HOSPITALS Magazine issue 63

Issue 63 / 186 - MAR-APR 2022

HOSPITALSMAGAZINE.COM

Smart Pharmacy Integrated software solutions specialized in the automation of pharmaceutical services Medical Colleges

Living with Heart Failure

Innovative medical educational programs

Is it possible to lead a normal life?

Hospital Customer Service

Hospotel Recruitment and Insurance

A patient-centered care

For a better hospital and hospitality experience

NEWTOM 7G WIDE.VISION

NEW IMAGING HORIZONS. Featuring a large gantry aperture, the NewTom 7G is the most advanced CBCT device on the market. From in-depth detail to the big picture.

ULTRA-DETAILED MULTI-DIAGNOSTICS Localised analysis over the entire body. Ray2D and 3D imaging up to 90 µm, also with radiocontrast agent. Artifact reduction and movement analysis using CineX and Cine-Scout. The eXtra Functions protocol extends the field of view longitudinally to analyse anatomical structures such as the spine and limbs.

TECHNOLOGICAL EXCELLENCE High power generator (120 kV – 20kW). High-sensitivity 3D panel and innovative algorithms for volumetric reconstruction. 77 cm gantry aperture.

ERGONOMICS AND PRACTICALITY Fully motor-powered table and 10” touch-screens, front and rear.

Optimised examination flow thanks to certified NNT software with processing, sharing and RIS/PACS connectivity functions.

MAXIMISING PATIENT CARE The patient lies comfortably on the table and X-ray doses are always proportioned to the patient’s build and the examination type thanks to SafeBeamtm technology.

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www.newtom.it

Publisher Arab Health Media Communication President Simon Chammas schammas@tahmag.com

HEALTH SECTORS IN THE GULF

Increased revenue improves services It is no secret that the Gulf countries have the highest health expenditure in the Arab world. This spending has been rising based on two factors: the increasing interest of these countries’ leaders and health officials in improving the services of this sector in order to achieve leadership, economy diversification in addition to the rise in oil imports, which allowed the governments of these countries to increase health expenditure, and thus advance the sector regionally and globally.

The major panic caused by the coronavirus pandemic and its health repercussions necessitated a higher spending to face it. Moreover, the world has become aware of the importance of strengthening and improving the health sectors, therefore, the Gulf countries provided their health sectors and institutions with the best equipment, in addition to increasing the number of health facilities to meet the increasing demand for hospitalization.

This reality prompted Gulf governments to continue increasing health expenditure to build a sector capable of facing all health pressures and crises.

The health budget has been raised; in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for instance, healthcare and social development expenditure ranked first in recent budgets.

While the UAE decided to increase healthcare spending this year to 8.4%, Qatar decided to allocate about 11.1%, and Kuwait approved a 10.9% increase in the budget, while the Kingdom of Bahrain allocated 5% of the budget to the health sector. With the continuous increase in oil prices to about $150 per barrel, the Gulf governments are expected to allocate a large part of these revenues to the health sector, which heralds greater leadership for the sector and citizen welfare!

Publisher

Executive Vice President Mirna Khairallah mirna@tahmag.com Senior Editor Elham Najem editorial@tahmag.com Content Executive Jessica Achkar editorial@tahmag.com Editors Aline Debes, Mark Steven, Don Karn, Andrew Weichert, Colette Semaan, Abbas Moussa Content Marketing Manager Jessie Chlela jessie@tahmag.com Creative Director Rania Khalil rania@tahmag.com Business Development Manager Wadih Chammas wadih@tahmag.com IT Manager Elie Yammine elie@tahmag.com Photographer Hanna Nehme Advertising advertising@thearabhospital.com

OFFICES AHMC, Lebanon T/F: +961 4 53 40 58 M: +961 3 60 61 00 IHMC, Cyprus +357 96 158661 Dubai +967 50 2971007 Printing

Distribution KSA - UAE - OMAN - TURKEY LEBANON - JORDAN - KUWAIT BAHRAIN - QATAR - EGYPT All images from shutterstock© unless provided by clients .

All rights reserved by the HOSPITALS magazine. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without prior permission in writting from the publisher.

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MAR . APR 2022

38 Smart Pharmacy

NEWS

8 Philips partners with GAD International to deliver outstanding patient care and increase operational efficiency for better performance and outcomes 10 Aimedis Launches Healthcare City Metaverse at Arab Health 2022 in UAE 16 GIB Closes SAR400m Project Finance for a Leading Hospital Project in Jeddah 18 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Funds $1.34 Million Hybrid Operating Room at LAU MEDICAL CENTER- RIZK HOSPITAL 22 Emirates Health Services Showcases Robotic Surgeries in Live Broadcast 24 Journeying into the Future of Healthcare with Space and 3D Technologies 26 biolitec presents new ThyLA DUAL laser therapy for benign thyroid nodules 30 SEHA’s world-class preventive and curative services in

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spotlight during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 34 Emirates Health Services Debuts Masimo W1™ at Arab Health 2022

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

32 Baylor St Luke's Medical Center Robotic Heart Surgery Program Leads United States in Program Growth 40 University of Chicago Medicine Bringing the Forefront of Medicine to the World 52 Dietitian Clinic at Marble Medical Centre in Qatar, Comprehensive medical services and a key role in public awareness 54 Plastic Surgery Department at Marble Medical Centre in Qatar. Integrated department that meets all of the patients’ needs in one place 98 Healing Children’s Hearts: A depth of experience at ACIBADEM, 30 years of experience, 15.000 patients, more than 95% success rates

BEST

CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS

MAR . APR 2022

82 Medical Colleges

INTERVIEWS

48 Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, Professor of Population Health Sciences, Professor of Medicine (Center for Global Health), Vice Dean for Population Health and Lifestyle Medicine at WCM-Q 60 Dr. Joseph Moutiris, Clinician and Professor of Cardiology at UNIC Medical School 62 Maher Elhassan, Vice President and General Manager, MENAT at BD 66 Fiona Garin, Vice President of Strategic Marketing, EMEA at BD 70 Richard E. Kirschner, MD, FACS, FAAP, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chief Cleft Lip and Palate Center, Director at Nationwide Children’s Hospital 72 Dr. Tariq Chukir, Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) 74 Prof. Humaid Al Shamsi, Consultant in Internal Medicine, Oncology and Cancer, President of the Emirates Oncology Society 78 Dr. Siddiq Anwar, Consultant Physician, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Abu Dhabi

FEATURES

38 Smart Pharmacy

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90 Hospital Cutsomer Service

Integrated software solutions specialized in the automation of pharmaceutical services 82 Medical Colleges 86 Living with Heart Failure 90 Hospotel Recruitment and Insurance 94 Hospital Customer Service

ARTICLES

12 New Targeted and Individualized Method for Mechanically Ventilated Patients – LINET Middle East and Africa 46 Dubai-based hospital reaps rewards of automated technology during pandemic and beyond Adoption of automated pharmacy solutions helps Fakeeh University Hospital rise to challenges of Covid-19

By Salim Hammoud, Commercial Director of Middle East Sales at Omnicell International 96 Sinus headaches By Dr. Aref Awa, Head of ENT Department at Al-Ahli-Hospital / Qatar 104 Emerging longevity sector a steppingstone to social inclusion for old-age people in the UAE

By Alex Creshnev, Director of Deep Knowledge Analytics 106 Anti – Bullying by Dr. Bassent Mohamed Mostafa, Clinical Psychologist at Al-Ahli-Hospital / Qatar

NEVER STOP LEARNING. NEVER STOP GROWING. High quality professional development opportunities for healthcare professionals based on the latest scientific and medical advances that increase competence, enhance performance and improve healthcare for patients.

Visit: qatar-weill.cornell.edu/continuing-professional-development/

NEWS

Philips partners with GAD International to deliver outstanding patient care and increase operational efficiency for better performance and outcomes

P

hilips, a global leader in healthcare technology, has partnered with GAD International Co (GAD) to transform healthcare services by delivering state-of-the-art technologies and innovation to hospitals operated by AMI Healthcare Inc (AMI).

This partnership will provide elite cardiology services by deploying an advanced Cathlab that delivers outstanding interventional cardiac and vascular performance on the Azurion 7, paired with consistently high-quality and fast results made possible by the adaptive intelligence of Incisive CT. This industry-leading image-guided therapy solution will support hospitals in Al Khobar and Al Baha to deliver outstanding patient care by keeping the technologist close to the patient and increase their operational efficiency by seamlessly controlling all relevant applications from a single touch screen at table side, to help make fast, informed decisions in the sterile field.

In addition, Philips will facilitate the new healthcare transformation projects in other hospitals operated by AMI. Professor Ghannam Al-Dossari, Chief Executive Officer, GAD International and the President of AMI Healthcare, said: “With a shared commitment to transforming healthcare and

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THIS INDUSTRYLEADING IMAGEGUIDED THERAPY SOLUTION WILL SUPPORT HOSPITALS IN AL KHOBAR AND AL BAHA TO DELIVER OUTSTANDING PATIENT CARE.

providing seamless access to state-of-art hospitals and specialized cardiac centres, we at GAD International are thrilled to have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Philips.”

Mohamed Sindi, CEO, Philips Healthcare Saudi Arabia said: “We are happy to partner with GAD international to provide elite cardiology services starting with the Eastern region and to facilitate the new healthcare transformation projects in other hospitals operated by AMI Healthcare. These two projects will be the first cooperation with GAD International and will be the door opener for more successful projects in KSA and GCC in 2022, which will contribute to improving the cardiology services and the diagnostic imaging centers in KSA based on VISION 2030.”

NEWS

Aimedis Launches Healthcare City Metaverse at Arab Health 2022 in UAE

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imedis, The Blockchain, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and IoT (Internet of Things)-enabled electronic healthcare platform headquartered in UAE with offices in the Netherlands and the Philippines, launched their Healthcare City Metaverse, the Aimedis Health City, at the 2022 Arab Health 2022.

Blockchain-enabled healthcare platform Aimedis, was one of the first to launch an NFT science and medical data marketplace back in 2021. Aimedis, a unique AI-supported digital health ecosystem secured by the blockchain will be showcasing its latest innovation, the Aimedis Health City, which intends to be the biggest hospital and healthcare space in the Metaverse.

It will merge the physical and virtual world and offer better experiences for both patients and the medical professionals.

Aimedis Health City will enable users to connect, interact, rehabilitate and provide treatment across time and space in ways that were previously unimaginable. The World Federation for Neuro Rehabilitation (WFNR), as well as three university hospitals and a well reputed German Hospital have secured their space in the Aimedis Health City Metaverse already, more will join shortly. With the entry into the Aimedis Metaverse, these institutions will start to hold a relevant amount of the Aimedis tokens (AIMX), making it the first healthcare cryptocurrency held by healthcare institutions. Aimedis Health City Metaverse will serve as a virtual gateway for hospitals, pharmacies, private practices, universities, insurance companies and other healthcare related entities.

Dr. Ben El Idrissi, COO & Founder of Aimedis explains, “Our partners will have the option of either buying or renting space in the Health City Metaverse. With the cooperation of major hospital chains, university hospitals and others we will launch a new era in the healthcare and medical data sector, where we will be able to serve more patients better in more cost and time effective manner.”

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THE AIMEDIS HEALTH CITY WILL INCLUDE THE FIRST MUSEUM OF VIRTUAL MEDICAL & SCIENTIFIC ART. THEY HAVE PARTNERED WITH GERMAN ARTIST KRISTIAN SOLAKOV TO RELEASE AI AND MEDICAL NFT ART PIECES THAT WILL BE SHOWCASED AT THE MUSEUM.

Dr. Michael Kaldasch, CEO & Founder of Aimedis explains, “We will work with Solakov to release our three limited NFTs of Ava. Ava is Aimedis’s AI-supported assistant, to help patients, doctors and other users make the most of the apps, features and spaces inside Aimedis Health City. She will lend a helping hand and a soft touch to the world of virtual healthcare and bridge the gap between the real world and the metaverse.”

Furthermore, the artist will also create NFTs of “Aimedis Medical Art” to be placed in the “Aimedis Virtual Museum” in the Health City Metaverse. Finally Aimedis will also showcase the “Aimedis Virtual Hospital” Information System. The virtual hospital runs clinical and operational processes, reduces governance and raises compliance with a simplified and efficient user experience while accompanying the users 24/7 in terms of security, readiness and service.

The AIMX token will become the main mean of settlement within the ecosystem that will power it from the inside. Holders of AIMX tokens will become the first investors and leaders of the new trend in healthcare. WFNR, The German Hospital, and one of the university hospitals will hold a large amount of AIMX tokens as part of their representation within the Aimedis Health City Metaverse.

Master Exécutif en Management de la Santé INSCRIPTIONS EN COURS

Un programme qui vous permet de faire face aux nouveaux défis de l’environnement de la santé au Liban et au Moyen-Orient.

Le Master Exécutif en Management de la Santé de l’ESA : le programme idéal pour aider les auditeurs à maîtriser le langage et les outils du management des milieux de la Santé.

Son objectif est de comprendre l’évolution des contraintes pesant sur les établissements de santé, notamment en matière de : • démarche qualité (procédure de certification), • sécurité (des actes, de la prise en charge), • gestion des risques (locaux, patients, personnels), • information du patient et droit hospitalier, • optimisation de la performance, • gouvernance et pôles.

Programme intégralement animé par les meilleurs experts internationaux du secteur de la santé.

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ARTICLE

C

an a hospital bed become a part of specialized therapeutic procedures and protocols? In case of highly sophisticated beds with integrated technology of controlled lateral tilt, the patient can without any effort be specifically positioned in order to optimize ventilation therapy.

This novel ventilation care is enabled by a combination of bed lateralization and continuous visualization of pulmonary ventilation con-

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tinuous by means of non-invasive, radiation-free electrical impedance tomography (EIT) monitor.

The method is based on advanced technologies from LINET and Timpel Medical.

Acceleration during the pandemic Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the care of mechanically ventilated patients has come to the forefront. In a cohorts of some of the larger epidemiologic studies of patients with COVID-19 to date, rates of invasive mechanical ventilation

INDIVIDUALIZATION OF RESPIRATORY CARE USING ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY AND LATERAL BODY POSITIONING PROVIDED BY LINET AND TIMPEL HELPS IMPROVE MEDICAL CARE IN MECHANICALLY VENTILATED PATIENTS.

ARTICLE

among patients admitted to ICUs range from almost 30% in one Chinese study (1) to 90% in a U.S. study (2) and elsewhere from 2.3% to 33.1% of patients admitted to the hospital. Invasive mechanical ventilation represents a cohort of patients with high morbidity and mortality rates that are associated with significant costs to the healthcare system.

The increase in numbers of patients and the severity of their health status required the deployment of all available means and procedures, but also accelerated the development and research of new technologies and approaches.

One of the innovative methods to optimize and individualize mechanical lung ventilation and effectively support the treatment of patients including those respiratory complications caused mainly by COVID-19 is a combination of controlled lateral positioning of the patient on the bed together with using electrical impedance tomography to monitor the effect. The spiritual father of this method is Michal Otahal, M.D., Ph.D. (General University Hospital, Prague Head of of Intensive Care Unit at the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care). Another team of Prof. Marcelo Amato, M.D., Ph.D. (University of São Paulo, USP Department of Cardio-Pulmonary) is currently working on three clinical and experimental studies.

Individualized care for patients The individualization of respiratory care using electrical impedance tomography and lateral body positioning provided by LINET and Timpel helps improve medical care in mechanically ventilated patients. Lateral tilting significantly influences the distribution of pleural and transpulmonary pressure and hence it allows physicians to manipulate ventilation distribution.

However, this effect and its magnitude can vary signifficantly among the patients, thus robust monitoring tool of such effect is necessary.

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) as a monitoring tool provides continuous real-time visualization of patients‘ ventilation. This is crucial in guiding ALT and ventilator settings.

"By combining three devices, i.e. we can make sure that what we believed in really works. We can immediately change the strategy and adjust

The last scientific lecture of Individualized Ventilation Care was held in January 2022 in Dubai, UAE it to make it work better. We can quantify it, individualize it and it can be a little different for each patient. That is actually a bit of a problem of today’s medicine. We have general rules, but they do not work for everyone. Using a combination of these technologies, we can care for patients the way they need,“ explained Mikulas Mlcek, M.D., Ph.D. (Charles University in Prague – Experimental Physiology Lab Deputy-Director and the Head of Medical Simulation Centre).

In practice, this method works in such a way that the patient has a sensor strip attached around the chest, that captures data from which the EIT subsequently creates a dynamic ventilatory image of the lungs, not only globally, but importantly also regionally. Thus, the physician has immediate information about which lung regions are functionally affected and whether and which change in ventilator setting or body position is beneficial to the patient. The whole system can be imagined similarly to computed tomography, only the EIT, based on the change in the electrical impedance of the chest, displays a functional ventilation image of the lungs, non-invasively and without irradiation, which is a significant advantage over CT.

ONE OF THE INNOVATIVE METHODS TO OPTIMIZE AND INDIVIDUALIZE MECHANICAL LUNG VENTILATION AND EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT THE TREATMENT OF PATIENTS INCLUDING THOSE RESPIRATORY COMPLICATIONS CAUSED MAINLY

BY COVID-19 IS A COMBINATION OF CONTROLLED LATERAL POSITIONING OF THE PATIENT ON THE BED TOGETHER WITH USING ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY TO MONITOR THE EFFECT.

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ARTICLE

Technological shift Scientific research dedicated to the concept is also reflected in the development of products that have enabled this breakthrough. "We came up with this concept around 2013. At that time, just the availability and use of the EIT was not at the level it is now," confirmed Michal Otahal, M.D., Ph.D. LINET, meanwhile, has developed a new generation of the Multicare bed, which has expanded the existing options for lateral positioning. The programmed positioning cycle, automatic lateral therapy, can now be preset with up to four programs that make it easy to use ALT to tailor the patient's indication. ALT can now

also be combined with the anti-Trendelenburg position, making it possible to get the body into a more natural position. At the same time, the weight limit for patients was also increased. "We also know from experience that therapy can run for more than 24 hours. That's why we've integrated Smart Pause Management, which allows you to discontinue therapy. The bed can then be freely positioned to facilitate the performance of necessary tasks, such as checking pressure ulcers. Subsequently, with the press of a button, you return to the last ALT position and the therapy can easily continue, ”describes LINET Product Manager Jan Michalek.

(1) Wang Y, Lu X, Chen H, Chen T, Su N, Huang F, et al. Clinical course and outcomes of 344 intensive care patients with COVID-19.

Am J Respir Crit Care Med [online ahead of print] 8 Apr 2020; DOI: 10.1164/ rccm.202003-0736L (2) Richardson S, Hirsch JS, Narasimhan M, Crawford JM, McGinn T, Davidson KW, et al. Presenting characteristics, comorbidities, and outcomes among 5700 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 in the New York City area. JAMA 2020;323:2052–2059.

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Multicare X Discover new ICU solution designed by nurses for nurses

67%

Decrease in force needed to turn the patient with lateral tilt

@LINETMEA

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NEWS

GIB Closes SAR400m Project Finance for a Leading Hospital Project in Jeddah

G

ulf International Bank - Saudi Arabia (“GIB Saudi Arabia”) has closed a project finance facility of SAR 400 million with Saudi German Health to build a state-of-the-art hospital in Jeddah. This 65,000-square-meter, 350-bed hospital marks the Group’s expansion of footprint in the Saudi Arabian healthcare space. This state-of-the-art hospital will address the untapped need for healthcare by offering a wide range of high-quality healthcare services needed by the market. The project is led by Humania Capital (the investment arm of the Bait Al Batterjee Group) in partnership with Middle East Healthcare Company (“MEAHCO”).

THE FACILITY WAS FULLY UNDERWRITTEN BY GIB SAUDI ARABIA AND WAS CLOSED IN A TWO-BANK FINANCING DEAL BETWEEN GIB AND BANK AL JAZIRA. THE PROJECT IS ALREADY PARTIALLY COMPLETED AND EXPECTED TO START OPERATIONS IN 2024.

continues to prioritise and play an important role in driving economic diversification and private sector growth.”

“As a Group, we remain committed to providing greater access to state-of-the-art healthcare for the people of Saudi Arabia.

This hospital project is another step in that direction.” said Sobhi Abduljaleel Batterjee, Chairman of Saudi German Health.

Naif Abdulkareem, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Bank Al Jazira added: “In line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, Bank Al Jazira is strongly committed to playing a pivotal role in the Health Sector Transformation and will continue to support to achieve an improved health and healthcare services in cooperation with all public & private health sector bodies. In continuation of this strategic national objective, Bank Al Jazira has embarked upon identifying and supporting ample opportunities in such critical sectors. Financing of this leading, stateof-the-art hospital project in Jeddah with a top tier name, does reflect this strong commitment.

As a continuing partner, we also wish the best to the esteemed Batterjee Group for all such future endeavors.”

Abdulaziz Al-Helaissi, Group Chief Executive Officer at GIB said, “We are pleased to provide financing for this landmark healthcare project and to support Saudi German Health in its expansion plan. Enhancing development in this strategic industry and backing private sector participation in the economy is a strategic pillar of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 and GIB

“Our vision is to serve the entire Kingdom which includes the major as well as smaller cities”, added Makarem Batterjee, President Humania Capital and Vice Chairman MEAHCO. “We are delighted to have GIB Saudi Arabia and Bank Al Jazira as our project finance partners and look forward to their continuing role in our expansion.”

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NEWS

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) Funds $1.34 Million Hybrid Operating Room at LAU MEDICAL CENTER- RIZK HOSPITAL In addition, Philips will facilitate the new healthcare transformation projects in other hospitals operated by AMI. Professor Ghannam Al-Dossari, Chief Executive Officer, GAD International and the President of AMI Healthcare, said: “With a shared commitment to transforming healthcare and providing seamless access to state-of-the-art hospitals and specialized cardiac centres, we at GAD International are thrilled to have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Philips.”

