Hospital expansion, local workforce increase, cutting edge technologies and awareness campaigns highlight the year’s major outcomes

Abu Dhabi - Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 – 2011 was more than just another year for Al Rahba Hospital, as the hospital managed to achieve milestones that covered many aspects. From unit expansions, addition of new sections, introducing cutting edge technologies, launching awareness campaigns, organizing conferences and forums, all the way to increasing the local workforce and offering training programs, Al Rahba Hospital has ended 2011 with an array of activities, events and announcements that positioned the hospital as a leading healthcare facility in Abu Dhabi and the UAE.

In terms of expansions and section additions, Al Rahba hospital expanded its ICU and NICU rooms by adding 27 new rooms (10 ICU, 17 NICU), 2 new VIP suites and a specially designed play room for children. In the clinics section, the Ophthalmology clinic was reopened offering the best of medical services and operated by world renowned doctors and a dedicated Cardiology Clinic was inaugurated in response to the rising incidence of heart disease in the UAE.

“In 2011, we have managed to achieve many of our set objectives with regards to the hospital expansion and addition of new clinics,” said Mr. Timothy Dentry, CEO of Al Rahba Hospital. “The ICU and NICU expansion will help us aid more patients and ensure they receive the best quality of healthcare services.”

Within the past year, Al Rahba Hospital has organized a number of initiatives, campaigns and events including the 2nd Women’s Health Conference, the community town hall meeting (Mas’aool Intiative), the child injury prevention campaign, Osteoporosis, Diabetes and breast cancer awareness campaigns. Training programs for the hospital’s staff were also a key highlight of 2011 including the disaster preparedness training program that was held during December to enhance the capacity and capability of Al Rahba employees in a standardized and integrated approach.  Moreover, Al Rahba hospital organized its first professional lab day where it highlighted the lab processes and educated the public on one of the most essential phases of medical processes.

“Last year was a phenomenal one for Al Rahba Hospital as we focused our efforts on strengthening our bonds with the society and among our staff,” added Mr. Dentry. “Our awareness campaigns and training programs were widely recognized by the patients, visitors and staff members and created more channels of interaction and opinion exchange. This year, we are planning to increase our outreach programs and highlight many medical issues that can - if prevented- save many lives.”

Al Rahba hospital was also present in many of the yearly occasions such as the UAE’s 40th National day, Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr, Hijri New Year and many other celebrations. The events that took place gathered more than 5000 patients collectively and indicated the tireless efforts of the hospital staff to interact with the society and get closer to the patients and visitors on a more personal level.

The hospital was also part in the nationwide campaign to increase national workforce, and in line with this campaign and SEHA’s initiative, “Intilaqa”, Al Rahba hospital increased its national workforce by 30 employees in the last quarter of 2011 and offered management and medical training programs that contributed effectively to increasing the expertise and skills of those employees.  

“During this year, our focus will be more on increasing national workforce by recruiting and training locals in various hospital departments,” added Mr.  Dentry. “2012 promises to be a year of success and prosperity and we are confident that the management, staff and  everyone who works at Al Rahba Hospital will give his/her best to ensure that we offer nothing but the best of medical and healthcare services to the patients of Abu Dhabi.”

Abu Dhabi’s Al Rahba Hospital is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA) and managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International.

Move comes as a response to increasing birth and premature birth rates at Abu Dhabi Hospitals

Abu Dhabi, January 24, 2012: Abu Dhabi’s Al Rahba Hospital has announced the addition of 17 new beds to its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) increasing the total number of beds to 33. The move comes as a response to the increasing rates of births and premature births at Abu Dhabi hospitals, and is part of Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC’s (SEHA) plan to develop its infrastructure in its various facilities with aims to offer the best in healthcare services.

Al Rahba Hospital is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA) and managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International.

Commenting on the expansion, Timothy Dentry, CEO of Al Rahba Hospital, said: “The expansion of the NICU will help us welcome more babies especially with recent statistics showing an increase in birth rate throughout the emirate of Abu Dhabi. There is a need in the different hospitals for more NICU beds and we at Al Rahba are doing our part in ensuring that the healthcare sector in the emirate offers the best practices.”

The NICU section has been added up with 17 three-leveled new beds and 2 isolation rooms. With all types of care required for premature and full term babies available in this unit, the NICU can accommodate 24 weeks premature gestation. Modern technologies have been also introduced in the new NICU unit including cooling for asphyxiated babies, new units of ventilation and high quality monitors.  The expanded NICU is also characterized by proper lighting suitable for babies as well as spacing between beds for better infection control.

