international standards. We believe there is no compromise when it comes to our patients’ health. — Ala Atari
of healthcare. Our aim is to offer the highest quality facilities and talent to ensure our patients are offered the best medical care of international standards. We believe there is no compromise when it comes to our patients’ health. Quality and comfort is an unwritten expectation from us.”
YOUR HEALTH IN SAFE HANDS. Mediclinic Middle East’s network of private hospitals and clinics received full JCI accreditation. This ensures that you receive quality care which measures up to the most stringent international standards.
• Mediclinic City Hospital
• Mediclinic Welcare Hospital
• Mediclinic Al Sufouh
• Mediclinic Mirdif
• Mediclinic Dubai Mall
• Mediclinic Meadows
• Mediclinic Ibn Battuta
• Mediclinic Al Qusais
• Mediclinic Beach Road
• Mediclinic Arabian Ranches
Thank you to all our staff for their hard work and dedication.
EXPERTISE YOU CAN TRUST. UAE • SOUTH AFRICA • NAMIBIA • SWITZERLAND www.mediclinic.ae
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