U

.S. Ambassador to Lebanon H.E. Dorothy Shea and Lebanese American University (LAU) President Dr. Michel Mawad inaugurated the-first-of-its-kind advanced hybrid operating room at LAU Medical Center – Rizk Hospital in Achrafieh in the presence of USAID Lebanon Acting Mission Director Mr. Nicholas Vivio, and LAU and Rizk Hospital faculty and staff. This operating room is part of a $1.34 million grant provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the American Schools and Hospitals Abroad (ASHA) program to purchase medical equipment to improve patient safety, staff efficiency, surgical outcomes, and cost effectiveness.

This industry-leading image-guided therapy solution will support hospitals in Al Khobar and Al Baha to deliver outstanding patient care by keeping the technologist close to the patient and increase their operational efficiency by seamlessly controlling all relevant applications from a single touch screen at table side, to help make fast, informed decisions in the sterile field.

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Mohamed Sindi, CEO, Philips Healthcare Saudi Arabia said: “We are happy to partner with GAD international to provide elite cardiology services starting with the Eastern region and to facilitate the new healthcare transformation projects in other hospitals operated by AMI Healthcare.

These two projects will be the first cooperation with GAD International and will be the door opener for more successful projects in KSA and GCC in 2022, which will contribute to improving the cardiology services and the diagnostic imaging centers in KSA based on VISION 2030.”

HE RTS Acıbadem Children Heart Center United For Saving

With the experience and dedication of our multidisciplinary team, as Acıbadem Children Heart Center we are proud to provide advanced care for your childʼs congenital heart disease.

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NEWS

Emirates Health Services Showcases Robotic Surgeries in Live Broadcast

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mirates Health Services (EHS) showcased robotic surgeries in a live broadcast at the opening of its Innovative Projects Exhibition at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The exhibition forms part of EHS’ agenda of activities for UAE Innovation Month, which includes a bundle of innovative and interactive events. Emirates Health Services hosted a live broadcast showcasing robotic surgeries – one of the most notable achievements to be introduced to the health services system. Robotic surgeries have had a tremendous positive impact on the sector, drastically upgrading its services, enhancing the accuracy and flexibility of surgical work, and providing a wider field of vision during surgery.

HE. Dr. Abdulaziz Abdullah Al Zarooni, Acting Executive Director of the Financial Sector and Support Services at EHS, said: “The launch of the Innovative Projects Exhibition, which includes pioneering initiatives and events, reflects Emirates Health Services’ commitment to leading the health services sector and offering top-quality innovative health services that meet the highest international standards and embrace advanced smart innovations.”

His Excellency added that the innovative projects offered by EHS and its affiliated entities are part of its preparations for the next stage of transformations in the healthcare sector. They aim to automate services and develop strategies for using artificial intelligence (AI) in order to achieve customer satisfaction and boost the UAE’s competitiveness regionally and globally.

Also on the agenda for the remainder of UAE Innovation Month is a series of panel discussions and youth circles organised by the EHS Youth Council, in addition to virtual and in-person discussion seminars, presented by a group of EHS experts in an effort to increase awareness of various aspects of the healthcare sector.

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DR. ABDULAZIZ ABDULLAH AL ZAROONI: THE INNOVATIVE PROJECTS OFFERED

BY EHS AND ITS AFFILIATED ENTITIES ARE PART OF OUR PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEXT STAGE OF TRANSFORMATIONS IN THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR.

The ‘Accessibility of Mental Healthcare’ session reviews the most prominent strategies and plans for providing high-quality mental healthcare, while ‘Mental Health Management in a Digital World’ (Mental Health Applications) highlights on the importance of the digital world and its role in promoting mental health.

The ‘Investing in Innovative Value-Based Healthcare Services’ session also addresses the importance of investing in innovation as a means to add value to health services.

Emirates Health Services will also organise virtual training programmes in Arabic during the second half of UAE Innovation Month, the first of which is titled ‘Emotional and Social Intelligence: Applicability in Healthcare’, and the second ‘Value-Based Healthcare: Return on Investment’.

Last but not least, EHS will also organise a webinar on big data and information in healthcare and another on the human genome, precision medicine, and pharmacogenetics.

NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL WORLD-CLASS PROGRAMS. TRAILBLAZING RESEARCH. PERSONALIZED CARE. Columbus, Ohio, may feel like a world away, but our faculty, researchers and facility have earned international reputations for expertise in rare and complex conditions. Our Cardiovascular team is leading groundbreaking development of a biodegradable tissue-engineered vascular graft for children with congenital heart defects. Our multidisciplinary Center for Colorectal and Pelvic Reconstruction excels in advanced care for even the rarest congenital disorders, motility issues, fecal incontinence concerns and more, for patients in more than 60 countries. And the powerhouse team at the helm of our Neurosurgery and Neuro-Oncology programs excels in both leadership and collaboration in multinational cancer research. When you’re here, you are the center of our attention. Come to Nationwide Children’s —nothing but the best in care, in an accessible, cosmopolitan city.

Reach out to our Global Patient Services team to find out why we should be your new global destination for complex care.

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NEWS

biolitec presents new ThyLA DUAL laser therapy for benign thyroid nodules

T

he medical technology laser pioneer biolitec® starts the new year in the spirit of medical progress with the introduction of a new minimally invasive laser therapy: ThyLA DUAL, the new laser thermoablation for benign thyroid nodules. During treatment, the specially designed ThyLA fiber is inserted into the thyroid nodule under local anesthesia and ultrasound guidance. The nodal tissue is

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THYLA FIBER IS INTRANODALLY REPLACED AFTER EACH PULSE.

destroyed by the punctual irradiation with the laser light of the LEONARDO® DUAL 45 or also the LEONARDO® Mini DUAL. Conventional thyroid surgery or even radioiodine treatments may require lifelong hormone intake. This is not the case with biolitec's minimally invasive ThyLA DUAL thermoablation.

With the innovative ThyLA fiber, biolitec® has greatly optimized laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT) and made it a particularly precise and thus even gentler treatment method. It enables a controlled penetration depth with excellent ultrasound visibility at the same time.

Thanks to this precision, the surrounding tissue of the thyroid gland is optimally spared.

The thyroid gland and its function are preserved, and patients can usually resume their regular activities after a very short time without the need for postoperative medication. Three months after treatment with ThyLA DUAL, a decrease in nodule volume, by about 50% - 60%, can already be observed. The procedure can be repeated if necessary and is also suitable for treating high-risk patients.

ThyLA DUAL can be used for symptomatic benign nodule formations as well as for thyroid cysts. If the growth of the nodules or cysts is particularly rapid, this also does not stand in the way of treatment. In addition, autonomous adenomas can be treated with the laser method if radioiodine treatment is not desired. It also offers an excellent alternative for all patients who cannot be treated under anesthesia or who wish to avoid surgery.

With the ThyLA fiber and the dual diode lasers of biolitec®, the so-called "moving-shot technique" can also be applied if required. The application of this method depends on the size and shape of the lesion to be treated.

Here, the ThyLA fiber is intranodally replaced after each pulse. This creates multiple coagulative necroses so that the entire nodal tissue is treated.

Product Fact Sheet

CyStain VitalCount TM

Fast, safe, sensitive: Control your production the easy way

Product picture

Sysmex Partec GmbH Arndtstraße 11 a-b 02826 Görlitz Germany www.sysmex-partec.com Sysmex Partec is an ISO 9001:2015 and EN ISO 13485:2016 certified company.

Product name CyStainTM VitalCount

Manufacturer information CyStain VitalCount is manufactured by Sysmex Partec GmbH.

Summary CyStain VitalCount is a microbial detection kit for the unspecific detection and quantification of vital microorganisms, yeast and bacteria, in fruit juice, including clear fruit juices, fruit juices with fruit pulp and highviscosity fruit juices. The kit involves manual or automated sample preparation by pipetting robots in a 96-well format.

Juice samples are automatically analysed and results are automatically reported by the CyFlow™ Cube 6 V2m analyser and the CyFlow™ Robby 6 Autoloading Station.

Product Fact Sheet CyStain VitalCount

Productivity values The CyStain VitalCount Kit is an automated, cost-effective and rapid alternative to conventional plate counts. The enumeration of total viable microorganisms allows to assess the microbial burden during in-process control and final product control of any type of fruit juice. The objective and automated read-out of the results allows clear release decision with confidence in routine quality control during juice production.

Specifications Features

Description

Technology

Vital cell stain / Flow cytometry

Sample type

Fruit juice

Species type

Living bacteria and yeast cells

Limit of detection (LoD)

At least < 1000 cells/mL

Limit of blank (LoB)

At least < 500 cells/mL

Sensitivity of the method

1 organism/bottle for bacteria and yeast (after pre-incubation)

Decrease inventory / warehouse costs

Number of tests

480

Reduce human errors due to the automate procedure

Shelf-life

12 months

In-use stability

2 months

Simplified automated operation dedicated to this application

Storage temperature

2 - 8 °C

Format

96-well plate

Objective clear-cut decision due to standardised data reporting

Sample preparation time ~ 80 min for 96 samples

Key features in industrial testing Speed up product release

Highest sensitivity: 1 organism / bottle (pre-incubation necessary)

Ordering information Reagent Article number

Item

05-5029

CyStain VitalCount

Consumables and Instruments Article number

Item

04-2026

96 Well Filter Plates

04-2025

96 Well Receiver Plates

CY-S-3061R-V2m

CyFlow Cube 6 V2m

CY-S-3083-V2m

CyFlow Robby V2m Autoloading Station

Throughput (analysis time)

< 180 min 96 samples

Carry-Over

< 0.1 %

NEWS

SEHA’s world-class preventive and curative services in spotlight during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month

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anuary is cervical cancer awareness month, and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), the UAE’s largest healthcare network, is reminding women about the importance of vaccination and screening in preventing the disease. The 2nd most common type of cancer and a leading cause of death among women in UAE, most cases of cervical cancer are not detected until the later stages when it is difficult to treat, making early screening essential.

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) that spreads through sexual intercourse. There are many different types of HPV, some of which lead to cervical cancer. The pre-cancerous stage of cervical cancer is 100% treatable and can be detected through a pap smear. SEHA’s healthcare facilities provide top-of-the-line screening services including physician consultations, pap smears and HPV tests.

At Al Dhafra Hospitals, a program has been running since 2021 to follow up with patients who have undergone pap smears. Services include investigations in the event of incomplete/insufficient results or slight changes from previous findings.

Tawam Hospital is a cancer center of excellence and a leader in the treatment of the disease. It offers patients access to the latest technologies to diagnose, stage and monitor cancers backed by state-of-the-art pathological services. One of the largest hospitals in the UAE, its oncology department focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. It includes medical oncology such as the use of chemotherapy, hormone therapy and other drugs plus radiation oncology and surgical oncology.

Dr. Alia Mohammed Al Dhaheri, Consultant Family Physician and Acting Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department at AHS, said: “Every minute of the day, a woman somewhere in the world is diagnosed as having cervical cancer and over 300,000 die from the disease, which is highly preventable and treatable making

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Ambulatory Healthcare Services (AHS) offers specialty services for women encompassing preventive screenings for cervical cancer.

AHS also provides comprehensive care including family medicine and obstetrics/gynecology services tailored to support and provide exceptional care to women of all ages. Furthermore, it provides services that span the breadth of women’s health including planned pregnancy and family planning, additional preventive services for breast cancer screenings and consultations for gynecological heath such as sexually transmitted diseases, menopause and osteoporosis.

these fatalities an even greater tragedy. The key to preventing cervical cancer is providing the HPV vaccination to girls at school from 13 to 14 years old and for women from 18 to 26 years old and who have never been immunized.

It is recommended to get the HPV vaccine few years before marriage. Cervical cancer can be eliminated by early screening and treatment from the ages of 25 to 65 years old. At SEHA, we encourage our female patients to use our screening services. For women, whose medical insurance does not cover screening services, we offer carefully designed and affordable screening packages. We believe that access to these screenings is an absolute necessity for women.”

Dr. Mervat Mahmoud Muad, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist at Al Dhafra Hospitals, said: “Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the third leading cause of female deaths. To add to this, 85% of deaths caused by cervical cancer occur in developed countries. Most women who are diagnosed as suffering from cervical cancer have not had regular pap smears or have not followed up on abnormal results. It is imperative to note that it is one of the most preventable cancers provided that the proper HPV vaccination is carried out along with regular screenings to facilitate early detection followed by effective management.”

To find out more about SEHA’s cervical cancer screening services, please book an appointment by calling 800 50.

Award-winning care meets humankindness.

Medical breakthroughs have continued to help people live healthier lives, and we’re honored to be recognized for them.

With our new rankings by U.S. News & World Report, we celebrate these advancements and the power of humankindness to provide healing for our communities in the best way.

Learn more at stlukeshealth.org./bslmcinternational

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Baylor St Luke's Medical Center Robotic Heart Surgery Program Leads United States in Program Growth

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r. Kenneth Liao, Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Transplantation and Circulatory Support at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, recently completed his 300th robotic cardiac surgery. In 2019 Dr. Liao joined the Baylor College of Medicine faculty and started the robotic cardiac surgery practice at Baylor St. Luke’s. His team has successfully performed a wide range of robotic cardiac surgeries including mitral valve and tricuspid valve repair, coronary artery bypass, cardiac tumor resection, cardiac defect repair, MAZE procedures, left atrial appendage ligation, epicardial pacing lead insertion and pericardial resection.

Under his leadership, the Baylor robotic cardiac practice has expanded rapidly during

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THE BENEFITS OF ROBOTIC CARDIAC SURGERY INCLUDE LESS BLEEDING, LESS BLOOD TRANSFUSION, LOWER RISK OF WOUND INFECTION, SHORTER RECOVERY TIME AND LOWER RISK OF STROKE.

the past two years and it completed the most recent 100 robotic cases using only half of the time it took to complete the first 100 cases.

Such practice growth and volume has made Baylor St. Luke's program the fastest growing robotic cardiac program in the United States and placed us among the top 10 robotic cardiac programs in the country. Baylor St. Luke’s is among a handful of hospitals in the United States that has an intuitive robot designated for cardiac use and is the only hospital in the Greater Houston area to provide robotic cardiac surgery services to its patients.

Dr. Liao embraced the robotic surgical technology in early 2000 shortly after the United States Food and Drug Administration approved it for use on humans. He is among

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

only a handful of cardiac surgeons in the world who are versatile in performing a wide range of robotic cardiac procedures from valve repair to coronary artery bypass. As the thought leader in robotic cardiac surgery, he authored “Operative Technique for Robotic Assisted Coronary Artery Bypass” in AATS’ official journal and recently his team at Baylor St. Luke's presented their work “Using peripheral ECMO to expand Robotic CABG indications in high risk patients” at the 2021 AATS Annual Meeting. During robotic cardiac surgery, only trocar ports or one-two inch incisions are made in the chest through the rib spaces instead of cutting the sternum and breaking the breastbone. The robot’s fine instruments and high-definition 3D images allow the surgeons to perform very fine surgical maneuvers within a small space in the chest to repair the valve or cardiac defects, resect benign tumors and mobilize chest wall arteries for coronary artery bypass. The benefits of robotic cardiac surgery include less bleeding, less blood transfusion, lower risk of wound infection, shorter recovery time and lower risk of stroke.

https://about.stlukeshealth.org/bslmcinternational

NEWS

Emirates Health Services Debuts Masimo W1™ at Arab Health 2022

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he UAE Emirates Health Services (EHS), in partnership with Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI), is introducing the Masimo W1™, a wrist-worn wearable health device, at Arab Health 2022. The first of its kind, the Masimo W1 watch offers accurate, continuous medically relevant measurements and telehealth capabilities – from a leader in hospital noninvasive monitoring technology, hospital automation, and telemonitoring solutions – in a personal, discreet, lifestyle-friendly wearable.

W1 allows continuous monitoring of multiple parameters – including oxygen saturation (SpO2), pulse rate, and respiration rate (RR), as well as fall detection and electrocardiogram (ECG) (with afibrillation detection), based on Masimo’s decades of experience in advanced signal processing and revolutionary noninvasive monitoring solutions for hospitals. In fact, Masimo SET® pulse oximetry technology – estimated to be used to monitor more than 200 million patients each year1 – has been shown in more than 100 independent studies to outperform other technologies.2 Masimo SET® pulse oximetry is already deployed throughout the UAE with Masimo SafetyNet®, which patients have been using to monitor their physiological status from home throughout the COVID pandemic, using the Ma-

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MASIMO SET® PULSE OXIMETRY IS ALREADY DEPLOYED THROUGHOUT THE UAE WITH MASIMO SAFETYNET®, WHICH PATIENTS HAVE BEEN USING TO MONITOR THEIR PHYSIOLOGICAL STATUS FROM HOME THROUGHOUT THE COVID PANDEMIC, USING THE MASIMO TETHERLESS RADIUS PPG™ AND SMARTPHONE APP.

simo tetherless Radius PPG™ and smartphone app. The data, relayed to the secure Masimo SafetyNet cloud, allows clinicians to remotely keep track of patient status, potentially allowing them to intervene sooner if a patient’s health declines.

Now, Masimo is bringing that same expertise to the W1 to monitor patients with a variety of chronic conditions, people recovering after surgery, and even the everyday health of UAE citizens. The Masimo W1 allows users to keep track of multiple parameters, continuously, even while going about daily activities. Like Masimo’s Radius PPG, the W1 pairs via Bluetooth® with the user’s smartphone, the Masimo Home Health Hub, and the Masimo SafetyNet app for in-depth immediate feedback as well as to track progress over time – and offers the same robust telemonitoring capabilities. Using the secure Masimo SafetyNet cloud service customized for Emirates Health Services, users can share results with UAE clinicians, who in turn are able to provide monitoring to help keep track of their citizens’ health and intervene as needed if there are signs of decline in physiological status, such as abnormally low SpO2, heart activity, or high or low pulse rate or respiration rate.

Joe Kiani, Founder and CEO of Masimo, said, “We are excited to debut the Masimo W1 at Arab Health, extend our partnership with Emirates Heath Services, and bring these innovative capabilities to the citizens of the UAE, who already benefit from some of our most advanced monitoring and telemonitoring solutions. The W1 represents the first wrist-worn medical-grade continuous health monitoring watch, opening up numerous possibilities for personal and remote monitoring of overall, everyday health, extending to chronic conditions, recovery progress after surgery, and beyond.”

References 1. Estimate: Masimo data on file.

2. Published clinical studies on pulse oximetry and the benefits of Masimo SET® can be found on our website at http://www.masimo.com. Comparative studies include independent and obje

ARTICLE FEATURES . Smart Pharmacy

T

he smart pharmacy mainly provides accurate medication dispensing, reduced waiting times, absence of medication errors, and increased number of drugs dispensed daily. Hospitals and health institutions have been working on that by adopting specialized automation software.

This digital transformation contributed to changing advanced pharmacy management systems that are based on big data technologies, artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

The smart pharmacy reflects the role of technology in medication dispensing without human intervention and without any errors.

Also, it has achieved outstanding outcomes in terms of raising the level of effectiveness and operations efficiency, reducing the waiting time of patients to receive the service and establishing a more efficient stock management while reducing medical errors using barcodes and keeping medicines in the best condition.

The dispensing of medicines in the smart pharmacy is done by the robot that picks up the medicine and prints the label that carries the patient’s information and prescription, and then delivers it to the pharmacy window in a matter of seconds. The robotic pharmacy also uses state-of-the-art technologies through the design and operation of specialized software and the application of robots in pharmacies, as well as the necessary computer systems for their management.

Pharmacy automation has contributed to enhancing operations’ effectiveness using barcodes and artificial intelligence as a tool to reduce medical errors, in addition to designing control and follow-up points and integrating them into the system to ensure service quality and continuity, such as medical expiration track-

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ing, and near expiration alerts, monitoring drug availability and automating the inventory and stock management.

The pharmacist’s fundamental role Despite the great importance and numerous advantages of the advanced programming system, pharmacists will still provide the human contact between the patient and the smart system. They should check the prescription’s authenticity and must answer the patient’s questions and inquiries.

Therefore, the pharmacist can never be replaced as he plays a major role in explaining to the patient how to take the right medication, the right dose at the right time. This system reduces the burden of the daily routine work performed by the pharmacist, helping achieve greater productivity and more accurate work.

The pharmacist verifies the data and checks the patient’s barcode, thus making sure that any medication ordered is appropriate for the medical condition that is being treated, with the right dosage, and that the new medication does not negatively interact with any medication used by the patient.

Integrated Software Solutions Today, the software solutions available in the smart pharmacy assist the pharmacist in the effective medicine distribution as well as in stock control and management. The stateof-the-art software solutions specialized in the pharmaceutical services’ automation offer the following benefits: • Facilitating effective drug inventory management and tracking • Correctly matching prescriptions to medications and written doses

INTEGRATED SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS PROVIDE A SET OF FEATURES THAT INCREASE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE PHARMACIST’S WORK.

ARTICLE FEATURES . Smart Pharmacy

•

Automation of data entry and processing • Reducing error rate and providing effective patient care • Assisting the pharmacist in developing strategies to expand their business and improve patient care • Saving time by dispensing a large number of prescriptions in record time, thus enhancing productivity • Improving the quality of patient care and ensuring their safety With automation, pharmacies can increase

their efficiencies, increase their prescription filling rates, improve counting accuracy, reduce medication errors, increase safety, ensure adherence to medical doses, optimize their supply chains, and avoid supply delays and stock outages. Moreover, since the patient’s file is in this system, the pharmacist is warned about the possible interference of a prescription with another permanent treatment and is informed of the patient’s drug sensitivity, medical history, previous drug interactions, etc., which facilitates the drug administration and prevents any harmful effect on the patient.