Mohamed A. Al Daheri, Deputy CEO of Al Rahba Hospital said: “The features of the NICU will ensure a healthy and medically appropriate atmosphere for babies. The monitoring systems and the availability of our medical staff 24/7 will ease dealing with emergencies and monitoring the babies’ conditions during their stay.”

Al Rahba Hospital sees an average of 2000 births annually. Last year, the hospital admitted 300 babies to its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Most of these babies were preterm and having extremely Low Birth Weight. While the causes of premature births are not always entirely clear, it is believed that some cases may be due to the underlying illnesses in the mother. Some mothers have high blood pressure, or diabetes, or develop complications during pregnancy, and these may all be contributing factors. On the other hand, some mothers are perfectly healthy and have a normal pregnancy, and yet still deliver prematurely.

Abu Dhabi - Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 - More than five hundred leading health-care professionals and officials from many countries will discuss women’s health issues at the 2nd annual National Women’s Health Conference organized by Al Rahba hospital on November 25th and 26th at the Intercontinental Hotel in Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi’s Al Rahba Hospital is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA) and managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International.

“We are proud to host our Second National Women’s Health Conference and to be able to bring the latest updates in women’s health to health care providers in the UAE,” says Nellie Shuri Boma, M.D., M.P.H, ACPE, program director and chief medical officer of Al Rahba Hospital, who will lead the event. “Forums such as this demonstrate our hospital’s commitment to providing world-class health care to the local community and beyond. We hope that this conference will help local health care experts to stay abreast of the latest research in this area and will encourage them to share this knowledge with their peers.”
 
Presentations will focus on strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality rates in women, and the latest advancements and innovative approaches in preventing and treating some of the most prevalent conditions affecting women. Experts from Johns Hopkins Medicine, Health Authority Abu Dhabi, Al Rahba and other SEHA hospitals will focus on a variety of topics ranging from the recent updates on Breast Cancer to the importance of having Baby Friendly Hospitals.

Hospital building and staff shine in pink on October 31st in support of the worldwide cause

Abu Dhabi, October 17, 2011: To combat one of the most serious and deadly women’s diseases in the UAE, breast cancer, Al Rahba Hospital is launching a month-long series of educational activities to mark “Breast Cancer Awareness Month” during the month of October at the hospital. Pink stations have been placed in various locations within the hospital and a team of doctors and healthcare professionals are educating patients/families/ visitors about the importance of breast cancer screening through Self Breast Examination “SBE”, Clinical Breast Exam “CBE” and mammography .

Emphasis is being placed on the fact that regular screening is essential as a secondary prevention strategy.

The activities have been organized under the auspices of the Women’s Health Initiative Program of Al Rahba Hospital and will culminate on the 31st of October with the “PINK DAY” that reflects the support message of this cause through  building decorations and the staff outfits.

Last year, Al Rahba Hospital expanded its landmark Women’s Health Initiative Program by launching a new Digital Mammography unit that specializes in breast cancer detection, helping many women receive the necessary treatments at early stages, as well as permitting fast acquisition and archiving, secondary post-processing, and advanced computer analysis detection (CAD) through its modern digital imaging technology. The screening procedures were also specially designed to accommodate the cultural customs of the region.

“Year after year, we celebrate this month to remind women all over UAE that we are there for them and that we are constantly directing our efforts in medical research, medical technology and treatment towards enhancing their chances of early diagnosis and recovery from breast cancer,” says Dr. Nellie Boma, MD, M.P.H, Chief Medical Officer of Al Rahba Hospital. “We encourage all the women in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and in UAE to visit us for CBE and mammography in order to detect any signs of breast cancer in the early stages.”

Visitors to the stations will be able to pick up information kits and brochures as well as spend valuable time with physicians in order to get their questions and concerns answered.

“Breast Cancer is the number one cause of cancer in women among both nationals & expats living in the UAE,” added Dr. Boma.“SBE, CBE and Mammogram tests are necessary for women aged 40 and above as part of routine screening. Younger women, are also advised to have SBE and clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of their regular health examinations, if they have risk factors.”

The 163-bed hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International and owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA).