THE PHARMACIST PLAYS A KEY ROLE WITHIN THE SMART PHARMACY SYSTEM.

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MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Bringing the Forefront of Medicine to the World At the forefront of medicine since 1927 With a history dating back to 1927, the University of Chicago Medicine has been advancing the forefront of health by bringing research closer to a more accessible reality through the advanced treatment and care of our patients.

UChicago Medicine’s physicians and researchers have helped shape modern medicine.

They’re proven pioneers in organ transplantation, the genetics of cancer, chemotherapy, and life-changing digestive disease treatments among many other breakthroughs. The 12 Noble Prize laureates affiliated with UChicago

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WE HAVE ABOUT 1,200 DOCTORS AND 3,000 NURSES WHO PROVIDE CARE ACROSS ALL MEDICAL AND SURGICAL SPECIALTIES.

Medicine are fruition of our long tradition of groundbreaking medical research.

Today, UChicago Medicine operates four inpatient hospitals and 10 ambulatory facilities around the Chicago area, including downtown Chicago, the city’s south suburbs, and northwest Indiana. Developing projects include plans to build a new $633 million, 500,000-squarefoot freestanding cancer center and additional outpatient centers.

We have about 1,200 doctors and 3,000 nurses who provide care across all medical and surgical specialties.

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Clinical Center of Excellence At UChicago Medicine, we are committed to advancing medicine to offer patients the best treatments. We offer a full spectrum of specialty care, including six clinical centers of excellence:

Comprehensive Cancer Center Our Comprehensive Cancer Center is committed to exploring and developing innovative ways to prevent and treat cancer through a collaborative research program. With more than 200 cancer specialists, cutting-edge research, and improved treatments, we are attacking

cancer from every angle. Our organization is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer and nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

A few distinctions of the cancer center include: • First site in U.S. to be certified for FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapies for specific blood cancers in both adult and pediatric patients. More than 150 patients have received these infusions so far.

• More than 200 bone marrow/stem cell transplants are performed each year,

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MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

•

• •

•

with a superior patient survival rates.

One of the top three centers in the U.S. for Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) for both adult and pediatric patients.

Novel therapies and treatment plans for HPV-associated head and neck cancers.

One of the country’s first centers to offer Peptide Receptor Radionuclide Therapy for neuroendocrine tumors.

Approximately 100 Whipple procedures are performed each year for pancreatic cancer patients.

Transplant Institute UChicago Medicine’s transplant program has a long history of breakthroughs that have defined the field. The health system’s Transplant Institute continues to be a world leader for lung, liver, kidney, pancreas, and islet transplantations with one of the shortest wait times and lowest mortality rates. Our experts use revolutionary approaches that produce exceptional outcomes. UChicago Medicine’s Transplant Institute is: • A world leader in multi-organ transplant for the sickest patients. More than one third of all the heart-liver-kidney triple organ transplants done in the U.S. were performed at UChicago Medicine, including the world's first back-toback heart-liver-kidney transplant.

• One of the few centers offering liver autotransplant for tumors in hard-toreach locations.

• The first hospital in Illinois to use ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) to prepare donor lungs for transplant, increasing the number of available donor lungs and decreasing the risk of life threatening complications.

• Offering the least-invasive technique for nephrectomy (kidney removal), which involves making a single, small incision inside the belly button to conceal the scar afterward.

• One of a few U.S. hospitals to offer autologous islet cell transplantation after total pancreatectomy.

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Heart and Vascular Center UChicago Medicine has some of the nation's best minds in cardiology, cardiac surgery, and vascular surgery. Newsweek ranked UChicago Medicine as one of the top 50 best hospitals in the world for cardiology care. We are known for our expertise in complex cardiovascular conditions and boast nationally acclaimed heart transplant, bloodless cardiac surgery, and robotic heart surgery programs with: • The best heart transplant program in the U.S: 5-star rating from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) for our expertise in heart transplants: 1. Volume: More than 1,000 heart transplants.

2. Shortest: The shortest wait times in the nation for receiving a donor heart.

3. Best: The best survival rates in the country for heart transplant patients (1-year adult patient survival: 100% SRTR Jan. 2022).

• More than 300 bloodless cardiac surgeries.

• More than 2,000 procedures in robotic heart surgery.

Neuroscience Center UChicago Medicine’s neuroscience program has assembled a team of neurological experts highly skilled in evaluating and treating the most complex and challenging nervous system disorders. Our physicians have demonstrated expertise in helping patients whose diagnoses are considered untreatable at other hospitals.

The center is: • A Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Joint Commission.

• A Level 4 Epilepsy Center by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers.

• The nation’s first Center of Excellence for Cerebral Cavernous Malformations (CCM).

• One of the first hospitals to treat Parkinson’s disease with drug pumps and spinal and brain electrodes.

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

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MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Musculoskeletal Center UChicago Medicine offers a full range of orthopaedic care, with our surgeons, sports medicine specialists, physical therapists, and nurses working together to prevent, treat, and rehabilitate injuries and illnesses.

Our orthopaedic center offers: • The region’s premier orthopaedic oncology program treating tumors and cancer, with a distinguished history dating back over 50 years.

• Internationally renowned sports medicine program.

• The regional leader in minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery and one of the few centers using robotic technology in spinal cases.

• One of the nation’s leading centers, and the only Midwest training center, for robotic hip and knee replacement surgery.

OUR MULTILINGUAL AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM IS DEDICATED TO MEETING OUR INTERNATIONAL PATIENTS’ NEEDS, SERVING AS A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER THEIR EXPERIENCE AT UCHICAGO MEDICINE.

Our hospital is: • One of the country’s few centers to offer I131-MIBG therapy to neuroblastoma patients.

• First site in the U.S. to be certified for FDA-approved CAR T-cell therapies for specific blood cancers in both adult and pediatric patients.

• One of the nation’s most experienced pediatric epilepsy centers.

• First in the world to perform pediatric robotic bladder reconstruction.

• One of the largest pediatric cardiology

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Our commitment to the world UChicago Medicine is committed to providing the best treatment options and personalized services for international patients who come to Chicago for medical care.

We also support the improvement of health care globally by bringing international standards and innovative practices to hospitals around the world.

Customized Care for International Patients Our multilingual and culturally diverse team is dedicated to meeting our international patients’ needs, serving as a single point of contact before, during, and after their experience at UChicago Medicine.

Pediatric Care at Comer Children's Hospital The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital provides innovative medical care to children with all types of medical problems.

We combine advanced technology with a family-centered, kid-friendly philosophy, setting national standards of care for all children.

We admit roughly 5,000 patients from the Chicago area, the Midwest, and around the world each year.

programs in the U.S. with over 600 pump cases performed annually.

BEST

CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS

Our featured international patient services include: • Clinical triage and management of care by experienced medical directors.

• Scheduling of medical appointments.

• Escort of patients to medical appointments.

• Complimentary certified medical interpretation in more than 50 languages.

• Complimentary private airport pick-up/ drop-off.

• Complimentary private transportation to/from each medical appointment.

• Lodging arrangements with local hotels, apartments, and corporate units at discounted rates.

• Assistance with cultural orientation and concierge services for dining and entertainment.

International Collaboration We have been building new bridges to bring UChicago Medicine’s unparalleled practices to the rest of the world.

We are committed to supporting our international partners to improve clinical quality and operational effectiveness through our tailored programs.

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Examples of advisory projects to share our knowledge and skills include, but are not limited to: • Facility planning and development • Clinical and research program development • Quality improvement and patient safety • Operational optimization We also offer practical education and training programs customized to meet the specific needs of international healthcare organizations and professionals.

The types of global education programs include:

WE ARE COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING OUR INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TO IMPROVE CLINICAL QUALITY AND OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS THROUGH OUR TAILORED PROGRAMS.

• • • •

Leadership education Clinical observership program Global clinical conferences Hospital management training

Contact UChicago Medicine International Programs If you want to learn more about UChicago Medicine’s International Programs, refer a patient, or explore collaborative projects with us, please visit our website at www.uchicagomedicine.org/global or email us at international.services@ uchospitals.edu

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ARTICLE

Dubai-based hospital reaps rewards of automated technology during pandemic and beyond ADOPTION OF AUTOMATED PHARMACY SOLUTIONS HELPS FAKEEH UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL RISE TO CHALLENGES OF COVID-19

By Salim Hammoud, Commercial Director of Middle East Sales at Omnicell International

T

he last two years have placed significant pressure on the healthcare sector globally, as medical professionals have been challenged with overcoming a hitherto unknown virus. Every aspect of the healthcare system has been impacted, including pharmacy teams. For Fakeeh University Hospital (FUH) in Dubai, dealing with the pandemic offered an opportunity to overhaul its approach to pharmacy services.

From the outset of the pandemic, a key issue for the hospital was how to manage the increased demand from the isolation units. This included providing unprecedented levels of pharmacy care, such as managing medication inventory in a rapidly changing environment. They were also faced with limited pharmacy personnel as a by-product of Covid-19, such as sickness and self-isolation, which further impacted the pressures of the work environment.

At the heart of any pharmacist’s remit – irrespective of the pandemic – is to ensure the right patients receive the right dose of the right medication at the right time and to ensure a high level of traceability across the hospital. An efficient pharmacy system will enable more time to be spent on patients and improve the quality of care.

It was with this in mind that the team at FUH introduced a range of Omnicell’s automated pharmacy solutions. According to Dr. Mohamed Magoury, Director of Pharmacy Services at Fakeeh University Hospital, this has had a transformational impact during the pressures of the past 24 months.

He says: “The global pandemic has required the rapid adoption of critical change throughout the hospital. However, for our pharmacy team in

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THE CENTRAL PHARMACY MANAGER SOFTWARE USED BY FUH PHARMACY STAFF AND COLLEAGUES IS CENTRAL TO THE HOSPITAL’S PHARMACY SYSTEM. IT HAS HELPED THE TEAM TO MANAGE INVENTORY MANAGEMENT ISSUES IN THE HOSPITAL’S CENTRAL PHARMACY, ENABLING THE STREAMLINING OF MEDICATION PROCESSES AND PROVIDING VISIBILITY FROM WHEN MEDICATION IS RECEIVED FROM THE WHOLESALER TO WHEN IT’S DISPENSED TO THE PATIENT.

particular, automated technology has had a significant impact in enabling the team to respond in the most efficient and effective way for our patients, while also helping to support the safety and wellbeing of our staff. With reduced stress levels and more confidence to overcome unexpected and high-pressured daily challenges as a direct result of the technology, the team was able to maintain the highest quality of patient care through the most testing of times.”

FUH invested in a range of solutions from Omnicell, including: Central Pharmacy Manager software; automated carousel and shelving systems; automated medication dispensing cabinets; an Anesthesia WorkStation; a NarcVault; and an outpatient medication box dispensing robot. These technologies combined to support patient care during Covid-19.

The Central Pharmacy Manager software used by FUH pharmacy staff and colleagues is central to the hospital’s pharmacy system. It has helped the team to manage inventory management issues in the hospital’s central pharmacy, enabling the streamlining of medication processes and providing visibility from when medication is received from the wholesaler to when it’s dispensed to the patient. The software manages the inventory of all items located in central pharmacy, as well as remote areas such as pharmacy shelves and carousels, pharmacy refrigerators, and items under the control of Omnicell’s automated dispensing cabinets in nursing units. The system provides visibility of inventory levels and forecasts usage trends for medication, improving stock management. As a result, the system was used to effectively manage the demand for over 30 medications used to treat Covid-19 patients, supporting medication availability. This

ARTICLE

data helped the pharmacy team to make faster, more informed decisions including: • Allocating critical medication in the right locations based on where it is needed the most.

• Optimising and increasing par levels in critical/isolation areas to reduce stocking frequencies.

• Assisting in forward planning and ordering of Covid-19 medications to prevent potential shortage situations.

FUH’s automated dispensing cabinets (ADCs) provided the pharmacy team with improved reporting and greater medication storage capacity than ever before: more than 70% of medication, narcotics and controlled medications could be stored. An impressive 18,000 items were directly dispensed from ADCs in the hospital’s ICU in the first month following the admission of the first Covid-19 patient. Dr. Magoury adds: “The impact of the ADCs was that more medication was readily available for patients, with no delays and stockouts, along with fewer nursing and pharmacy disruptions.”

Importantly, ADCs also reduced the risk of cross-contamination and protected the health of nursing staff. Fewer top-up visits were required in critical care as the right level of stock was always available in the cabinets due to the data insights.

When assessing its impact over the last 24 months, the hospital is very clear on the overall key benefits and outcomes ADCs have provided: higher quality patient care; improved visibility and actionable insights to high demand medications; the ability to reassign resources to higher value-added roles; and increased efficiency during challenging times.

ADOPTION OF AUTOMATED PHARMACY SOLUTIONS HELPS FAKEEH UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL RISE TO CHALLENGES OF COVID-19.

fills​and manual inventory keeping in central pharmacy​, to the manual picking of medication and printing of medication orders. These time-consuming tasks can be eliminated with the right pharmacy automation, freeing-up pharmacists’ valuable time to spend with patients.

“Research shows that in the Gulf region, around 25% of the total cost of medication goes to waste. Omnicell’s hardware, software and service solutions combine to give customers the data they need to make informed decisions and help improve quality, efficiency, safety while reducing costs across the entire healthcare setting. With the rise in chronic diseases, there is an urgent need to accommodate for an increase in demand for pharmacy services generally. Therefore, investment in the right technology represents a huge opportunity for pharmacists as they pursue the goal of zero-error medication management.”

While the pandemic has brought the positive effects of automated technology solutions to the forefront, Salim Hammoud, Commercial Director of Middle East Sales for Omnicell International believes that automated solutions offer benefits far beyond the pandemic and will be key to solving the pharmacy sector’s pain points across the region. “Automation provides massive payback to hospitals, from patient-specific cart-

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INTERVIEW

Dr. Ravinder Mamtani Professor of Population Health Sciences Professor of Medicine (Center for Global Health) Vice Dean for Population Health and Lifestyle Medicine at WCM-Q

“We excel in population health education, research, and awareness programs"

W

eill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) has an excellent reputation in terms of medical education and research. It offers professional development programs to equip professionals with skills and knowledge in the areas of research, cultural competence, emotional intelligence, clinical nutrition, integrative medicine, student wellness and lifestyle medicine. ‘Hospitals’ magazine interviewed Dr. Ravinder Mamtani, Professor of Population Health Sciences, Professor of Medicine (Center for Global Health), and Vice Dean for Population Health and Lifestyle Medicine at WCM-Q.

Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) has an excellent reputation. It has done very well in terms of medical education and research. What prompted the school to focus on public health programs?

Yes, with the great support WCM-Q receives from Qatar Foundation and Weill Cornell Medicine in the US, the college has performed exceptionally well. We are proud to say that we are producing truly excellent physicians and that a significant proportion of our graduates are Qatari nationals, while our research program has also thrived. But we have always felt that our mission at WCM-Q is not only confined to training doctors and conducting cutting-edge research; but also, to engaging with the community and empowering people with the knowledge to protect and enhance their own health and the health of their families.

Life expectancy in Qatar today is close to 81 years, which is excellent and reflects the care Qatar has taken to develop a 21st-century healthcare sector. However, just like other high-income countries such as the US, the UK, and many coun-

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tries in Europe, in Qatar, there are public health challenges associated with non-communicable diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. It is Dean Javaid Sheikh’s vision that WCM-Q supports Qatar in its well-balanced national strategy by developing, implementing and/or contributing to projects to prevent disease and promote health through organized societal efforts – this is how we define public health. We are, therefore, grateful to the dean for establishing the Institute for Population Health (IPH).

Talking about the establishment of the Institute for Population Health (IPH), which we know has done a lot of work in Qatar, can you please explain the nature and content of your population health initiatives?

In line with the mission and vision of WCM-Q and the aims of the National Health Strategy for Qatar put forward by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH), we in the IPH, support and participate in programs that are aimed at reducing early death and increasing life expectancy,

LIFE EXPECTANCY IN QATAR TODAY IS CLOSE TO 81 YEARS, WHICH IS EXCELLENT AND REFLECTS THE CARE QATAR HAS TAKEN TO DEVELOP A 21ST-CENTURY HEALTHCARE SECTOR.

INTERVIEW preventing disease, and at promoting health, including quality of life. We do this by developing and implementing need-based education programs for healthcare professionals and students, by conducting need-based public health research, and by developing and/or participating in community engagement programs.

In education, we offer professional development programs to equip professionals with skills and knowledge in the areas of research, cultural competence, emotional intelligence, clinical nutrition, integrative medicine, student wellness and lifestyle medicine. In research, we conduct studies, perform scientific reviews, and write commentaries on epidemiology and public health aspects of chronic diseases, infectious diseases, and motor vehicle injuries; global/ regional health; emerging healthcare trends; and contemporary public health topics such as telehealth and lifestyle medicine. And in community engagement, we deliver information and awareness campaigns on a wide variety of health issues to diverse audiences, including the general public, major corporations, schoolchildren, women’s support groups and more. These messages are shared via scheduled lectures and talks, and through our social media channels, which have a strong and growing following.

There have been several reports about public health preparedness in the face of the COVID pandemic. Can you please elaborate on how much attention we are paying to public health around the world?

From a global standpoint, it is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed how both the public and the healthcare professions perceive public health. The pandemic caused huge disruption to the healthcare sector in many ways, including by delaying care to patients with chronic illnesses. It also caused a surge in mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, and it created confusion and ambiguity over simple preventive measures such as wearing masks. There was disruption to schools and universities, which impacted education but also affected the health and nutrition of children, particularly from low- and middle-income nations.

It is apparent from these challenges that the pandemic caught healthcare systems across the world off-guard. I believe it revealed a problem we in the IPH have been aware of for some time, which is that public health remains neglected in many countries – we actually published research demonstrating this in the Journal of Global Health in 2021. Preventive medicine, health policy and lifestyle medicine are barely studied in most medical school curricula, public health research funding is limited, and our study showed that OECD nations spend only 2.8 percent of their total health expenditure on public health.

And yet a recent review in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health (a British Medical Journal publication) concluded that public health interventions are extremely cost-effective and offer a return-on-investment (ROI) ratio of approximately 14:1. At WCM-Q we have incorporated public health education into our curriculum, which we feel is of great importance.

In thinking about your programs, it is clear that WCM-Q has made tremendous progress in a short period of time. Are there other activities and or programs we can undertake to further promote health and improve the quality of life of people in the region and beyond?

One of our most successful education initiatives is our Certificate of Lifestyle Medicine course for healthcare professionals. Why did we develop this? Well, the science is clear that most chronic illnesses such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease and certain mental health issues are driven by unhealthy lifestyles such as poor diet, smoking, lack of physical activity, stress, poor sleep, and social isolation, among other behaviors. The certificate program provides a set of competencies to healthcare professionals that allow them to assess the ways in which an individual’s lifestyle is affecting their health and shows them how to design effective interventions to prevent, treat and sometimes even reverse these illnesses through lifestyle changes.

We will continue to expand this popular course to meet the growing demand.

We are also in the early stages of developing a new certificate course that will address population health and wellbeing. The course will be

IN LINE WITH THE MISSION AND VISION OF WCM-Q AND THE AIMS OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH STRATEGY FOR QATAR PUT FORWARD BY THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH (MOPH), WE IN THE IPH, SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS THAT ARE AIMED AT REDUCING EARLY DEATH AND INCREASING LIFE EXPECTANCY, PREVENTING DISEASE, AND AT PROMOTING HEALTH, INCLUDING QUALITY OF LIFE. WE DO THIS

BY DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING NEED-BASED EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AND STUDENTS,

BY CONDUCTING NEED-BASED PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH, AND BY DEVELOPING AND/ OR PARTICIPATING IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS.

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INTERVIEW designed to equip participants who have an interest in contributing to public health initiatives with the necessary skills and knowledge to do so.

We believe this course will further boost Qatar’s position as a regional and global leader in terms of setting high standards of health and wellness among nationals and residents.

In addition, we aim to extend our existing initiatives and lend support to develop new projects focused on improving health literacy among children. We believe an awareness of health and wellness should be considered foundational knowledge for children from the very earliest years of their formal education and that these lessons should be reinforced as they grow in order to promote lifelong self-care and healthy lifestyle habits. We teach children how to read and write, how to treat one another with respect, we teach them the sciences and math – why shouldn’t we teach them how to care for their own health?

We feel there is a great opportunity to reach out to the younger generation to help them learn the skills required to stay healthy and avoid the devastating impact of lifestyle-related diseases like type-2 diabetes. Health and wellness should become a required curriculum in schools.

How does the IPH ensure its public health initiatives are effective and target the most pressing health concerns facing Qatar and the wider region?

All our initiatives and activities are designed in response to an identified need or set of needs.

We achieve this in a number of ways. In terms of our activities for healthcare professionals, we evaluate participants’ responses to our questionnaires and adjust our offerings accordingly. We also conduct surveys among our community of healthcare professionals to identify any practice gaps in need of attention. And we also undertake exhaustive reviews of peer-reviewed literature to ascertain the evolving needs of healthcare professionals and generate new activities or changes to existing ones.

For our work with the community, we are engaged in a constant dialogue with participants, both through informal conversations and discussions and through formalized post-event questionnaires. In addition, we take into account the findings of relevant peer-reviewed scientific

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literature, and we pay close attention to the discussions taking place among our participants on our social media channels. All these inputs combine to give us an accurate understanding of how we can target our public health initiatives for maximum effect.

Do you have any final comments, particularly on the COVID-19 pandemic and its future?

COVID-19 has taught us so many lessons from nations all over the world. We discovered that many nations are not well prepared for public health crises and that our responses are heavily dependent on supply lines that can be easily disrupted. We also gained an appreciation of the impact of biodiversity decline, habitat destruction and the health of animals and how these factors impact human health – this points to a ‘One Health’ approach, whereby we perceive public health as a function of the health of our shared environment. Furthermore, we saw how pandemics can exacerbate social and economic problems, plunging many people into poverty, and that misinformation and disinformation can hamper effective responses to public health emergencies. Thankfully, the response in Qatar to the pandemic was extremely effective and we were spared much of the pain and suffering that were witnessed in many other countries.

Looking forward, it seems clear that COVID will not disappear but will likely follow a pattern similar to influenza, with intermittent outbreaks of varying severity as new mutations emerge.

It will become part of a new health-disease paradigm norm, and we will have to work hard to neither downplay nor overstate the risk of new illnesses. To quote the American global health law expert Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University, writing in a recent issue of the Journal of American Medical Association Forum: “There will not be a single moment when social life suddenly goes back to normal. Instead, gradually, over time, most people will view COVID-19 as a background risk and abandon the trappings of pandemic caution.” In the IPH, we hope and believe we can help to build upon the strong foundation of public health that already exists in Qatar, so that any future challenges can be overcome, guided by science and evidence.

FOR OUR WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY, WE ARE ENGAGED IN A CONSTANT DIALOGUE WITH PARTICIPANTS, BOTH THROUGH INFORMAL CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS AND THROUGH FORMALIZED POST-EVENT QUESTIONNAIRES. IN ADDITION, WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE FINDINGS OF RELEVANT PEER-REVIEWED SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE, AND WE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE DISCUSSIONS TAKING PLACE AMONG OUR PARTICIPANTS ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS. ALL THESE INPUTS COMBINE TO GIVE US AN ACCURATE UNDERSTANDING OF HOW WE CAN TARGET OUR PUBLIC HEALTH INITIATIVES FOR MAXIMUM EFFECT.

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MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Dietitian Clinic at Marble Medical Centre in Qatar Comprehensive medical services and a key role in public awareness

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he Dietitian Clinic at Marble Medical Centre in Qatar provides the necessary guidelines and recommendations to determine nutritional problems for the development of diet plans through highly experienced medical professionals. Dietitian Meerna Muhanna spoke to “Hospitals” magazine about the clinic's features and its role in educating the public about the importance of a healthy diet. Below is the full interview:

What are the main services provided in the Dietitian Clinic?

The Dietitian Clinic at Marble Medical Centre offers nutritional advice, diet plans for weight loss, weight gain, weight maintenance, for pregnant and breastfeeding women as well as for athletes. We also provide educational counseling for children from 5 years old.

Moreover, we provide healthy meals for more than 8 diet plans in order to lose weight in a healthy and fast way. In the Nutrition Department, we also perform blood tests related to digestive problems, obesity and weight loss.

The patient performs these tests; based on the results and according to the patient's condition and goal, a specific diet or meal plan is developed to better achieve the weight-loss goal, while preventing any obstacle that may hinder the weight-loss journey. The Dietitian Clinic has the latest patented slimming and body tightening equipment. We also provide manual lymphatic massage for people who have undergone liposuction or who suffer from excessive water retention in different parts of the body.

What are the specifications of the Dietitian Clinic at Marble Medical Centre apart from others?

The main feature of the Dietitian Clinic at Marble Medical Centre would probably be its highly qualified and experienced medical staff as well as the state-of-the-art equipment that generate the best and most accurate outcomes.

At Marble Medical Centre, we deal with each case individually, offering the patient a diet tailored

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Meerna Muhanna, Clinical Dietitian to his body and condition. We follow the latest studies on different diets and present them to patients with various conditions and goals in order to get the fastest and best results. One of the clinic's key features is to educate the public to make healthy and optimal food choices, because our ultimate goal is to make the patient fully aware of the importance of a healthy diet so that he learns about what suits him best.

Can you tell us about the most important steps you are taking in order to determine nutritional problems and provide the patients with the best advice? Are there any specific tests? How do you follow up on patient cases?

First, at the beginning of the consultation, we ask the patient to do some blood tests to make sure that there is no vitamin or mineral deficiency, such as iron, vitamin “D” and vitamin B12, which plays a major role in losing or gaining weight. In addition, hormones, blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels and the thyroid gland are also checked. Then, we perform a body analysis using the InBody 770, which is one of the latest

WE FOLLOW UP WITH THE PATIENT EVERY TWO WEEKS TO MONITOR THE WEIGHT LOSS OR WEIGHT GAIN JOURNEY, THEN ACCORDING TO EACH CASE, WE MAKE THE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS TO THE DIET IN ORDER TO HELP THE PATIENT REACH HIS OBJECTIVE IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

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and most accurate body composition devices that can help determine the weight, the amount of body fat mass and distribution, in addition to knowing the muscle, water and visceral fat percentage. We can also determine the waist circumference, the Body Mass Index (BMI) as well as the patient’s metabolic rate.

After performing the blood and InBody tests as well as learning about the patient’s medical history, we then develop a healthy diet tailored to each person’s condition and goal.

We follow up with the patient every two weeks to monitor the weight loss or weight gain journey, then according to each case, we make the necessary adjustments to the diet in order to help the patient reach his objective in the best way possible.

What about the dietitian’s role in providing strategies to prevent dietrelated disease? How do you do it?

When we develop an individualized diet or meal plan tailored to the patient's condition and goal, food diversification is taken into account in order to obtain an adequate amount of vitamins and minerals. We are keen to include carbohydrates from whole grains to adjust blood sugar levels, control appetite and induce satiety for a longer period of time.

We also strive to provide the patient with the appropriate amount of animal and plant proteins, if the person is a vegetarian. We take this into consideration and make sure that the patient gets the needed amounts of protein given its importance to the human body and its role in building tissues and muscles.

Protein is also essential for the skin, hair and nail growth and contributes to preventing hair loss, brittle nails and pallor that many people suffer from when they follow harsh weight-loss diets. We are also keen to supply the body with healthy unsaturated fats such as olives and olive oil, raw unsalted nuts such as walnuts, almonds, cashews, pistachios, fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, and seeds such as chia and flax for better brain health and maintaining normal cholesterol levels. The patient is always provided with two servings of fresh fruits, and we recommend following the Qatar Dietary Guidelines in order to obtain the important

antioxidants to protect the cells from free radical damage and cell deterioration. We make sure to include in the diet 3-5 servings of different vegetables to maintain a healthy digestive system and supply it with various vitamins, minerals and fibers that the body needs.

How can we relate diseases and food when we talk about therapeutic diets?

What is your role in this field?

Healthy eating plays an effective role in preventing disease and vice versa, as poor nutrition contributes to disease. There is a lot of researches that proves this, whether the person is healthy or suffers from health problems and illnesses such as diarrhea, constipation, poisoning and other minor health issues.

Many people suffer from malnutrition or vitamin and mineral deficiencies; as a result, the patient shows clear symptoms and is treated by taking dietary supplements and following a healthy diet rich in these vitamins and minerals in order to compensate for the deficiencies and restore the body in record time.

Many people also suffer from some diseases such as diabetes, osteoporosis, rickets, pellagra, beriberi, high cholesterol levels, etc. These diseases are linked to poor nutrition and a deficiency in several nutrients such as niacin, protein and vitamin B12.

An integrated and balanced healthy diet that contains all the important nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein, fats and fibers contributes to the prevention of many diseases related to malnutrition and poor diet.

WE ARE ALSO KEEN TO SUPPLY THE BODY WITH HEALTHY UNSATURATED FATS SUCH AS OLIVES AND OLIVE OIL, RAW UNSALTED NUTS SUCH AS WALNUTS, ALMONDS, CASHEWS, PISTACHIOS, FATTY FISH SUCH AS SALMON AND TUNA, AND SEEDS SUCH AS CHIA AND FLAX FOR BETTER BRAIN HEALTH AND MAINTAINING NORMAL CHOLESTEROL LEVELS.

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Plastic Surgery Department at Marble Medical Centre in Qatar Integrated department that meets all of the patients’ needs in one place Dr. Francesco Marchetti, Plastic Surgery Consultant

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owadays, plastic surgery is common and is one of the main departments in any hospital or medical centre. Marble Medical Centre always strives for the best, and works hard to bring all the new techniques in the world of medicine to meet the needs of Qatar’s society. The Centre attracts the most famous and skilled plastic surgeons from Europe to perform the surgeries in Qatar.

The Plastic Surgery Department is an integrated department that includes the outpatient clinics, operations department, anesthesia, laboratory, radiology and post-op patient wards.

Marble Medical Centre seeks to meet the patients’ needs in one place. Accordingly, Marble is prepared with state-of-the-art medical equipment and machines. Also, Marble has an experienced medical team; the nurses take care of the patient immediately from the moment he arrives at the Centre till the end of his operation and even after it.

Moreover, the Anesthesia and Laboratory Department support plastic surgery by performing pre-operative X-rays and medical tests. Following the operation, the patient may need a lymphatic massage and access to the Nutrition Clinic. Everything is surely provided at Marble Medical Centre.

In this article, Marble Medical Centre seeks to shed light on the difference between reconstructive surgery and plastic surgery.

Reconstructive Surgery It is the restoration of damaged body parts resulting from congenital defects or accidents, etc. Reconstructive surgery is an optional operation for patients who want to enhance some parts of the face or body, which is usually recommended by a plastic surgeon such as in cases of burns, deformities, birth defects, or after accidents. Moreover, the role of the plas-

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tic surgeon is to correct the defect and make the patient satisfied with the results.

However, some cases are complicated, therefore, Marble Medical Centre depends on credibility and transparency with the patients.

It is important to inform the patient about the post-operative risks and potential side effects. The plastic surgeon should follow up on the patient’s condition after the operation in order to monitor the case step by step with the patient.

Plastic Surgery Plastic surgery is based on the patient's desire to change some details in his/ her face or body, and give them an aesthetic appearance without any medical reason to perform this type of operation. Plastic surgery is currently trending. It is popular all over the world among artists, celebrities, and even people who are interested in beauty and cosmetics.

The most requested and desired operations at Marble Medical Centre are breast augmentation and tightening, rhinoplasty, liposuction (removing unwanted fat) and re-injecting it into the desired areas of the body, abdominoplasty (removing skin and fat from the abdomen) and vaginoplasty (reshaping the labia that surround the vagina).

The plastic surgeons at Marble Medical Centre are keen to satisfy the patients and give them natural results as much as possible, as well as boost the patients’ self-confidence and exceed their expectations.

Operations performed in the Plastic Surgery Department at Marble Medical Centre

Breast Augmentation and Tightening Surgery: The breast is the evidence of beauty and self-confidence for females. There is an incredible increase in breast augmentation surgeries with silicone implants. For many reasons, the breast may lose its size and weight, so it is the role of the plastic surgeon to correct the flaw.

Liposuction and fat injection surgery: Liposuction means contouring the body by removing the excess fat which is hard to be removed with diet or exercise. So, through liposuction of the abdomen and belly, the plastic surgeon can give the patient what he/ she wants. Liposuction could be done for the waist, hands, arms, legs, back, buttocks and all the body by following the latest technologies and techniques.

It is also possible to apply fat injection surgeries for some areas of the body such as small breasts, hips or small chins that can become attractive with fat transfer.

Since fat injections are made from self-taken fat, the risk of allergic reactions is zero. It is a completely safe application, and after the surgery, the patient can continue his/her life perfectly well.

Abdominoplasty, thighs and arms surgeries: Tummy tuck surgery is one of the cosmetic procedures that aims to remove excess skin and strengthen the abdominal muscles. Some tummy tuck cases include: • Postpartum women women who usually suffer from sagging muscles in the abdominal area.

THE MOST REQUESTED AND DESIRED OPERATIONS AT MARBLE MEDICAL CENTRE ARE BREAST AUGMENTATION AND TIGHTENING, RHINOPLASTY, LIPOSUCTION (REMOVING UNWANTED FAT) AND RE-INJECTING IT INTO THE DESIRED AREAS OF THE BODY, ABDOMINOPLASTY (REMOVING SKIN AND FAT FROM THE ABDOMEN) AND VAGINOPLASTY (RESHAPING THE LABIA THAT SURROUND THE VAGINA).

Rhinoplasty Surgery

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•

People who lose weight quickly. As for the thighs and arms tightening procedures, they are aimed at tightening and improving the general appearance while removing excess skin. The patients who undergo this operation suffer from a loss of skin elasticity, or sagging skin appearance. Their condition improves dramatically if the loose skin is tightened.

Otoplasty: Ear reduction is a surgical operation that is performed on patients who suffer from protruding ears, and this condition is called bat ear. The ear reduction operation is performed in the ear pinna area, which is the outer part of the ear.

Rhinoplasty Surgery: It is a surgical operation in which the shape or tilt of the nose is changed by making specific changes to the nasal bones. Common causes of rhinoplasty: • Narrowing of the nostril that obstructs breathing.

• Broken nose.

• Congenital problems in the nose structure.

• Changing certain things in the shape of the nose, such as tilt or size.

• Nose bone deviation.

In general, rhinoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgeries today.

more youthful, lively appearance and correct vision if the drooping skin causes vision problems to the patient.

Also, this surgery may include removing the swelling under the eyelids that results in sagging skin.

Face liposuction and injection:

It is the process of removing excess skin and fat, or removing part of the muscle from the upper eyelid if necessary in order to give a

To give the face a natural appearance, it is easy to inject fat in the face. Through facial augmentation techniques, the procedure of autologous fat injection is performed in the face, where the fat injection lasts for a long period of two years or more.

This surgery is also used to remove wrinkles around the eyes as well as pits under the eyes in order to get a youthful appearance, which constitutes the most difficult and sensitive area in the body and requires accuracy and care, especially the area around the eye as it contains arteries that require extensive experience in handling the eyelids during injection.

Breast lift and tummy tuck

Eyelid Tightening

Eyelid tightening:

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FACELIFT SURGERY INCLUDES THE ENTIRE UPPER, MIDDLE AND LOWER AREAS OF THE FACE, BEHIND THE HAIR, AND FROM THE BOTTOM SIDE BELOW THE CHIN, SO THAT NO SCAR APPEARS ON THE FACE AFTER THE SURGERY. THEREFORE, THE PLASTIC SURGEON MUST BE SKILLED ENOUGH TO PERFORM THIS KIND OF SURGERY.

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Autologous fat transfer helps plump the face and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.

With facial liposuction (face contouring), we can remove annoying fats on the chin, face or neck and shape a slim face. Liposuction of the face is considered a permanent success with no side effects, so the patient does not have to be afraid of the scars on their face.

Double chin liposuction Double chin is excess fat under the chin and it is not only a problem for people who have a somewhat chubby figure, many thin patients also suffer from double chin problems besides the genetic reasons. Fat is suctioned from the area under the chin to contour and define the jaw as well as give a more aesthetic and younger appearance.

Ways to treat gynecomastia for men: •

•

Liposuction: The principle of this operation is based on breast liposuction, which means removing the fats from the breast; however, this surgery does not affect the breast gland itself.

Mastectomy: In this process, the glandular tissue of the breast is removed.

This operation is performed after the doctor makes small incisions or cuts, and the patient does not need a long time to recover.

Enlarged breasts in men, making them feel shy in front of people. There are many reasons that may lead to gynecomastia, but the main ones include weight gain, the use of anabolic steroids, the use of marijuana, in addition to puberty.

It is worth mentioning that the medical staff at Marble Medical Centre always strives to follow up on the patient’s case after a plastic or reconstructive surgery in order to mitigate any effects or scars that may result from the operations, as well as treat them by using various methods such as laser, plasma and lymphatic drainage massage to provide the patient with the best results.

As previously mentioned, Marble Medical Centre is looking forward when it comes to cosmetics. The medical team at Marble Centre always looks for the best and seeks to bring all the services that are available abroad to the State of Qatar, so there is no need to travel overseas anymore to undergo expensive plastic surgeries. Marble Medical Centre attracts the most experienced plastic surgeons from Europe, and all the operations are performed under the supervision of the Ministry of Health in Qatar.

Marble Medical Centre applies the latest hygiene and care standards by using the latest machines and techniques. Marble’s goal is to encourage medical tourism in Qatar, expand inside and outside Qatar into neighboring countries, in addition to developing medical tourism in Qatar.

Arm Surgery

Eyelid Tightening

Facelift Facelift surgery includes the entire upper, middle and lower areas of the face, behind the hair, and from the bottom side below the chin, so that no scar appears on the face after the surgery. Therefore, the plastic surgeon must be skilled enough to perform this kind of surgery.

In addition, a forehead lift and eyebrow lift should be performed in accordance with the patient's needs, and this procedure is performed for the patients who suffer from wrinkles at the top of the face. The facelift is also done endoscopically by stretching to the temples.

Gynecomastia Surgery

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IT IS WORTH MENTIONING THAT THE MEDICAL STAFF AT MARBLE MEDICAL CENTRE ALWAYS STRIVES TO FOLLOW UP ON THE PATIENT’S CASE AFTER A PLASTIC OR RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY IN ORDER TO MITIGATE ANY EFFECTS OR SCARS THAT MAY RESULT FROM THE OPERATIONS, AS WELL AS TREAT THEM

BY USING VARIOUS METHODS SUCH AS LASER, PLASMA AND LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE MASSAGE TO PROVIDE THE PATIENT WITH THE BEST RESULTS.

INTERVIEW

Dr. Joseph Moutiris Clinician and Professor of Cardiology at UNIC Medical School

“Medical students should get a systematic approach and learning of cardiovascular medicine, both theoretically and practically"

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ver the past two decades, the University of Nicosia (UNIC)- located on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, has led the development of life and health sciences programmes regionally and continues to strive for excellence globally. The 2021 Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings, ranked UNIC as the 32nd university in the world in the core area of Quality Education. In International Outlook, UNIC has been ranked 47th globally by THE World University Rankings. Below is an interview with Dr Joseph Moutiris, a clinician and professor of Cardiology at UNIC Medical School.

Can you provide some background about your career and specialization to date?

I am currently working as Head of Cardiology Department of Paphos General Hospital in Cyprus which is a public hospital offering multidisciplinary services within the Cyprus General Healthcare System. I am also a Clinical Professor of Cardiology at the Medical School of the University of Nicosia.

I am specialized, apart from Clinical Cardiology, in all aspects of non-invasive and invasive cardiology, with main interests in prevention, coronary artery disease, heart failure, nuclear cardiology and cardiac pacing/ICD.

large-scale studies, the introduction of new diagnostic modalities such as cardiac MRI, echocardiography and PET, and the development of new therapeutic options, such as primary percutaneous coronary interventions and transcutaneous aortic valve interventions, makes cardiology training very demanding.

During medical studies, students become familiar with prevention measures and are introduced at the same time to the diagnostic imaging and therapeutic interventions during their placements in cardiology departments.

They have also the opportunity for hands-on experience especially in non-invasive cardiology.

How is cardiology approached in early medical education versus through specialization?

Is division of patient care, training and research, important for cardiovascular innovation?

Cardiology has advanced very much during the last few decades. Although cardiovascular prevention remains largely the same, with a variation in the cutting points between normal and abnormal, based on new evidence from

Medical students should get a systematic approach and learning of cardiovascular medicine, both theoretically and practically. This is achieved by providing appropriate clinical skills knowledge and clinical placements. Involvement

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MEDICAL STUDENTS SHOULD GET A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH AND LEARNING OF CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE, BOTH THEORETICALLY AND PRACTICALLY.

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in basic research and explanation of the methodology for clinical research, is also advised. This is very important for their future development especially for those who are going to train in cardiology.

of heart failure, addressing both the adrenergic nervous system and the cholinergic system but also the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.

I believe that there is still much potential for research addressing the neurohormonal systems.

How do you see cardiology changing in the future?

How are you and others, prepared to deliver specialized and well qualified cardiologists for the next generation?

Cardiology has already changed a lot. I remember giving streptokinase for acute myocardial infarction, in the past, with a success rate exceeding slightly 60%. Today, we take the patient to the catheterization lab for primary PCI, with a success rate of almost 100%. In the future, diagnostic imaging will further improve as well as interventions, most of which will be either percutaneous or with minimally surgical procedures.

Genetics seem to be part of the development with therapies addressing the generation of new myocardial tissue. New well-designed large-scale studies will bring new evidence in the prevention of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease and in the treatment

Providing good and updated training in cardiology is a challenging task. The tutors need to fill the gap between traditional cardiology training and contemporary ones. They need, not only to follow up on the recent studies, but also to be actively involved in research and encourage trainees to be an active part of the research team. Medicine is progressively becoming evidence-based and the cardiology training should be designed in this way.

For more information, you can visit our website https://www.med.unic.ac.cy/ or e-mail admissions@med.unic.ac.cy.

PROVIDING GOOD AND UPDATED TRAINING IN CARDIOLOGY IS A CHALLENGING TASK. THE TUTORS NEED TO FILL THE GAP BETWEEN TRADITIONAL CARDIOLOGY TRAINING AND CONTEMPORARY ONES. THEY NEED, NOT ONLY TO FOLLOW-UP THE RECENT STUDIES, BUT ALSO TO BE ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN RESEARCH AND ENCOURAGE TRAINEES TO BE AN ACTIVE PART OF THE RESEARCH TEAM.

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Maher Elhassan Vice President and General Manager, MENAT at BD

“We aim to apply our continued mission to advancing the world of health"

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D has been at the forefront of providing the best in medical technologies and will continue to do so, as it strives to deliver excellence and enhance healthcare experience, looking forward to expanding and driving impact in the lives of medical professionals and patients through the safety and care of its MedTech innovations throughout the region and beyond. “Hospitals” magazine interviewed Mr. Maher Elhassan, Vice President and General Manager, MENAT at BD.

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What are some of BD’s key initiatives that are supporting the region’s healthcare systems?

We believe collaborations that bridge organizations with communities are a crucial step to creating a better patient care experience for all healthcare systems, and key initiatives with public and private sectors across the region have been an encouraging step forward.