Activity highlights fasting tips for diabetic patients and healthy eating habits to be followed during the Holy month

Abu Dhabi, 22 August 2011

In line with its Ramadan program, Al Rahba Hospital hosted a special education activity in a tent built next to the hospital main entrance. The activity welcomed over 150 visitors from different age groups and highlighted health topics such as controlling Diabetes in Ramadan, healthy eating and fasting tips. The goal of the activity was to reach out to the general public about the importance of monitoring health and regulating eating and fasting during the Holy month and to ensure optimal lifestyle benefits during fasting.

A team comprised of doctors, nurse educators, dietitians, nurses and the Patient and Family Education committee team members interacted with the patients. Handouts and healthy cooking recipes were distributed to the patients and the doctors made sure that the patients’ questions about do’s and don’ts in Ramadan were answered.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Nellie Boma, Chief Medical Officer at Al Rahba Hospital said, “Ramadan is a time where people have the chance to regulate their eating habits and monitor their dietary intake. There are a number of steps that can be followed to enjoy a healthy Ramadan, and Al Rahba will ensure that this message reaches a large segment of Abu Dhabi residents. We are working closely with SEHA to launch several health campaigns during the Holy month.”

One of the topics discussed during the event was the consumption of caffeine. Although there’s an urge to stay awake for long hours during night in the Holy Month, caffeine drinks like tea, coffee, and cola should be taken in moderation as caffeine is a natural diuretic, stimulating faster water loss. This effect will remain until the following day.  Anything that is heavily-processed is also not going to give the body everything it needs to stay healthy. 

“Caffeine intake, healthy meals for diabetic patients and a long list of health tips to follow during the Holy month were major parts of this event and received a vast interaction from the audience.  We’re reaching out to the community to ensure that healthcare needs are met during this holy and spiritual month, and we wish everyone a happy – and healthy- Ramadan,” Dr. Boma concluded.

The 163-bed hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International and owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA).

Organizes interactive educational session for 8-15 year olds and parents to raise awareness

Abu Dhabi, July 12, 2011: In order to help prevent injuries among young people, Al Rahba Hospital held a special program that targeted 8 to 15-year-olds and their parents. The educational session, recently held at the Emirates Heritage Club, dealt with general injury prevention, including sports injuries sustained during swimming, bicycling, walking, and running. It also offered tips on how to prevent falls at home and outdoors, electrical safety, sun dealing, accidental poisoning, and traffic safety. Using a variety of graphics, the session was highly interactive and invited children to contribute to the discussion and to suggest various ways to promote safety.

“Children in this particular age group are highly active, and engage in indoor and outdoor activities that increase the risk of injury”,said Taylor Carter, Chief Nursing Officer of Al Rahba Hospital. “At the same time, this age group might not have the inhibitions or caution of older children and adults. Our community session encourages children to be cautious while outdoors and indoors, and highlights the importance of considering the risk of injury and the ways to prevent common ones.”

At the end of the session, the 47 strong audiences were given gift packs that included educational material for future reference. The materials offered guidance on choking prevention and awareness, road safety, electrical maintenance and safety, dealing with burns and scalds, and preventing drowning.

“Healthcare service delivery is more than merely treating patients. It’s also about education, prevention and enabling a better quality of life. At Al Rahba, we firmly believe that reaching out to the community will help us better perform our duties by helping people avoid, or deal with, common injuries. We are very happy with the results of our community outreach program, and are committed to further development of programs designed to educate the public on injury prevention” added Taylor.

Further community sessions took place during June and July 2011, of which two educational events occurred within Al Rahba hospital premises on June 22nd and 29th 2011.  In addition four health promotion sessions were offered to laborers of companies working at the new Zayed Port with a focus on how to maintain good nutrition and strategies for minimizing the risk of heat exposure

The 163-bed hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International and owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA).

Al Rahba Hospital - LAB Day

Abu Dhabi – June 29, 2011: In hosting its first Laboratory Professional Day, Al Rahba Hospital has promoted and highlighted an often-overlooked yet highly essential area of health care.

“High quality lab processes are an essential part of medicine, diagnostics and the provision of healthcare,” said Dr. Issam Ateig, the Chief of Service for the Laboratory at Al Rahba. “From running blood tests to identifying various bacteria, lab diagnosticians offer the technical expertise that helps doctors to diagnose and treat patients effectively.  Unfortunately, the general public is often unaware of the precision and professionalism that goes into the field. This event is meant as a sign of appreciation to our lab teams, and to promote their expertise, unique skills and dedication.”