BD has deployed many approaches to spread awareness on patient safety. For exam-

BD ENGAGES WITH DISTRIBUTORS AND PARTNERS TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO ENHANCE THE USE OF MEDTECH INNOVATIONS IN THE REGION AND EMPOWER HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS TO NURTURE A CULTURE OF PATIENT SAFETY AND IMPROVED OUTCOMES.

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ple, the company runs engaging activities across various channels, including that of educating Healthcare Care Professionals (HCPs) on how MedTech innovations can help reduce medication errors and infections.

Additionally, BD also engages with distributors and partners to provide training to enhance the use of MedTech innovations in the region and empower healthcare providers to nurture a culture of patient safety and improved outcomes.

Furthermore, BD has leveraged digital channels, with campaigns that help raise awareness for patient care and safety and best practices.

This has also been boosted by our long-established Center for Safety and Clinical Excellence in Dubai, as it demonstrates the potential of MedTech innovations and specialized training for the many needs of today’s healthcare demands. BD is always committed to improving accuracy, medication management, biosciences, lab automation, and infection prevention to ensure optimization and safety throughout the entire healthcare experience.

Can you shed light on some of the key medical technologies and trends in MENAT? The industry is currently witnessing the impact of AI and IoT, and how healthcare providers can increase efficiency, lower costs, and more importantly, refocus on enhancing the patient care journey. With the advent of technology, we are able to monitor health remotely as patients are able to take better control of their wellbeing, helping us to analyze the activities of the body, heart rates, blood glucose and so on. The integration of AI and machine learning will also enable healthcare providers to efficiently gather, analyze and use patient data more efficiently.

Patient involvement has increased, as clinicians will find it easier to track and monitor a patient’s vitals, while doctor visits have significantly decreased, saving overall costs on both ends.

These new technologies not only put the power of a person’s wellbeing in their own hands but alleviates the pressures of healthcare challenges on medical professionals. These inevitable changes are things we must all adapt to, and the use of IoT devices will increase by a significant

amount. It truly is the future of healthcare.

The increased awareness of Patient Safety challenges, amplified by the pandemic, is escalating the demand for a partnership approach to create a patient safety culture.

What are you showcasing at Arab Health/ Medlab this year?

Events such as Arab Health and Medlab play an essential part in improving the healthcare systems in the region. It gives us the opportunity to exchange crucial insights and present essential innovations that are constantly striving to enhance the patient care journey.

Keeping patients at the core of our focus and efforts, the collaboration between our Medication Management Systems, Medication Delivery Systems and Interventional business, BD will be able to demonstrate the full potential of our innovations.

We have pioneered systems that have boosted scientific and technical support in increasing laboratory efficiencies and outcomes. This year, we showcased next-generation flow cytometry, automate sample preparation instruments and patient solution POC devices that combine simplicity and speed to improve productivity through seamlessly integrated workflows. With the combination of instrumentations with our advanced reagents and leading-edge bioinformatics, we brought forward the standardization of immunophenotyping, HIV disease monitoring and drive deeper insights from immunology to cancer biology and discoveries related to diagnosis and medical treatments.

Additionally, we displayed integrated solutions of products and services that comprehensively support healthcare providers across care areas. That included safe and integrated specimen collection, specimen diagnosis and data management. We also had experts from BD at our respective booths presenting insightful sessions highlighting many MedTech trends and best practices in the MENA region.

From solutions addressing medication, error challenges to minimizing errors for pharmacy teams, we will have a host of solutions for medical professionals so that they can deliver the safest and best care available.

PATIENT INVOLVEMENT HAS INCREASED, AS CLINICIANS WILL FIND IT EASIER TO TRACK AND MONITOR A PATIENT’S VITALS, WHILE DOCTOR VISITS HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED SAVING OVERALL COSTS ON BOTH ENDS. THESE NEW TECHNOLOGIES NOT ONLY PUT THE POWER OF A PERSON’S WELLBEING IN THEIR OWN HANDS BUT ALLEVIATES THE PRESSURES OF HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES ON MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS.

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What is your strategy for MENA and investments that are supporting you in this journey?

In our continued mission to advance the world of health, our aim is to consistently deliver value-based care, boost efficiency, quality, and levels of protection against the many healthcare-related risks for patients and healthcare professionals. BD is aware that the region is comprised of different regulations and economies that are in various stages of their healthcare challenges and developments. Therefore, we work very closely with public and private sector organizations to enhance patient safety, while delivering best healthcare outcomes in the region. It is essential that we listen carefully to local healthcare providers about their needs,

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policymakers who require effective strategies, caregivers who need support and patients who deserve the best treatments.

We aim to accelerate patient interventions by automation, integration and technologies that improve medication management and diagnosis through the latest innovations and high quality of training.

BD has been at the forefront of providing the best in medical technologies and will continue to do so, as we strive to deliver excellence and enhance the healthcare experience.

We look forward to expanding and driving impact in the lives of medical professionals and patients through the safety and care of our MedTech innovations throughout the region and beyond.

BD IS AWARE THAT THE REGION IS COMPRISED OF DIFFERENT REGULATIONS AND ECONOMIES THAT ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF THEIR HEALTHCARE CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENTS.

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Fiona Garin Vice President of Strategic Marketing, EMEA at BD

“Our devices are a vector between HCPs and patients and between the adequate treatment and the cure"

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D remains at the forefront of healthcare by focusing and developing solutions and services that enhance the overall safety and care for patients. “Hospitals” Magazine interviewed Fiona Garin, Vice President of Strategic Marketing, EMEA at BD, who confirms that BD is committed to providing the best MedTech solutions for frontline workers who can confidently carry out their duties while significantly reducing medical errors.

Has the pandemic accelerated the need for patient safety or has this been a prevailing issue already?

Patient safety has always been at the core of what we do. Addressing it is pivotal to advancing the world of health in the region because of the burden of disease and the cost

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associated with it. We believe that enhancing patient safety is a shared responsibility among those that are linked to healthcare directly or indirectly. By being present at multiple stages of the patient journey, we have always been intrinsically linked to the successful implementation of patient safety action plans. The pandemic has only reconfirmed we were focused on the right priorities and has deepened our focus and accelerated the pace of our journey. It has highlighted the importance of having flexible approaches that allow for the co-creation of innovative solutions to unmet needs.

We know that the initial impact of the pandemic was a devastating blow across industries and no greater than the one experienced by the healthcare industry. Frontline workers were incredibly overwhelmed by the influx of patients,

PATIENT SAFETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE CORE OF WHAT WE DO. ADDRESSING IT IS PIVOTAL TO ADVANCING THE WORLD OF HEALTH IN THE REGION BECAUSE OF THE BURDEN OF DISEASE AND THE COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT.

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as they had to manage both existing patient admissions and new cases affected by the virus.

Hospital staff have had the difficult task of achieving a balance between managing a dramatically increased workload and the need to protect themselves and patients from the risks of infections. Not to mention supply shortages as the demand for treatments increased. Patient safety was therefore more present across the patient journey more than ever before. BD aspires to build on lessons learned from the pandemic, working closely with key stakeholders to build sustainable and resilient healthcare systems by developing and implementing innovative solutions that matter, supporting healthcare practitioners to drive improved patient outcomes.

How does BD’s mission of advancing the world of health speak to its goal of patient care and safety?

The pandemic has highlighted the role and relevance of the MedTech industry more than ever before. MedTech is playing a pivotal role in improving healthcare systems in the region, and it is crucial, now more than ever, for organizations to embrace the transformations in the industry and become flexible to provide the best inpatient care.

BD remains at the forefront of healthcare by focusing and developing solutions and services that enhance the overall safety and care for patients, which has been at the center of what we do. We are also committed to providing the best MedTech solutions for frontline workers who can confidently carry out their duties while significantly reducing medical errors. It is an ongoing process for BD to improve medical discovery, diagnostics, medication management systems and the delivery of care through our capabilities, expertise, and scale to address today’s most pressing healthcare matters.

The wellbeing of healthcare workers and patients are of utmost priority when it comes to delivering care in the medical field; therefore, it is essential that we can provide and empower healthcare providers with the necessary tools to deliver better and safer treatments while optimizing their operations.

We always look forward to meeting future

challenges together through customer partnerships coupled with our latest innovations that elevate the quality of healthcare and secure the patient care journey for both medical professionals and patients alike.

What are some of the key issues being faced at a global level by healthcare providers that are leading to healthcare worker and patient safety challenges?

As we have all witnessed, across all industries throughout the pandemic, the most challenging time has transformed the way we work and live. The overwhelming pressures faced by frontline workers significantly impacted their performance and raised the risks of adverse events and errors.

Because of these added layers of difficulty, human factor errors, infection prevention and control, the workflow for clinicians have also been disrupted. It makes mitigating risks of adverse effects a strenuous process.

Now that more people are working in remote environments, the delivery of care also requires careful delegation of responsibilities, which means hospitals need to prioritize the urgent needs of patients and simultaneously mitigate the risks of delayed diagnosis and treatment. These physical challenges also influence the mental state of healthcare providers, as they attempt to balance their duties through their overwhelming hours on a daily basis. The negative psychological impacts on frontline workers have a direct effect on their ability to deliver care in the safest way possible.

The frequency of visits to the doctor have decreased drastically, but there is still the need to accommodate face-to-face interactions for more critical cases and lessen the fears of mistreatments.

How do medical technology, devices and solutions help address these challenges and redefine the patient experience and journey?

Our devices are a vector between HCPs and patients and between adequate treatment and the cure. It is in our DNA to develop and help implement safe, innovative, and optimized

BD REMAINS AT THE FOREFRONT OF HEALTHCARE

BY FOCUSING AND DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS AND SERVICES THAT ENHANCE THE OVERALL SAFETY AND CARE FOR PATIENTS, WHICH HAS BEEN AT THE CENTER OF WHAT WE DO. WE ARE ALSO COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE BEST MEDTECH SOLUTIONS FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO CAN CONFIDENTLY CARRY OUT THEIR DUTIES WHILE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING MEDICAL ERRORS.

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technology to improve patient safety; technological solutions that can help address current challenges by improving diagnostic accuracy and timeliness (improving clinical decision-making), addressing staff shortages by automating tasks and allowing HCPs spend more time on patient care and intercept potential errors, reduce variation in practice, facilitate peer-to-peer learning and information sharing, and implement best practice training and education. The introduction of innovation supports the development of a culture of safety, where we can elevate the quality of care by optimizing and standardizing workflows, processes and procedures with as example full traceability, automation, and closed-loop medication management that can help prevent medication errors.

Additionally, MedTech solutions can contribute to improving infection prevention and control, reducing the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and the spread of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Improving diagnostic testing enables clinicians to more accurately identify infections, properly tailor treatments case by case, and avoid unnecessary

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antibiotic use. Additionally, advancements in surveillance and reporting help identify patients at greatest risk of acquiring resistant infections, monitor population-based trends and provide early warning for outbreaks.

Increased partnerships between organizations and other stakeholders are essential to improving healthcare systems in the region, by implementing evidence-based practice interventions that drive better clinical outcomes and improve communication and collaboration across departments.

At BD, we would like to partner with systems, institutions and clinicians to build a culture of safety together to protect patients and increase the quality of care, where safety is flowing through every person and every system – changing attitudes and improving accountability, and where we can jointly introduce improved technologies, services and capabilities.

We would like to support an overarching shift from reactive piecemeal intervention to a total systems approach addressing safety across the entire patient journey and essentially also supporting a culture of healthcare worker safety.

MEDTECH SOLUTIONS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO IMPROVING INFECTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL, REDUCING THE INCIDENCE OF HEALTHCAREASSOCIATED INFECTIONS (HAIS) AND THE SPREAD OF ANTIMICROBIALRESISTANT ORGANISMS.

RANKED AMONGST TOP 100 WORLDWIDE HIGHEST RANKED HOSPITAL IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONLY HOSPITAL RANKED IN LEBANON

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Richard E. Kirschner MD, FACS, FAAP Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Chief Cleft Lip and Palate Center, Director at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

“We believe that every child deserves the finest in compassionate, comprehensive team care and are dedicated to providing excellence in clinical care, research, education and overall experience"

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ationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the largest pediatric hospitals and research institutes in the United States.

It is consistently ranked as one of America’s top 10 children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, the recognized authority in United States hospital rankings. Richard E. Kirschner, MD, FACS, FAAP, is Chief of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Director of the Cleft Lip and Palate Center. He is also recognized as a leading authority in cleft lip and palate, velopharyngeal dysfunction, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome and hemangiomas/vascular malformations.

What types of specialists are included in an ideal cleft lip and palate program?

Children born with cleft lip and palate may face many medical, developmental and psychosocial challenges throughout their development. That is why it takes a multidisciplinary team of experienced and qualified providers to achieve the best outcomes and quality of life for every cleft-affected child. The purpose of the

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team, ideally made up of specialists in plastic and reconstructive surgery, speech-language pathology, infant feeding, otolaryngology, audiology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, dentistry, orthodontics, psychology, social work, and nursing, is to ensure that the necessary care is provided in a coordinated and consistent manner.

These providers work closely with one another and with each patient and family to develop a comprehensive, individualized care plan at every stage of growth and development.

How is the Cleft Lip and Palate Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital unique?

It starts with our team, which is approved by the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, and also one of the largest and most comprehensive cleft lip and palate teams in the world. We provide multidisciplinary services to cleft-affected patients from birth through adulthood and offer prenatal and pre-adoption counseling services, as well as extensive patient and family education and support services.

We have a unique Craniofacial Infant Feeding

AT NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, WE FREQUENTLY TREAT CHILDREN FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES TRAVELING FAR FROM HOME FOR SURGICAL CARE, AND THEREFORE STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT SUCH FAMILIES HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE.

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Program which provides comprehensive services to ensure that cleft-affected infants thrive. The Craniofacial Orthodontic Treatment Program serves the orthodontic needs of patients throughout their development. Collectively, we offer children and their families coordinated, personalized care from a team of internationally recognized clinicians who provide ongoing compassionate care with a singular focus: achieving the finest outcomes possible.

Do patients from outside the United States travel for care?

More and more, families are seeking the best possible cleft care, even if it requires traveling long distances. Since the quality of the primary repairs of cleft lip and palate is the most important determinant of long-term outcomes, parents often search for the best hospitals in which to have their child undergo cleft surgery.

At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, we frequently treat children from across the United States and around the world. We understand that it can be difficult for families traveling far from home for surgical care, and therefore strive to ensure that such families have the best experience possible.

What are some of the complexities or nuances in treating children in this field?

All orofacial clefts are not the same, nor are all children with orofacial clefts. The surgical approach to the repair of each cleft must be individualized. Nuances in surgical technique make all the difference with respect to longterm outcomes in aesthetic appearance, speech, and dentofacial growth and development.

Moreover, each cleft must be approached with consideration of the whole child.

Many children with orofacial clefts have underlying medical conditions that may or may not be associated with a genetic syndrome, and proper surgical management relies on consideration of each child’s specific medical co-morbidities. In addition, social determinants of health play a critical role in determining outcomes in cleft care. Provision of social support services is often a key factor in achieving equitable care and outcomes.

Finally, each cleft-affected child is unique with respect to psychological health and resiliency. Consideration of each child’s psychological needs and self-reported outcomes throughout development is therefore essential to ensure the best quality of life.

AT NATIONWIDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, WE FREQUENTLY TREAT CHILDREN FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND AROUND THE WORLD. WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR FAMILIES TRAVELING FAR FROM HOME FOR SURGICAL CARE, AND THEREFORE STRIVE TO ENSURE THAT SUCH FAMILIES HAVE THE BEST EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE.

To learn more about Nationwide Children’s Hospital & Dr. Kirschner, visit NationwideChildrens. org/Plastic-Surgery

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Dr. Tariq Chukir Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q)

“Our main objective is to educate our audience about advances in medicine"

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r. Tariq Chukir is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) and an endocrinology consultant at the Qatar Metabolic Institute.

He has a clinical interest in obesity and preventive medicine. He is American Board-certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Obesity Medicine and Clinical Lipidology. Dr. Chukir is the co-director of the Internal Medicine and Anaesthesia & Critical Care Clerkship at WCM-Q. Dr. Chukir is currently the chair of the WCM-Q Grand Rounds committee.

How are the topics for Grand Rounds selected? How do you ensure a diverse range of topics?

Our program is designed based on the needs identified by our attendees, topics raised by our committee members and recent advances/changes in clinical practice.

Our committee consists of a diverse group of people representing different medical professions e.g. clinicians from different specialties, scientists, educators, dentists, nurses, and non-medical academics and executives. Our audience is similarly diverse. The influence of these different professionals naturally leads us towards a diversity of topics, but we also

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consciously strive to represent a wide range of subject areas.

Who is the target audience for Grand Rounds and what are the benefits for the participants who attend?

While our primary target audience has always been healthcare professionals in Qatar, our program has attracted interest globally.

Our main objective is to educate our audience about advances in medicine, which benefits their own professional development and, most importantly, enhances and optimizes patient care.

What impact does WCM-Q Grand Rounds have on the healthcare sector as a whole in Qatar?

Our grand rounds activities help to keep healthcare professionals up-to-date with the latest developments in healthcare, allowing them to provide state-of-the-art care to their patients. This helps to foster a very positive and progressive community of medical professionals in Qatar, united by a shared commitment to continuous improvement in standards of care and healthcare outcomes, which is likely to be highly beneficial to the healthcare sector in general.

OUR COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE REPRESENTING DIFFERENT MEDICAL PROFESSIONS E.G. CLINICIANS FROM DIFFERENT SPECIALTIES, SCIENTISTS, EDUCATORS, DENTISTS, NURSES, AND NON-MEDICAL ACADEMICS AND EXECUTIVES. OUR AUDIENCE IS SIMILARLY DIVERSE.

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What are the selection criteria for speakers who appear at WCM-Q Grand Rounds?

One top priority is to find experts on the topics raised by our attendees and committee members. The committee identifies potential speakers and then reviews their resumes, research output, credentials and clinical experience. We review each candidate comprehensively to make sure we find a professional who is truly an expert in their field. WCM-Q has been successful in engaging world-leading professionals from across the world. The feedback we receive from our attendees about the quality of our speakers and their presentations is always extremely positive.

Does the reach of WCM-Q Grand Rounds extend beyond Qatar?

Yes. While our primary focus has always been on healthcare professionals in Qatar, the success of our program has attracted interest

from overseas and we are very keen to welcome international participants. The move to virtual events prompted by the pandemic significantly broadened the geographical scope of our audience and we now see many attendees joining our events from Europe, East Asia, India and Pakistan, Australasia, the US and all over the MENA region. We are very happy to serve as a regional and global hub for the dissemination of the latest advances in healthcare to improve outcomes for patients, wherever they might be.

WCM-Q HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN ENGAGING WORLD-LEADING PROFESSIONALS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD.

How do you see the WCM-Q's Grand Rounds series evolving in the future?

We learned many new things from the pandemic, which reinforced the advantages of a hybrid learning system. Virtual learning has advantages and disadvantages, and one of the advantages is that it improves access to education and healthcare. Therefore, we definitely see virtual and hybrid learning and teaching methodologies as a key part of our future evolution.

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ISSUANCE OF THE FIRST EMIRATI BOOK ON CANCER RESEARCH FEATURING OVER 70 RESEARCH PAPERS

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Prof. Humaid Al Shamsi Consultant in Internal Medicine, Oncology and Cancer, President of the Emirates Oncology Society

“Cancer treatment is one of the most advanced fields in the UAE"

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rof. Humaid Al Shamsi is the first doctor in the UAE specializing in oncology and gastrointestinal oncology. He is also a researcher in oncology and has the largest number of oncology studies in the UAE. After diligent work and continuous research, Professor Al Shamsi has recently published the first Emirati book on cancer research, which includes over 70 research papers, in addition to citing major international scientific journals. “Hospitals” magazine met with Professor Al Shamsi to shed light on the new book and cancer treatment development in the UAE. Below is the full interview.

This book required a lot of time and effort and is like a reference in the oncology field. We would like to highlight the importance of this book for the future generations and the future of oncology.

We thank you for shedding light on scientific research, which is slightly forgotten in our Arab region. This book features over 70 medical research that we have published since 2012 and covers research on breast, colon, pancreatic, gallbladder and rectal cancers, in addition to over 15 research papers on COVID-19 and cancer patients, as well as a lot of research including the development of the cancer industry in the UAE. We hope that it will be a reference book for many researchers and cancer advocates in

the UAE, given the featured recommendations aimed at the development of this field.

Based on your extensive and comprehensive experience in this field, how do you assess the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in the UAE? How has the oncology field evolved over the past years?

Contrary to popular belief, cancer treatment is one of the most advanced fields in the country for the following reasons: The UAE pays great attention to the cancer sector as it is the third leading cause of death in the country.The UAE is home to many world-renowned medical facilities and clinics including Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, and many international doctors with world-class expertise. Moreover, the country facilitates the registration of many modern cancer medicines before they are registered in most countries of the world, as the UAE has become only the second country in the world after the United States to approve the use of a key lung cancer drug. Also, the UAE has stateof-the-art technologies such as ultra-precise radiation devices.

A new drug has been approved to treat lung cancer in the country, after its approval in the USA, and then directly in the UAE. It is a genetic therapy, benefiting 13% of patients with advanced lung cancer. The innovative drug called

A NEW DRUG HAS BEEN APPROVED TO TREAT LUNG CANCER IN THE COUNTRY, AFTER ITS APPROVAL IN THE USA, AND THEN DIRECTLY IN THE UAE. IT IS A GENETIC THERAPY, BENEFITING 13% OF PATIENTS WITH ADVANCED LUNG CANCER.

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"LUMAKRAS" is the latest breakthrough in the world, and helps significantly in the treatment of cancer.

Reference: https://www.thenationalnews.com/ uae/health/uae-doctor-says-new-lung-cancer-drugis-a-huge-breakthrough-in-battle-against-the-disease-1.1247127

Over the past years, you have worked on a lot of medical research specialized in cancer diseases. Can you tell us about the most important ones?

The most important research is the discovery of a type of colorectal cancer. Research results showed a rare type of genetic mutation in 2.2% of all patients. These rare non-V600 BRAF mutations that have been identified for the first time, cause colorectal cancer to develop slowly but also have an amazing response to chemotherapy, especially in the advanced stages of the disease.

This technique, which was used to analyze the genetic mutations of samples from colorectal cancer patients, is scientifically known as Next-Generation DNA sequencing (NGS). https://www.albayan.ae/across-the-uae/news-andreports/2016-12-19-1.2799892 https://ascopubs.org/doi/full/10.1200/PO.17.00080

How did these discoveries affect the course of treatments? What are the latest treatment protocols?

Our research, in addition to the achievements of other doctors and researchers, have contributed to a transformation in treatments; modern treatments have been found to stop cancer growth and were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-grants-accelerated-approval-pemigatinib-cholangiocarcinoma-fgfr2-rearrangement-or-fusion

The latest treatment method is immunotherapy, which is a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer. The immune system helps the body fight infections and other diseases. It is made up of white

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COMPARED TO EARLY DIAGNOSIS, CANCER SCREENING IS A DISTINCT AND MORE COMPLEX PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGY THAT REQUIRES ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COORDINATION FOR A TARGETED GROUP OF SOCIETY, I.E. ALL WOMEN OVER THE AGE OF 40 SHOULD HAVE BREAST CANCER SCREENING.

blood cells as well as organs and tissues of the lymphatic system. Immunotherapy is a type of biological therapy.

Targeted therapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to target specific genes and proteins that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells. Targeted therapy can affect the tissue environment that helps a cancer grow and survive, or it can target cells related to cancer growth, such as blood vessel cells.

It is sometimes called personalized medicine or personalized care. Precision medicine looks at how a specific gene change (genetic mutation) might affect a person's risk of developing a certain cancer, or, if they already have cancer, how their genes affect treatment (or genes in their cancer cells) might affect treatment.

The focus is mainly directed towards awareness and early detection. How important is this step? How does it contribute to fighting the disease? Are there studies in this regard?

As cancer specialists, we believe that early cancer screening is the best way to reduce mortality rates. Early diagnosis of cancer focuses on detecting symptomatic patients as early as possible so they have the best chance for successful treatment. When cancer care is delayed or inaccessible, there is a lower chance of survival, greater problems associated with treatment and higher costs of care.

Early diagnosis improves cancer outcomes by providing care at the earliest stage possible and is therefore an important public health strategy in all settings. Compared to early diagnosis, cancer screening is a distinct and more complex public health strategy that requires additional resources, infrastructure and coordination for a targeted group of society, i.e. all women over the age of 40 should have breast cancer screening. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26756588/ https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1102873 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1604113

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Today, nutrition and cancer have become a global trend to reduce the spread of the disease. Can a healthy diet prevent cancer?

I would like to highlight a few points about nutrition and cancer: • Reducing meat consumption • Consuming lots of fruits and vegetables • Reducing junk food • Reducing alcohol consumption • Having the perfect healthy weight

What is the role of healthy eating during the treatment of a cancer patient? To what extent does it help to increase the effectiveness of treatment?

A balanced diet that includes all the essential components is key. During a cancer diagnosis, patients and their families tend to make the major mistake of cutting protein, carbohydrates and sugar from their diet, and resort to fasting, which weakens the patient’s body, making him unable to tolerate treatment.

A BALANCED DIET THAT INCLUDES ALL THE ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS IS KEY.

You have established the Emirates Oncology Society and the Oncology and Cancer Research Working Group. How did the Group contribute to publishing numerous research related to the improvement and development of cancer treatment in the country, under your supervision, of course?

The Emirates Oncology Society plays a major role in cancer awareness and also has a scientific role in publishing numerous medical research through cooperation with international centers in order to improve the treatment of cancer patients. We have done a lot of research that were published in international medical journals in the name of the UAE, and they have received many citations for their quality. Also, some of them were cited to be a reference for some international organizations in the cancer field. We believe that the only way to improve the cancer sector in the UAE is by developing the clinical research sector.

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LEVERAGING THE CERNER EHR FOR SEHA’S ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY PROJECT

Dr. Siddiq Anwar Consultant Physician, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Abu Dhabi

“We are thankful to SEHA IT team and for the support of Cerner team for developing the innovative digital tools to improve renal care" MAR.APR 2022

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heikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) has recently launched an electronic Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) prescription to streamline practices that will help improve filter running times, enhance delivered CRRT doses and reduce inventory costs. "Hospitals" magazine recently interviewed Dr. Siddiq Anwar, Consultant Physician, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, who said: “We

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are thankful to the SEHA IT team with the support of the Cerner team, for being involved in planning, building, and testing all the digital tools we have developed over the last four years to improve renal care”.

Acute kidney Injury (AKI) is common in the intensive care unit (ICU), where it is associated with increased mortality; how did this project come to life, and how does it benefit patients?

AKI affects up to 30% of all ICU admissions. In addition to the development of AKI in patients admitted to critical care units, mortality rises up to 50-80% in ICUs. Furthermore, renal-replacement-therapy (RRT)-dependent AKI is associated with a substantial health economic burden. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a predominant form of treatment used in the ICU due to its accurate volume control, steady acid-base and electrolyte correction, and achievement of hemodynamic stability. Optimizing filter life and performance efficiency in CRRT will help improve both health care and financial outcomes associated with this therapy.

We have recently launched an electronic CRRT prescription in SSMC to streamline practices that will help improve filter running times, enhance delivered CRRT doses and reduce inventory costs. The aim is to eliminate clinically unwarranted waste, unnecessary variation in practices, and any defects in our care of patients with an ultimate goal of having lean health care systems and improved outcomes while keeping patients’ best interests in mind.

How do you think the EHR can offer an integrated high-quality service to hospitalized AKI patients?

In-hospital AKI is now considered a patient safety thermometer and marker of inpatient care. Hence the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK mandates the reporting of in-hospital AKI to the UK Renal Registry.

Early identification of actual and potential warning stage test results of AKI helps front-line workers make early interventions to prevent further deterioration.

In addition, the development of clinical de-

cision support tools, like hyperkalemia management order sets, will help a non-expert promptly initiate the initial management, improving patient outcomes.

At a macro level, studying the AKI data from in-hospital AKI longitudinally will help health care organizations tailor their renal services to support areas of need. This includes supporting outlier areas with extra support in terms of education and resources to help improve health care outcomes.

How can this system reduce the mortality rate due to AKI in intensive care?

The goal of digitizing the complete AKI detection and management pipeline is to prevent deterioration patients from requiring intensive care by early identification and institution of interventions. In those patients who are on RRT in the ICU, delivering the prescribed CRRT dose requires a system that allows standardization of practices to improve filter running times and delivered dose. The goal is to optimize and standardize CRRT care to eliminate waste in the process and reduce variability as a means to improve patient safety.

Multiple studies have shown a very strong association between AKI and consequent septic shock and mortality in adults and children. Early detection is key for survival; how does this system help in early detection?

Renal dysfunction is a significant component in most severity scores used to assess critically-ill patients, like MELD-Na for acute liver injury, APACHE and SOFA score for patients in intensive care units . Moreover, in-hospital AKI is increasingly considered as an early marker of the deteriorating patient.

The assessment of the severity of AKI is based on the rise of creatinine from the patient’s baseline. By building the NHS e-alert algorithm in our version of the Cerner EHR – the first in the Middle East – we aid the early detection of the significant rise of creatinine.

This helps the institution of early interventions and the development of dedicated care bundles, which will help improve care. Part of the

WE HAVE RECENTLY LAUNCHED AN ELECTRONIC CRRT PRESCRIPTION IN SSMC TO STREAMLINE PRACTICES THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE FILTER RUNNING TIMES, ENHANCE DELIVERED CRRT DOSES AND REDUCE INVENTORY COSTS.

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work that has gone on in our EHR is to develop specific order sets, which help with the diagnosis of common renal problems associated with AKI-like hyponatremia.

There is also an exciting research project currently underway in Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) to study the population who develop AKI in our hospital in partnership with Khalifa University and Mohammed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. The study aims to better understand the unique challenges we have in our region with its unique demographics. In addition, we have secured a research support to develop an AI-based decision support tool, RenAIssance, which aims to help a non-expert with the assessment of water balance and kidney perfusion to prevent kidney injury, using a handheld ultrasound with an embedded AI algorithm.

To what extent can this step minimize the burden of chronic diseases such as kidney diseases? And how?

This region is seeing an exponential rise in patients who develop the end-stage renal disease (ESRD). One of the risk factors for developing ESRD is recurrent AKI episodes. By developing a database of those at risk of frequent AKI, like those with cardio-renal syndromes, extra attention could be given to these patients minimizing the risk of ESRD. This will include developing an integrated workstream with interdisciplinary collaborations to focus on preventing future deteriorations and early interventions.

At a macro level, the UAE Department of Health can also study the trends of AKI and chronic kidney disease (CKD) by leveraging big data stored in the health information exchange – Malaffi (Arabic for ‘my file’) – to develop targeted performance indicators and policies to encourage early detection. In addition to focusing on issues around perioperative AKI and diabetic kidney care management to slow down the burgeoning epidemic of ESRD.

Through this project and other similar ones, how can Cerner implement the vision and strategy of the UAE

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government and rulers to use the power of artificial intelligence (AI)?

One of the visionary strategic initiatives enacted by the UAE government is the digitalization of health care records of all residents in the country, which is now connected to Malaffi.

The same informed decisions facilitated through Malaffi can also be made at a macro level by a machine learning (ML) algorithm to recognize patterns of deterioration by studying a patient’s data longitudinally and the big data which has now been created right here in UAE to predict those at risk of progression to ESRD. Developing ML and AI tools trained on representative data reflecting the unique demographics are more likely to be clinically relevant and impactful.

To this end, there has been a strategic investment by the leadership of UAE to foster the creation of a bio-health cluster around SSMC in Khalifa University, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, and New York University Abu Dhabi, which are attracting the best talents from across the world.

In addition, the availability of cloud-based computing in EHRs and developing telehealth solutions catering to local cultural sensitivities can help radically transform the care in the UAE.

How is technology changing kidney care in the UAE? In the last four years, while spearheading the digitalization of renal care in SEHA, we digitalized the whole AKI management pipeline, most recently the CRRT prescription.

In doing so, we have created a unique structured big data capability that has been unknown in our area of the world until now. And when you create the digital infrastructure, the highways, and airports of the 21st century, then research investment will come.

Recently, in partnership with a leading AI medical device company, SSMC has launched the UAE and the region’s first point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) academy dedicated to the use of ultrasound to assess the hemodynamic circuit, filling a much-needed educational gap in the country and the region. We have also secured a

THERE HAS BEEN A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT BY THE LEADERSHIP OF UAE TO FOSTER THE CREATION OF A BIOHEALTH CLUSTER AROUND SSMC IN KHALIFA UNIVERSITY, MOHAMED BIN ZAYED UNIVERSITY OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND NEW YORK UNIVERSITY ABU DHABI, WHICH ARE ATTRACTING THE BEST TALENTS FROM ACROSS THE WORLD.

INTERVIEW

commitment for one more academic project to bringing state-of-art renal training to the Middle East. All this was made possible by digitalizing renal care in SSMC. The modern EHR is much more than an electronic version of a medical record – it is the engine that drives operations, clinical excellence, and academic growth.

At SSMC, we are thankful to the SEHA IT team with the support of the Cerner team, for being involved in planning, building, and testing all the digital tools we have developed over the last four years to improve renal care.

This digital infrastructure which is now embedded in our EHR is going to be the foundation for the augmented intelligence platform which aims to enhance medical decision-making

and help improve in-hospital AKI outcomes.

RenAIssance was selected by the UAE Ministry of Economy in a recently organized Hackathon to help develop solutions that will help tackle global problems with new technologies.

A health care organization that embraces technology and has a system thinking approach will benefit not just the patients but also foster innovation to support the health care system in the country.

We are thankful to the wise and nurturing leadership at SSMC who are supporting all these projects to add value not just to our organization but also to contribute to the development of the UAE health care sector and help accelerate our vision to make SSMC a destination medical and academic center.

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Medical Colleges

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Medical Colleges

Medical Colleges Innovative Medical educational programs

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he Arab world has managed to establish universities and colleges to study medicine according to the latest and most developed educational curricula. The Gulf Countries and the Middle East have attracted prestigious universities that are keen to provide students with a set of skills while urging them to develop their talents in various fields, which led to raising the level of higher education in the region.

The medical student in the countries of the region no longer needs to go through the hassle of traveling to European and American countries in order to study medicine and receive a degree certificate. This is all thanks to the universities’ exchange relationships and cooperation both at the level of educational staff and scientific research. The exchange of experience completely benefits the student as if he was traveling to study abroad.

Agreements with educational institutions from all over the world have been concluded to establish branches that provide medical students with equal opportunities with the same level of competence and quality of education without the need to travel abroad.

THE PROFESSION OF MEDICINE REQUIRES CONTINUOUS FOLLOW-UP ON THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THIS FIELD IN ORDER TO BENEFIT THE PATIENT AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.

permanent development and keeping abreast of the major global achievements, in addition to honing and developing the educational, training, administrative and leadership skills among faculty members.

Medical colleges in the region are making exceptional efforts to enhance optional training opportunities for students through bilateral agreements with hospitals and training centers, whether inside or outside the country, in addition to activating the students’ academic guidance program and developing mechanisms through which students are encouraged to carry out scientific research given its great importance in the student’s educational journey. All this is based on the medical colleges’ awareness of the importance of creating a correct educational environment that can promote the student’s medical studies.

Medical colleges have managed to create a healthy educational environment that boosts creativity and hones mental skills by adopting advanced educational curricula aimed at developing thinking, promoting a culture of scientific research, including scientific research skills in the curriculum, all while enhancing students’ extracurricular capabilities.

Honing Students’ Skills Medical colleges in the Arab world have set a clear goal, which is to provide students with the necessary skills and medical competence to be able to practice the profession according to the highest quality standards and based on clear foundations in terms of education and vocational training in line with international standards.

Today, they were able to provide an educational environment that allows graduates to practice their medical specialty efficiently and with utmost sincerity. Moreover, scientific research is fundamental and has a key role in developing the student’s capabilities in his professional future, based on the principle of

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Medical Colleges

Governments and medical schools have allocated huge budgets to establish a strong presence in the academic scene. Today, they are making exceptional efforts in order to graduate distinguished doctors who have the ability to meet the requirements of any society in which they are located, whether locally or globally.

The latest education curricula Medical colleges in the Arab world work according to the latest education curricula with the aim of graduating professional doctors who are capable of treating all diseases, while taking into account the continuing medical education and the need to actively follow up on the latest developments in this field through medical curricula that meet the modern need for scientific development.

Besides their advanced curricula, medical colleges in the Arab world follow professional ethics and morals that elevate the relationship between the doctor and the patient, while being committed to providing medical care according to scientific and professional foundations, which also promotes the student’s professional competence.

Continuing Medical Education The profession of medicine requires continuous follow-up on the latest developments in this

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MEDICAL COLLEGES IN THE ARAB WORLD HAVE SET A CLEAR GOAL, WHICH IS TO PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND MEDICAL COMPETENCE TO BE ABLE TO PRACTICE THE PROFESSION ACCORDING TO THE HIGHEST QUALITY STANDARDS AND BASED ON CLEAR FOUNDATIONS IN TERMS OF EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS.

field in order to benefit the patient and society as a whole. Thus, the idea of Continuing ​​ Medical Education emerged, where the student should attend conferences and seminars as well as participate in training workshops in order to stay on top of the latest developments.

Continuing medical education contributes to maintaining the capabilities and medical skills of both students and employees. It also helps them to generate new knowledge and learn new methods of care. CME activities include scientific meetings, workshops, publishing scientific papers, medical audio and video, and online medical courses.

The Gulf Countries and the Middle East have always been aware of the importance of continuing medical education, whether for students or for professionals and medical staff.

CME is an urgent necessity and one of the main elements of sustainable development; this prompted governments and ministries of health to enact laws in this regard that define the credit hour system for license renewal to practice the profession, whether for doctors, medical staff or medical students. All this aims to improve their medical knowledge and skills in order to keep pace with the latest developments in their field of work. This is a compelling need that serves all healthcare workers and organizations around the world.

ARTICLE FEATURES . Living with Heart Failure

Living with Heart Failure Is it possible to lead a normal life?

H

eart failure is a common disease globally, where patients face many challenges and burdens, but awareness and advanced treatments have helped reduce mortality rates and hospital admissions. Today, heart failure patients can lead a better life thanks to the available comprehensive treatments that may help them go for several years without having a relapse if they get committed to a healthy lifestyle. This led to a qualitative leap in the field of heart failure care.

The specialized cardiology centers and departments that have been expanding recently adopt a multidisciplinary principle to help improve the care of heart patients and focus

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HEART CENTERS AND DEPARTMENTS OFFER INTEGRATED TREATMENT PROGRAMS THAT INCLUDE THE LATEST DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT METHODS, AS WELL AS AWARENESS, EDUCATION AND PRIMARY CARE.

not only on treatment but also on awareness, education, primary care and prevention.

These departments include a select group of specialized consultants and nursing staff that have been trained to deal with such cases. We also focus on educating the medical staff about the best methods in treating heart diseases and keeping abreast of the developments in this field in order to provide the correct treatment protocols and adopt the latest treatment technologies used globally.

Specialized cardiology clinics and departments offer special programs to provide advanced diagnosis for heart failure in line with international recommendations to put the patient on the right track for treatment through

ARTICLE FEATURES . Living with Heart Failure

an integrated multidisciplinary approach that combines primary care and drug treatment to prevent the condition from worsening, in addition to providing awareness and education to help the patient live well with his disease.

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should. When this happens, blood often backs up and fluid can build up in the lungs, causing shortness of breath. Certain heart conditions, such as narrowed arteries in the heart (coronary artery disease) or high blood pressure, gradually leave the heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump blood properly. Heart failure develops when the contracting or the relaxing action of the heart is inadequate, typically because the heart muscle is weak, stiff, or both. As a result, blood may not flow out in adequate amounts. Blood may also build up in the tissues, causing congestion.

That is why heart failure is sometimes known as congestive heart failure.

If the kidneys do not get enough blood, they produce less urine, so fluid builds up in the body.

This extra fluid makes your heart work harder, thus, heart failure increases, and symptoms and complications become more severe.

The most common symptoms of heart failure are breathlessness – this may occur after activity or at rest; it may be worse when lying down. Fatigue is another symptom and you may feel tired most of the time and find exercise exhausting. Swollen ankles and legs that is caused by a build-up of fluid, it may be better in the morning and get worse later in the day.

PRIMARY CARE, AWARENESS AND DRUG TREATMENT ARE STEPS TO PREVENT THE CONDITION FROM WORSENING, SO THAT THE PATIENT CAN LIVE WELL WITH THE DISEASE.

between check-ups according to the patient’s condition.

Managing stress is good for your health and well-being. Negative psychological health / mental health is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Maintaining a positive attitude and figuring out how to deal with stress is a very important step. Identify sources of stress in your life and look for ways to reduce and manage them. Emotional stress that goes unrecognized or untreated can raise blood pressure and exacerbate coronary artery disease, both of which worsen heart failure.

A healthy diet is fundamental as it increases the effectiveness of the treatments. If you're overweight, losing the excess pounds will put less strain on your heart. Adopting a hearthealthy diet reduces blood vessel inflammation that often contributes to heart disease. Cutting back on salt is also key to managing cardiac problems and preventing fluid retention.

Living with heart failure requires some health changes. Changing bad eating habits greatly increases the patient's ability to live with his disease. A healthy eating plan lowers your risk for heart disease; avoiding saturated fats, sugar and salt protects the heart from diabetes, high blood pressure and other heart diseases. Exposure to smoke causes damage to your blood vessels, including the coronary arteries. If you smoke, it is critical to your health that you quit.

Coping with Heart Failure Heart failure does not mean that the heart has stopped. It means that the heart cannot keep up with the work required to pump adequate blood to all parts of the body. Therefore, cardiologists assure their patients that coping with heart failure is not impossible, but it can be achieved if the patient follows some steps.

Changing bad eating habits significantly increases a patient's ability to live with heart failure.

The most important step is to stick to the treatments and doses as determined by the doctor, while having regular follow-ups, provided that the doctor determines the timeframe

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Living with Heart Failure

Regular, moderate exercise can improve overall cardiovascular health and reduce strain on your heart. It improves the way your body uses oxygen and has the most impact on your heart health.

The heart failure patient should have regular blood pressure readings that will help him and his doctor notice any changes and keep blood pressure at a normal level in order to prevent its negative impact on the patient’s health.

Modern Treatments Heart patients are the most fortunate today because of the development of treatments.

There are available advanced and effective medicines that help reduce the progression of the disease and the deterioration of the condition; they also help keep symptoms under control, especially if some major lifestyle changes are made.

Today's advanced treatments are the result of the specialized companies’ cooperation with cardiologists who are primarily concerned with dealing with patients in clinics due to their role in conveying the clinically correct picture of how to address the burden of the disease. This patient-centered approach has led to new treatment options based on a scientific approach to disease management and treatment.

The goals of treating heart failure are to try to keep it from getting worse - lowering the risk of death and the need for hospitalization, to ease symptoms, and to improve quality of life.

Heart failure is caused by many conditions that damage the heart muscle, including conditions that overwork the heart. Conditions including high blood pressure, valve disease, thyroid disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or heart defects present at birth can all cause heart failure. In addition, heart failure can happen when several diseases or conditions are present at once. Determining and following the appropriate treatment for the medical condition helps improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure. On the other hand, the doctor can treat the underlying cause of heart failure, such as repairing one of the heart valves or managing the rapid heart rate, which are steps that can treat heart failure.

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SURGERY OR OTHER PROCEDURES TO IMPLANT CARDIAC DEVICES MAY BE RECOMMENDED TO TREAT THE UNDERLYING PROBLEM THAT LED TO HEART FAILURE. SURGERY OR OTHER PROCEDURES FOR HEART FAILURE MAY INCLUDE HEART VALVE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT, IMPLANTABLE CARDIOVERTERDEFIBRILLATORS (ICDS), CORONARY BYPASS SURGERY, AMONG OTHERS.

Doctors usually treat heart failure with a combination of medications. Depending on your symptoms, you might take one or more medications, including Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors that relax blood vessels to lower blood pressure, improve blood flow and decrease the strain on the heart. Angiotensin II receptor blockers, Beta blockers that slow your heart rate and reduce blood pressure.

Beta blockers may reduce signs and symptoms of heart failure, improve heart function, and help you live longer. In addition, doctors may prescribe diuretics that make you urinate more frequently and keep fluid from collecting in your body. They also decrease fluid in your lungs so you can breathe more easily. If you're taking a diuretic, your doctor will likely monitor levels of potassium and magnesium in your blood through regular blood tests.

Surgery or other procedures to implant cardiac devices may be recommended to treat the underlying problem that led to heart failure.

Surgery or other procedures for heart failure may include heart valve repair or replacement, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), coronary bypass surgery, among others.

‫ﻣـﺮﻛـﺰ ا ﻫـﻠـﻲ ﻟﻠـﻘـﻠـﺐ‬ Al-Ahli Heart Center

Deep from the heart, just be happy..

Al-Ahli Hospital perform a number of a successful open Heart surgery.

Cardio vascular Surgery is a surgical procedures of the heart, and vessels arteries and veins).

• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (GABG) surgery.

• Mitral valve replacement and reconstructive surgery.

• Aortic valve replacement and reconstructive surgery.

• Septal Defects surgery.

• Pericardial surgery.

adv no. 8/5/2018

#HOSPOTEL

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#HOSPOTEL

Hospotel Recruitment and Insurance For a better hospital and hospitality experience

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ately, the concept of healthcare has significantly developed; this development was not limited to the upgrade of the concepts and methods of medicine, nor to the adoption of newer methods and techniques, achieving better performance and getting more accurate results.

It rather transformed the goal of hospital service that is now similar to a hotel service. This aims to achieve health safety first, then the patient's well-being while meeting the requirements of some special hospital cases. Hospitalization is no longer a treatment for a specific pain, a wound, or a health condition, however, it is now a broader and more comprehensive concept that allows patients to receive treatment, while being psychologically and morally comfortable. This proved to be fundamental in improving public health and patient satisfaction.

Medicine has dramatically developed over the centuries, starting with an initial diagnosis based on the wisdom of the treating person who was not a physician at the time, as well as traditional treatments in the absence of pharmaceutical industries, scientific laboratories, and others.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, things began to improve, as life expectancy of a wealthy individual was 52 years. In addition, a series of discoveries emerged, namely, Louis Pasteur, who in 1864, proved that germs cause diseases, as well as Robert Koch's discovery of different types of bacteria, and that malaria is spread to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes.

In 1798, the discovery of vaccines began, when Edward Jenner realized that a milkmaid infected with cowpox would not subsequently get smallpox. Cowpox caused a mild infection, and so the first live vaccine was found. In 1847, the discovery of anesthesia was also a milestone, as James Young Simpson discovered the anesthetic properties of chloroform and pioneered its application in surgery and midwifery, which led to a high surgical success rates. Also, the discovery of X-rays in 1895 helped doctors diagnose

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TWENTYFIRST CENTURY, HOSPOTELS BEGAN TO SPREAD QUICKLY IN ORDER TO PROVIDE THE PATIENT WITH BETTER SERVICE, GREATER WELLBEING AND HIGHER LEVEL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL COMFORT, AFTER STUDIES PROVED THE IMPORTANCE OF A DISTINGUISHED AND LUXURIOUS SERVICE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE PATIENT’S HEALTH AND PSYCHOLOGICAL COMFORT.

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#HOSPOTEL

and determine treatment. By the 1890s, sterile surgeries such as appendectomy were regularly performed, gloves were used, and doctors sanitized their hands prior to surgeries.

In the twentieth century, the average life expectancy of the individual rose to 73 years for men, and 78 years for women. Science and medicine made great strides, including the invention of the first practical electrocardiograph (ECG or EKG) by the Dutch doctor Willem Einthoven, in addition to Karl Landsteiner's discovery of the four blood groups in 1901. The two scientists, Chain and Florey, discovered penicillin in the 1930s, following in the footsteps of Alexander Fleming. The Human Genome Project was started in the 1990s, with the goal of sequencing and identifying all base pairs in the human genetic instruction set. In 1978, the first test-tube baby was born. Many health and social security laws have also been developed to protect the rights of workers, children, the elderly, the poor, pregnant women, etc.

Recruitment and H ospitality Professionals This development is accelerating with the expansion of science, the increase in discoveries and the creation of methods that are serving the health and well-being of patients. In fact, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, hospotels began to spread quickly in order to provide the patient with better service, greater well-being and higher level of psychological comfort, after studies proved the importance of a distinguished and luxurious service and its impact on the patient’s health and psychological comfort.

Not only did hospitals adopt design features of hotels to provide patients with spacious rooms, beautiful views, and luxurious reception areas, in addition to a hotel service in terms of room arrangement, patient service and adoption of the appropriate equipment, but also began to implement that even more in human resources. For instance, the medical staff recruitment was limited to doctors, nurses, administrators and workers, but with the expansion of the new concept, it started including specialists in hotel management and hospitality services in order to take over the reception and service operations in

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HOSPOTEL SERVICES ARE NOT LIMITED TO GOOD HOSPITALITY AND DECENT SERVICE, BUT THE INSURANCE COVERAGE ALSO STARTED LOOKING TO PROVIDE NEW SERVICES FOR PATIENTS IN THIS TYPE OF HOSPITAL.

specific locations. According to what specialists in this field say, this development is not a mere detail in the hospital service transformation process. It comes to complement the major transformation process on the one hand, and to raise the level of welfare in the hospital service on the other hand. Accordingly, hospitals began requesting this type of specialization and cooperating with hospitality schools just as they deal with nursing institutes. Specialists expect this cooperation to bring about the required shift for hospitals seeking to transform into hospotels.

Over time, the hospital will become a hotel in every sense of the word, welcoming patients as its guests. Studies in more than one region around the world have proven that hospotel patients recover more quickly and are more satisfied than patients in regular hospitals, no matter how well-organized and upscale the services are. Also, the hospitalization cost, which some patients expect to be higher due to the available services and equipment used, is in fact less for the patient when compared to the faster recovery and shorter hospital stay.

#HOSPOTEL

Health insurance also has its share Hospotel services are not limited to good hospitality and decent service, but the insurance coverage also started looking to provide new services for patients in this type of hospital.

As these patients are generally well off, they demand the utmost levels of psychological and physical comfort. Hence, insurance companies are examining the provision of insurance coverage and service commensurate with the requirements of this patient category.

Many insurance company managers explain that the goal is to ensure the best service for their customers, in other words, providing them with top-notch healthcare in the most prestigious and comfortable hospitals, and hospotels are the first to provide that. We guide them towards these hospitals as we are confident enough that they will receive the required care and will be completely satisfied with it. This satisfaction, in turn, increases the number of customers and our returns, which we repurpose to improve insurance coverage. They add that the establishment of several hotel-like floors in hospitals, including the allocation of royal suites, golden suites, and special single rooms for inpatient accommodation, has become more prevalent than before and more requested by patients. This encourages insurance companies to keep pace with it and provide the appropriate insurance services for its customers.

HOSPOTELS ARE NOT MERE LUXURY. TODAY, THEY HAVE BECOME A HOSPITAL SECTOR THAT IS SPREAD ALL OVER THE WORLD, IS EXPANDING EVERY DAY AND IS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY DEVELOPED IN THE FUTURE.

increase the hospitals’ operational rates and achieve optimal utilization of their resources.

In addition, it enhances the public and private authorities’ own resources, and contributes to the upgrade and continuous development of services in accordance with the latest quality standards and global health practices.

Health authorities in countries such as the Gulf States, Jordan, Egypt and others are moving forward in completing their plans to implement hospotel services, given the unique tourism potential and their appropriate nature that contribute to achieving the strategy of bringing patients from abroad to receive treatment in their hospitals as well as provide various medical packages for their medical care during their hospital stay. Some countries established special suites at airports to receive incoming medical patients, following up with them until they are dropped off in the finest hospotels, where they are provided with an excellent hotel service and appropriate medical treatment.

In fact, hospotels are not mere luxury.

Today, they have become a hospital sector that is spread all over the world, is expanding every day and is expected to be significantly developed in the future.

Hotel Service and Medical Tourism Many Arab countries adopted strategies and plans to activate the medical tourism, as they focused on implementing the hotel services program in their hospitals, in line with the trend of revitalizing the medical tourism in most countries around the world. This includes competition in attracting patients by providing the best medical and therapeutic services in hospitals, in line with their strategies to be at the forefront of the global medical tourism map. The first brands that contribute to the marketing of these products and services have been launched. The goal is to take maximum advantage of the healthcare facilities’ physical and human capabilities in attracting patients coming from abroad for treatment, which will

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ARTICLE FEATURES . Hospital Customer Service

Hospital Customer Service A patient-centered care

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atient service is key in healthcare in any medical facility. A good patient experience can greatly improve his quality of life, which is the cornerstone of the hospital’s success. Accordingly, enhancing the patient's quality of life and focusing on how to improve the medical service provided to him is fundamental to achieving satisfaction.

Customer service in any facility, whatever the nature of its work, is very important. However, it is paramount in medical facilities, therefore, regional hospitals and medical institutions were keen to provide the finest humanitarian and medical services. A nice smile, a gentle touch, and simple gestures are all essential factors in healthcare.

Patient-centered care is the basis of our work and its primary goal and benefit is to improve individual health outcomes. Focusing on the patient is the way to enhance work efficiency in the hospital and improve its reputation. The hospital must combine modern technology and the human touch in order to improve the patient experience.

The medical services provided are divided into two parts: high-quality medical service, as well as luxurious amenities and hospitality that ensure patient comfort. In the past years, many hospitals splurged heavily to improve their ser-

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IN ORDER TO MEET OR EXCEED THE PATIENTS’ EXPECTATIONS, EVERY HOSPITAL EMPLOYEE HAS TO PLAY THEIR PART IN PROVIDING A PATIENT-CENTERED CUSTOMER SERVICE.

vices and develop the skills of their employees on how to serve customers, whether in nursing and healthcare or in hospitality and personal care. Every hospital worker, no matter his position, must be fully aware that he is providing a service to patients and his daily activities should focus on improving the quality of care provided to them. Patients who were happy to deal with the medical and nursing staff and who have received full attention and care, will definitely return again to the same hospital, should the need arise. Not only that, but they will speak positively about the hospital among family and friends.

Thus, word spread fast about the hospital’s excellent reputation, which will have a positive impact in the long run.

One of the elements of patient service and achieving patient satisfaction is complete medical data and records that reduce errors and give the doctor the necessary information about his patients and their medical history, so he can easily make accurate diagnostic and treatment recommendations.

The importance of customer service to patients The patient does not seek healthcare services while he is in good health, however, he

ARTICLE FEATURES . Hospital Customer Service

needs them during his illness and hardship. He often feels anxious and tense about his health condition when waiting for results or when feeling severe pain. In such difficult situations, the only thing the patient wants is a human gesture and compassion to make him feel better.

After his hospital admission, the patient expects more than a mere treatment, he is rather looking for care and safety that should be provided by hospitals in order to improve patient satisfaction. Hospital administrations in the Gulf States are well aware of the importance of this step and put it at the top of their concerns so that they treat the patient as a family member.

Patients have some basic expectations from the hospital, including good medical care, a comfortable and safe atmosphere, caring and compassionate staff, accurate and well-maintained patient records with utmost data privacy, in addition to efficient and time-saving operations.

Patients also look for a streamlined communication with healthcare providers by answering their questions, reassuring them about their health condition, and providing them with help and assistance when needed without complaining. For instance, if the patient experienced some fears about his eating / sleep patterns, or physical activity, he can be reassured by calling the doctor that will give him some instructions and will guide him to implement them in order to feel comfortable and calm. To meet and exceed patient expectations, every hospital employee has to fulfill his duties in providing a patient-centered customer service.

Steps to improve patient experience in the hospital In fact, the patient experience from admission to discharge includes many interactions between the patient and healthcare providers. The more valuable these interactions, the happier and more satisfied the patient will be.

Among the things that the patient looks for are the services provided by this facility, in addition to following up on their reviews, advertisements and referrals from care providers.

Therefore, leaving a good impact among patients has positive consequences in the long run, in addition to the marketing department’s

THE HOSPITAL MUST COMBINE MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND THE HUMAN TOUCH IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE.

Patients may reach out to your clinic through various channels like phone calls, email, social media, etc. Therefore, it is important for the doctor to interact with them on these channels especially after what the world has been through in the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the trend towards remote medical consultations.

role in publishing the hospital’s achievements and contributions, as well as the most important medical work of its doctors and surgeons.

Appointment scheduling is typically the first active engagement between the patient and a healthcare company. During this interaction, the company often collects basic information about the patient and his or her healthcare needs. With this information, the provider is able to perform an initial assessment of urgency and schedule an appointment for the patient.

Healthcare organizations can improve the scheduling experience by minimizing wait times to talk to a scheduling agent, reducing the time taken to capture patient data, having accurate and up-to-date scheduling data that identifies the most convenient time to schedule the appointment, and providing appointment confirmations, instructions, and reminders via email or text messages prior to the appointment.

The patient's first doctor’s visit is in fact the first personal interaction between him and the hospital, and this would either leave a positive or negative impression, depending on how the patient was received in addition to the efficiency of check-ins and waiting time to see the doctor. The cumbersome nature of the data collection process and the wait time for a provider heavily affect the patient’s impressions. Hence, the hospital management should be fully aware of the importance of hiring a specialized staff to receive patients professionally while being compassionate, which will make them repeat their visit.

Many healthcare experiences require more than one activity and often more than one appointment. Thus, customer impressions are based on their holistic, end-to-end experience.

Healthcare companies can improve this part of the customer service experience by optimizing how referrals and transfers to other providers are performed. Customer service systems can provide practitioners with the tools and right data to locate referral resources, make appointments on behalf of the customer, and submit orders for tests. This helps the patient feel the healthcare company is concerned about their overall health and is not just treating them as a business transaction.

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ARTICLE

Sinus Headaches

By Dr. Aref Awa, Head of ENT Department at Al-AhliHospital / Qatar

S

inus headaches occur when the sinus passages behind the eye, nose, cheeks and forehead are congested. Headaches or pressure can be felt on both sides of your head and anywhere in the sinus area.

Sinus headaches can occur seasonally if you suffer from allergies, or sometimes only when sinuses are stimulated for another reason. It is easy to confuse migraine with sinus headaches because the signs and symptoms of these two types of headaches overlap. As with sinus headaches, migraine pain worsens when bending forward, and migraines can be accompanied by many nasal signs and symptoms - including congestion, facial pressure and fluid secretions from the nose.

In fact, studies have shown that about 90 percent of people who visit the doctor because of sinus headaches show that they suffer from a half headache. However, sinus headache is usually not associated with nausea or vomiting or exacerbated by noise or bright light.

Signs and symptoms of sinus headaches may include: •

•

• • • • • • •

Pain and pressure in the cheeks, eyebrows or forehead, and the pain worsens when bending forward or lying down.

Excretion from the nose tends to be yellow and green and mixed with blood.

Stuffy nose.

Sore throat Fever.

Coughing.

Fatigue.

A feeling of alignment in the upper teeth.

Poor ability to smell or taste.

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Causes and risk factors for sinus headaches Sinus headache is accompanied by sinusitis, a condition in which the membranes that line the sinuses become swollen and inflamed.

Sinusitis can be caused by colds, viral or bacterial infections, weakened immune system, or structural problems in the nasal cavity. You may be more at risk if you suffer from the following: • Asthma.

• Nasal diet.

• Allergies to dust or mold.

• Weakness of the immune system.

• Exposure to pollutants, such as airborne chemicals.

• A pathological condition that affects the way mucus moves inside the respiratory system, such as cystic fibrosis.

• Exposure to irritants, such as cigarette smoke.

Diagnosis of sinus headache It can be difficult to determine the cause of the headache. The doctor will ask you about the headache you are experiencing and will request a physical examination. Be sure to mention if you recently had a cold, have any allergies or you are smoking, factors that contribute to acute sinusitis. Your doctor may take one of these tests to determine the severity of sinusitis: • Rhinoscopy, to examine the nasal passages.

• Examination of mucus, to check for evidence of viral or bacterial infection.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE DOCTOR BECAUSE OF SINUS HEADACHES SHOW THAT THEY SUFFER FROM A HALF HEADACHE. HOWEVER, SINUS HEADACHE IS USUALLY NOT ASSOCIATED WITH NAUSEA OR VOMITING OR EXACERBATED BY NOISE OR BRIGHT LIGHT.

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•

Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests.

Treatment of sinus headaches •

•

•

Description of antibiotics. However, antibiotics will not help with the most widespread viral sinusitis, which usually occurs after upper respiratory tract infection. Be sure to complete the prescribed treatment, even if the signs and symptoms disappear before you finish taking all the pills and capsules.

Nasal sprays or cortical steroid pills if sinusitis is related to inflammation or allergies. With the treatment of sinus infection, sinus headaches should disappear. At the same time, painkillers, decongestants and nasal sprays containing saline may help you feel better, and drinking plenty of fluids may also help.

Nasal cavity wash with saline solution, where quenching the nose may help shrink the sinus membranes and increase drainage. Many groups of solutions for quenching the nose are available without a prescription.

When is the resort to surgical correction?

If the structural problem in your nasal cavity is the cause of sinusitis or sinus headache, surgical correction may be recommended. Sinus headache is a common disease in winter. It is a headache caused by sinus infections.

It occurs when the membranes lining the sinuses are swollen, causing pressure in the area around the eyes as well as the cheeks and forehead.

The severity of this headache ranges from normal to severe pain.

Finally, soaps and water can help avoid upper respiratory tract infections that can lead to sinusitis, and you may need to consult your doctor about the flu vaccine.

Also, avoid smoking and passive smoking, these and other air pollutants can cause the sinus membranes to swell. Using a humidity adjuster may benefit you, but it should not be excessive. High humidity indoors can increase the growth of mold and dust moth at home, and make sure that the humidity adjuster is clean and preserved without mould.

WITH THE TREATMENT OF SINUS INFECTION, SINUS HEADACHES SHOULD DISAPPEAR. AT THE SAME TIME, PAINKILLERS, DECONGESTANTS AND NASAL SPRAYS CONTAINING SALINE MAY HELP YOU FEEL BETTER, AND DRINKING PLENTY OF FLUIDS MAY ALSO HELP.

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MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS

Healing Children’s Hearts: A depth of experience at ACIBADEM 30 years of experience, 15.000 patients, more than 95% success rates AT ACIBADEM, ADVANCED INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURES ARE PERFORMED

BY HIGHLY EXPERIENCED PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGISTS WITH HIGH SUCCESS RATES.

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perating on a heart the size of a walnut is an ultimate challenge in surgery. And yet, there are many conditions that may require cardiac surgery in childhood. In fact, heart problems are quite common in newborns: nearly 1 in every 100 live births comes with any congenital heart defect. There are more than 200 forms of congenital heart disorders, and some of them are mild while others are life-threatening. One in three of them needs treatment or surgery within the first days of life. In the past, a baby coming to life with a serious cardiac malformation had a slight chance of survival.

Nowadays, the prognosis for people with congenital heart diseases has improved dramatically due to developments in medicine and technology. Advanced surgical techniques can restore normal heart functions and ensure a healthy life for more than 90% of the affected children. ACIBADEM Children’s Heart Center is one of those that change the trends in pediatric cardiac care. It is home to some of the most distinguished specialists in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery in Turkey and the region. With a cumulative experience of more than 15.000 pediatric heart patients from all over the world, they are able to provide diagnosis and treatment

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options for the entire spectrum of cardiac conditions, even in the most complex cases.

Advanced diagnostic tools for detection of heart abnormalities Heart disorders in children might be inborn or acquired later in life. Congenital heart defects are the most common diseases seen in infants and the most common type of birth defect.

They emerge during the development of the fetus in the mother’s womb.

Severe abnormalities in heart function may require immediate intervention, and therefore, early detection is crucial for survival. Advanced technological diagnostic tools are used at ACIBADEM to determine the correct diagnosis.

Electrocardiography (ECG), Chest X-ray, Echocardiography, Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE), Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography (CT) are diagnostic methods that are mainly used for patients with pediatric heart diseases. A major improvement in recent years is the chance of diagnosing heart defects before birth, thanks to the improved prenatal imaging technologies. Fetal echocardiography is a simple, non-invasive diagnostic method similar to ultrasonography, and it can be used after the 16th gestational week

WHEN SURGERY IS REQUIRED, THE LATEST TECHNIQUES AND TECHNOLOGIES COME TO HELP. AT ACIBADEM CHILDREN’S HEART CENTER, ALL TYPES OF PEDIATRIC CARDIAC OPERATIONS ARE PERFORMED ROUTINELY, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON COMPLEX CONGENITAL AND NEONATAL HEART SURGERIES.

MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS of pregnancy. It allows a detailed examination of the baby’s heart while it is still in the womb, without any harm for the mother or the baby.

If any problem is identified, the experienced medical team is well prepared even before birth with a treatment plan in place.

Full range of pediatric heart care and advanced surgical options Some heart defects in children can be treated without surgery. Cardiac catheterization is another field in progress over the last few years.

It allows solving some structural heart defects by transcatheter approach instead of traditional operation. Interventional procedures eliminate the need for open surgery. Narrowed veins or arteries can be opened up with balloon angioplasty; openings between the heart’s chambers can be closed, and even pulmonary valves can be replaced using special devices. At ACIBADEM, advanced interventional procedures are performed by highly experienced pediatric cardiologists with high success rates. Whenever possible, they choose minimally invasive approaches to reduce pain, recovery period and hospital stay for the little patients.

When surgery is required, the latest techniques and technologies come to help. At ACIBADEM Children’s Heart Center, all types of pediatric cardiac operations are performed routinely, with a special focus on complex congenital and neonatal heart surgeries. Open or closed, as well as minimally invasive methods are applied depending on specific patient cases.

Sophisticated tech equipment supports the physicians for the best possible outcomes. In certain patients, heart anomalies can be eliminated through robotic surgery as well. After surgery, children are admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, equipped with the latest systems available to be monitored and cared for by highly experienced specialists and nurses.

cialized facilities deliver the best outcomes for children with heart disorders. The pediatric heart care teams located at ACIBADEM Bakirkoy and ACIBADEM Atakent hospitals in Istanbul involve experienced physicians in pediatric cardiology, pediatric cardiovascular surgery, anesthesia and intensive care, cardiac imaging and radiology, neonatology and rehabilitation. They have all devoted years of efforts to understand better the specific physical and emotional needs of little heart patients. Treating more than 600 patients from many countries around the world every year, including cases deemed too complex for other heart centers, they have accumulated a depth of knowledge and experience. It results in a success rate of more than 95%, including complex cases.

CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION IS ANOTHER FIELD IN PROGRESS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS. IT ALLOWS SOLVING SOME STRUCTURAL HEART DEFECTS BY TRANSCATHETER APPROACH INSTEAD OF TRADITIONAL OPERATION.

Abdulla Hamed Altaey from Bahrain, a little hero with a big heart Hi, my name is Abdulla Hamed Altaey, I am a 7-year-old great hero from Bahrain. I was born with several critical congenital heart defects.

First, I was diagnosed with Double Outlet Right Ventricle and Transposition of the Great Arteries. Then, the tests showed also a patent ductus arteriosus and ventricular septal defect, yes, I can speak the medical language! In other words, the situation was really complicated. My condition would require many heart surgeries over the course of the first five years of my life. In 2014 and 2016, I travelled to India where two surgeries were done with no success. Then, my dad took me to ACIBADEM Hospital in Turkey where I met Professor Ersin Erek. He comes from Heroes Planet! He is positive, always smiling, and just lights up the hospital room when he visits me. I had one more open-heart surgery four weeks ago, and I am doing well ever since. Can you guess what I want to be when I grow up? #UnitedForSavingHearts #AcıbademChildrenHeartCenter

United for saving hearts To be effective, a world-class surgeon is not enough. A genuine pediatric heart surgeon still needs a team of well-trained professionals in all related medical specialties. It is widely acknowledged that comprehensive services provided by multidisciplinary teams in well-equipped spe-

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The regional healthcare sector must continue to be resilient to overcome new challenges, says GE Healthcare

By Nael Dabbagh. General Manager MENEAT (Middle East, North East Africa, Turkey and Central Asia), GE Healthcare

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he last two years have had a profound impact on economies, education, and healthcare systems around the world. As a result, countries, businesses, and individuals have been forced to adapt. One thing is very clear: there will always be change to what we consider the norm. We are – and will continue to be – faced with tough decisions, while striving to make progress.

The simple fact is that becoming resilient is the key to thriving amidst change. In this region, resilience is in our DNA. With some of the challenges we face, looking for the silver lining when an issue arises is normal. And it is our people who will ultimately drive our success.

IN THE MENAT REGION, WE HAVE LEARNED TO DEVELOP THE RESILIENCE WE NEED TO DEAL WITH CHANGE AND CRISES. WE ARE GOOD AT ADAPTING WHILE STILL MAINTAINING A SENSE OF STABILITY.

is now taking only a few months, which is largely viewed positively.

However, while demand is increasing, supply chain issues and inflation continue to crop up, adding to the increasing pressure on healthcare workers. These factors and others are influencing how business groups operate, make decisions, and develop strategies. Businesses have to constantly track changes within their own organizations and externally to stay on top of things. These external factors can be difficult as organizations do not control them but are certainly affected by them.

Using the unique example of the past two years, how can we navigate a world that will continue to bring challenges our way?

The challenges we face today

Surviving and thriving

Looking at the critically important global healthcare sector, COVID-19 has been one of – if not the – biggest disruptor of the era. As a result, the outcome has been an acceleration in the pace of technological change – what would previously take the industry years to implement

In the MENAT region, we have learned to develop the resilience we need to deal with change and crises. We are good at adapting while still maintaining a sense of stability.

Some of us are motivated simply by being blessed with another opportunity to wake

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up each day. Some might say that each day brings new challenges, but those of us who are resilient say each challenge actually brings new opportunities and a chance to build upon what was accomplished the previous day.

For us, in the healthcare sector, we cannot just survive. We must thrive so that we can help clinicians improve patient outcomes. We must use our resilience to keep the patient at the center of everything we do.

Look at the flip side of the coin Despite the obvious hardships and challenges the pandemic has brought to us, we must also look at the positive side. As mentioned earlier, innovation in healthcare has never been faster, more intelligent, or as dynamic.

The number of people in hospitals will be lower than before, with hospitals used only to treat the sickest of the sick. For others, we will see increased and sustained use of remote technologies such as remote patient monitoring and virtual consultations. Tools like these can help free up capacity in clinics and hospitals for the most serious cases. On the technology side, our customers are also asking us to work with them to make their machines and hospitals more productive. Digital solutions and AI-enabled machines can greatly support this to ensure staff, patients, and machines are present where they are needed most. COVID-19 has also demanded that we move quickly and that solutions be simple and intuitive.

All of these themes – virtual health, digital solutions, speedy implementation – have been goals in the healthcare industry for years. The silver lining we have found is that COVID-19 has helped to accelerate this, despite its disruptions.

Focus on people and teams The need to focus on our employees with empathy has only increased over the last few years. We must strive to better understand lives and circumstances beyond work and must realize that different generations are at different stages of their lives and have varying needs.

There is no one size fits all.

Many employees have found a new way to

ON THE TECHNOLOGY SIDE, OUR CUSTOMERS ARE ALSO ASKING US TO WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE THEIR MACHINES AND HOSPITALS MORE PRODUCTIVE. DIGITAL SOLUTIONS AND AI-ENABLED MACHINES CAN GREATLY SUPPORT THIS TO ENSURE STAFF, PATIENTS, AND MACHINES ARE PRESENT WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED MOST. COVID-19 HAS ALSO DEMANDED THAT WE MOVE QUICKLY AND THAT SOLUTIONS BE SIMPLE AND INTUITIVE.

look at work-life balance due to working from home. Things that were business as usual two years ago are now under scrutiny. Employees want, demand, and are getting greater flexibility and deeper fulfilment.

Organizations that have come through the pandemic are those that have put their people first and focused on the long run. They have found that investing in the talent you have, rather than experiencing a high rate of turnover and loss, is a better business model. It also shows customers and employees that you, as a leader, are committed to the future, rather than simply eyeing next month’s bottom line.

Companies also need to think about employees’ mental health, which has evolved over the last two years into a true business imperative. When we put mental health first, it can give employees a sense of purpose and direction, the energy to develop and execute critical plans, and the ability to deal with change that is an inevitable part of our lives. There is a mountain of evidence showing that workplaces with high levels of mental wellbeing amongst employees are more productive and more successful.

By utilizing the resilience in our DNA, focusing on optimism, and having the humanity to see teams as people first, we can weather the changes that will continue to come our way.

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NEWS

Inequality in Cancer Care is Costing Lives countries in the Middle East and Africa (MEA 9); Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The participants agreed that the burden of cancer for the MEA countries in the study was immense and growing, with the disease the third leading cause of death for the nine countries at the turn of the millennium and having advanced to the second leading cause behind cardiovascular disease in six of the nine countries by 2016.

HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan

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nequality in cancer care is costing lives – that was the stark message delivered at a webinar (Tuesday, February 1st) by leading figures in the global fight against cancer.

Organised by the Swedish Institute for Health Economics (IHE), the world-renowned healthcare research organisation, in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the online session was hosted to discuss the findings of an IHE report on the cancer care landscape in nine countries in the Middle East and Africa (MEA), with the report being released on February 4th to mark this year’s World Cancer Day. Participating in the event were HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, Immediate Past President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC); Fadia Saadah, Human Development Director for the World Bank’s Europe and Central Asia Region; Thomas Hofmarcher, Health Economist at IHE; Samir Khalil, Executive Director for PhRMA Middle East and Africa; and Ahmed Hassan Abdelaziz, Clinical Oncologist at Ain Shams University, Cairo.

The webinar saw the participants discussing the IHE report that evaluates cancer care in nine

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Much of the conversation during the webinar focused on how inequalities in cancer care, in particular in the area of per capita healthcare spending, was resulting in lives being unnecessarily lost. Commenting on one of the key findings of the report, the inherent inequalities in cancer care systems, HRH Princess Dina Mired said that what was needed was a concerted approach that combines non-discrimination with adequate methods of revenue generation.

“We need to rethink our health systems, reimagine them and make them not only more efficient but “patient-centered”. If you design policies from now having the foundational principles of equity, of no discrimination, coupled with tools that can reallocate money, then this is when you can start to get your house in order.

New reimagined health systems should be able to cover and protect all patients especially vulnerable populations who have so far been left behind. Having a chance for a cure from cancer should not be a question of geography, nor of income, nor of gender or race,” HRH Princess Dina Mired said.

Fadia Saadah, in turn, highlighted the World Bank’s active role in promoting universal health coverage to ensure that people have access to the healthcare they need without suffering financial hardship, reiterating that this was central to achieving the World Bank’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty and increasing equity.

“The World Bank Group is committed to

THE WEBINAR SAW THE PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSING THE IHE REPORT THAT EVALUATES CANCER CARE IN NINE COUNTRIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA (MEA 9); ALGERIA, EGYPT, JORDAN, KUWAIT, LEBANON, MOROCCO, SAUDI ARABIA, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE).

THE PARTICIPANTS AGREED THAT THE BURDEN OF CANCER FOR THE MEA COUNTRIES IN THE STUDY WAS IMMENSE AND GROWING, WITH THE DISEASE THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH FOR THE NINE COUNTRIES AT THE TURN OF THE MILLENNIUM AND HAVING ADVANCED TO THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE BEHIND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN SIX OF THE NINE COUNTRIES BY 2016.

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Dr. Ahmed Hassan Abdelaziz

Fadia Saadah

helping countries’ efforts to achieve universal health coverage through the creation of stronger primary health systems that enable the provision of high quality, affordable health services for everyone. Given the increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), it is important that health systems are able to provide the care needed for NCDs as we purse universal health coverage”.

During his participation, Samir Khalil identified a lack of access to innovative diagnostic and treatment options, along with changes in demography, as being major challenges that needed to be addressed in cancer care.

“The nine MEA countries that were addressed in this report comprise around 300 million people. With newly diagnosed cancer cases anticipated to almost double from 410,000 to 720,000 cases per year between 2020 and 2040, policy makers need to prepare their health systems to address the steadily increasing disease and economic burden of cancer. Innovative medicines can play a key role. To meet the growing needs, biopharmaceutical research companies are working to develop new and better tolerated treatments, with more than 1,300 medicines and vaccines for various cancers currently in development,” he said.

Despite the expected rise in cancer cases in the next two decades, Thomas Hofmarcher said that the future was not all bleak, describing a ‘demographic window of opportunity’

Samir Khalil

Thomas Hofmarcher

that comes from having a large percentage of the population in the workforce.

“Cancer is growing in all the countries in the Middle East and Africa that we looked at, with the numbers expected to increase much further in the next 20 years. However, not everything is dark. While it's true that the number of cancer patients will rise, at the same time the number of people of working age is increasing. That’s favourable for building a strong economy, meaning you can get the tax revenue that is needed to build a strong and resilient healthcare and cancer care system.

There is opportunity in the next 20 years in all these countries to make good progress in cancer care,” he said.

Finally, giving a clinician’s insight on the barriers that exist to accessing cancer care, Dr Ahmed Hassan Abdelaziz said that political will was essential to deliver much needed change.

“I personally believe that there should be a strong will and desire on political backup, particularly in this part of the world, to make things realistic, practical, doable and to lead to tangible outcomes. I've witnessed over the past few years from my practice here in Egypt that many people in healthcare have the desire – the patients, the public, the professionals - but you don't see a really tangible outcome on the ground. We've only started to see this when we had a political support, when there was a really strong push in the direction of early diagnosis and early detection,” he said.

IHE’s report, which will be released on Friday, supports the World Health Organization’s drive for every country to create a national cancer control plan (NCCP), a public health programme designed to reduce the number of cancer cases and deaths and improve quality of life of patients living with the disease. The goal of an NCCP is to tackle cancer care by – among aspects - promoting prevention and the avoidance of cancer, improving screening and early detection, and identifying suitable funding sources to finance the plan’s activities. Ultimately, an NCCP uses evidencebased strategies to help a country tackle the burden of cancer and improve service delivery, regardless of any economic constraints it may be facing.

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Emerging longevity sector a steppingstone to social inclusion for old-age people in the UAE

By Alex Creshnev, Director of Deep Knowledge Analytics

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ost developed nations, including the US, UK, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Germany, have more elderly people than young populations. In contrast, the UAE population is quite young, with a median age of 32.6 in 2020. During the same year, the median age in Germany and Japan was 45.7 and 48.4, respectively.

A public policy focused on youth The current life expectancy in the UAE (2022) is 78.32 years, a 0.18% increase from 2021. Due to these age demographics, UAE policies currently focus on meeting the needs of youth and working-age individuals below the age of 65, who comprise 98.7% of the total population.

A shift towards meeting the needs of the elderly In light of the rising elderly population and the growing concern about old-age care,

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the UAE has been gearing up for longevity– an emerging field focused on healthy aging comprising technologies and software that aim to improve health and lengthen the lifespan of people.

Currently, UAE families take most of the responsibility for caring for their elderly. The shift from the extended family model towards smaller nuclear families and the lack of sufficient old-age care facilities will pose challenges that can exacerbate the burden of old-age care.

These evolving social dynamics and infrastructural limitations will also have an impact on the healthcare sector and the national economy.

To avert the impending healthcare and economic challenges, the UAE is slowly making progress towards a sustainable and effective aged care system. Given the lack of research on aging and the scarcity of senior care facilities, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research has undertaken a study to examine attitudes towards older people, gain in-depth knowledge about aged care, and understand Emiratis’ experiences, expectations and preferences for their older selves.

The study adopts the design of the Australian Government’s Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, which tackled significant issues around aged care services in Australia, including the quality of services and person-centeredness, as well as the nationwide roll-out of such services.

Key components of the UAE’s endeavour to pioneer old-age care in the region A focus on longevity to address the needs of the elderly is making its way to the top of the UAE government development agenda. Modern old-age care is not only a matter of national priority, it is also a categorical imperative for the elderly to feel acknowledged and valued.

CURRENTLY, UAE FAMILIES TAKE MOST OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CARING FOR THEIR ELDERLY. THE SHIFT FROM THE EXTENDED FAMILY MODEL TOWARDS SMALLER NUCLEAR FAMILIES AND THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT OLD-AGE CARE FACILITIES WILL POSE CHALLENGES THAT CAN EXACERBATE THE BURDEN OF OLDAGE CARE. THESE EVOLVING SOCIAL DYNAMICS AND INFRASTRUCTURAL LIMITATIONS WILL ALSO HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE HEALTHCARE SECTOR AND THE NATIONAL ECONOMY.

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1. Understanding the longevity industry: Most recently, Sharjah Research Technology & Innovation Park (SRTIP) and Deep Knowledge Analytics (DKA), have announced a first-of-a-kind partnership aimed at mapping and developing the longevity industry in the UAE. The partnership seeks to foster knowledge of relevant subsectors such as BioTech, pharmaceuticals, FinTech; identify major drivers of the industry across the country; and ultimately support the advancement of the knowledge economy across the nation.

One of the first steps in developing an effective infrastructure for longevity governance and building healthy aging strategies will be creating a detailed longevity landscape analysis to profile and categorize companies, investors, R&D hubs, academic institutions, and industry professionals operating within the field. The partnership aims to enhance the knowledge about longevity and promote its adoption nationwide.

2. Developing a sustainable care plan: From building physical healthcare centers to providing a personalized healthcare approach based on data and insights into senior people’s needs and aspirations, a care strategy is key to addressing the old-age challenge. A sound strategy should be based on the collective inputs of doctors and healthcare providers, family members, and the elderly themselves. While some senior people may only require occasional help with household chores, others may need longterm care due to serious and chronic illnesses.

3. Operating specialty healthcare facilities focused on longevity: Aviv Clinics, one of the leading healthcare service providers in Dubai, is simplifying the lives of the elderly through its various treatment plans.

The clinic builds on the very basic idea that as we age, our bodies lose their ability to channel oxygen efficiently. This causes the blood vessels to narrow and become clogged, which eventually limits the blood and oxygen flow to the brain and other organs. Aviv Clinics has designed the Aviv Medical Program to

counteract this phenomenon. The program is built around scientifically tested Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) sessions intended to help the body create new blood vessels, which will then help replenish the body’s access to oxygen and enhance the performance of the brain and the body.

4. Respecting personal preferences and cultural differences: A proportion of elderly people may feel embarrassed and uncomfortable receiving family care, leading them to favor paid aid from professional caregivers, especially for daily needs such as getting dressed or bathing. Social nuances of this nature should be on the government’s radar when devising an old-age support program. The key success factor is to provide professional care while accommodating the wishes and respecting the privacy, personal preferences and cultural values of the elderly.

5. Maintaining dignity and autonomy of senior people: Older people tend to get worried about losing control over their actions.

Supporting their everyday decision-making will help them retain a sense of purpose and take back control over their lives. To achieve this level of comfort and autonomy, caregivers need to establish trust through regular communication, encouraging older people to make decisions and do things they enjoy.

TO AVERT THE IMPENDING HEALTHCARE AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, THE UAE IS SLOWLY MAKING PROGRESS TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE AND EFFECTIVE AGED CARE SYSTEM. GIVEN THE LACK OF RESEARCH ON AGING AND THE SCARCITY OF SENIOR CARE FACILITIES, SHEIKH SAUD BIN SAQR AL QASIMI FOUNDATION FOR POLICY RESEARCH HAS UNDERTAKEN A STUDY TO EXAMINE ATTITUDES TOWARDS OLDER PEOPLE, GAIN INDEPTH KNOWLEDGE ABOUT AGED CARE, AND UNDERSTAND EMIRATIS’ EXPERIENCES, EXPECTATIONS AND PREFERENCES FOR THEIR OLDER SELVES.

These initiatives will not only help old people maintain their physical health, but will also support their mental wellbeing.

A future brimming with longevity potential Longevity trends in the UAE are evolving.

Life expectancy at birth was 76.15 years in 2009.

In 2019, it reached 77.97 years. This uptick in the aging population is set to trigger considerable changes within the healthcare system. The 2020s represent an exciting era for the UAE to advance its longevity agenda at the national level, and encourage the private sector, academia and investors to develop and advocate for longevity in support of the elderly population..

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Anti – Bullying Dr. Bassent Mohamed Mostafa, Clinical Psychologist at Al-Ahli-Hospital / Qatar

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ullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems, so it is important to deal with it right away.

Kids bully for many reasons. Some bully because they feel insecure. Picking on someone who seems emotionally or physically weaker provides a feeling of being more important, popular, or in control. In other cases, kids bully because they simply don't know that it's not OK to pick on kids who are different because of size, looks, race, or religion.

The Anti-Bullying policy should include parents ,school, and the child himself. Schools must, by law, have a policy to prevent all forms of bullying amongst pupils.

The role of parents is very important. Parents play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying. If you know or suspect that your child is involved in bullying, several resources may help. Recognize the warning signs that your child is involved in bullying. They could be being bullied, bullying others, or witnessing bullying. Learn what bullying is and what it is not. Understanding bullying is the first step in forming a plan to prevent or respond to bullying with your child. Work with the school to make a plan to stop bullying. Let your child know that

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bullying is not OK and can bring serious consequences at home, school, and in the community if it continues.

As for the child who has been subjected to bullying, we will mention some strategies that help him to confront bullying.

I am being bullied. What can I do?

Tell someone – your parents, your teacher or another adult. When you talk about the problem, you will find there are many people who will want to help. Write down or draw a picture of what has been happening. Talking or drawing about your feelings will help you feel better. Always try to stay in a group where you feel safe.

If the person bullying you will not let you into the group, tell an adult about it. Maybe you can find another group to join or try to make new friends outside of the group.

You could try to join a club or start a new hobby as a way to make new friends. Remember, it is not your fault! Bullying is wrong. Stand up straight and tall. Look the other person right in the eye.

THE ROLE OF PARENTS IS VERY IMPORTANT. PARENTS PLAY A KEY ROLE IN PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO BULLYING. IF YOU KNOW OR SUSPECT THAT YOUR CHILD IS INVOLVED IN BULLYING, SEVERAL RESOURCES MAY HELP. RECOGNIZE THE WARNING SIGNS THAT YOUR CHILD IS INVOLVED IN BULLYING.

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