The five sections of the Al Rahba Medical Laboratory Department – phlebotomy, biochemistry, microbiology, hematology and blood bank - took part in the four-hour event on June 9th.  More than 274 health care professionals and members of the public learned about the laboratory services available at Al Rahba Hospital through interactive games, quizzes, and demonstrations.

The Phlebotomy House section presented a video about the blood drawing process, including a segment on how to prevent blood collection errors. The Biochemistry Tent provided information on the quality assurance process and the chemical reactions used by the analyzers while the Microbiology Section showed microorganism slides under the microscope. The new E. coli strain, responsible for the recent European outbreak, was discussed, along with the up-to-date information on the outbreak. The Hematology and Blood Bank departments celebrated the event with “blood-group-compatible” balloons and cupcakes. 

“Overall, the message for the day was that laboratory professionals are a critical component of the health care team”, said Dr. Issam Ateig, Chief of Service for the Laboratory at Al Rahba. “They work behind the scenes to provide timely and accurate lab tests to aid physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. At Al Rahba, we pride ourselves for our diagnostic capabilities through state-of-the-art equipment and services that are available around the clock. We are grateful to our expert laboratory technicians and technologists for supporting us in our mission of providing excellent health care to our patients,” Dr. Ateig concluded.

The 163-bed hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International and owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA).

Al Rahba Hospital Nursing Team

Abu Dhabi, May 14, 2011:  Al Rahba Hospital honored its three hundred nurses for their hard work and dedication on Thursday to mark International Nurses Day on May 12.  International nurses day, established by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), celebrates the birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale (1820 — 1910), one of the pioneers of modern nursing.

“Al Rahba Hospital is very proud of the skills and dedication of our nursing staff. Our staff is one of the main drivers in achieving our mission of reaching and maintaining world-class standards in health care, and we will always take every opportunity to recognize their outstanding achievements,” said Taylor Carter, Chief Nursing Officer at Al Rahba Hospital.

The theme of this year’s Nurses Day was “Closing the Gap, Increasing Access and Equity”. Six stations throughout the hospital were set up for nurses to share experiences and to learn about best practices that are used in different countries and cultures.

Al Rahba Hospital is a 163-bed, advanced secondary-care general hospital, managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine International.  It is part of the SEHA HealthSystem and is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA).  

Al Rahba Hospital has long valued its position as premier provider of world-class healthcare services in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. With state of the art technology and an approach that values prevention as much as cure, Al Rahba is rapidly becoming the preferred healthcare provider for residents of Abu Dhabi. The hospital is consistent in its infrastructural investments, ensuring that patients always receive the best in healthcare.

Dr. Roman Stancik

Rheumatic disorders affect more than 20 percent of UAE population

Abu Dhabi – 4 April 2011: Al Rahba Hospital, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, has inaugurated a new Rheumatology Clinic. The clinic offers treatment for patients suffering from rheumatic disorders in Abu Dhabi, a condition that afflicts 20 percent of the UAE population in some form during their lifetime. At present time, there is an average of 14 patients per day visiting the clinic during operational hours. Currently, the clinic is open two days a week, where it offers treatment of various disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

“Rheumatic disorders represent a very widespread group of diseases with a different origin and large spectrum of symptoms. It includes degenerative joint diseases, e.g. osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, but also systemic inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis or systemic lupus. It has the potential to significantly reduce sufferers’ quality of life. The specialized Rheumatology Clinic will ensure that patients can be provided specialized help and treatment to manage the disease,” said Dr. Roman Stancik, Rheumatologist at Al Rahba Hospital.

“We are pleased to have been able to offer this service to our patients. Al Rahba Hospital has always been proactive in ensuring research, development and advancement on disease management, and our ongoing commitment to patient care is something we are exceptionally proud of, and maintain through stringent effort. I strongly encourage sufferers of possible rheumatic disease to seek the help of a qualified rheumatologist immediately,” Dr. Stancik added.

Rheumatic disorders are hard to generalize due to the various origin, symptoms and conditions they result in. However, osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease is the most common joint disorder. It may affect almost every joint of the body, but most commonly the knees, hips and small joints of the hand.    The prevalence of this disease increases with aging; about 60-90% people over the age of 65 are affected.  Main symptoms are the joint pain and progressive loss of mobility. Rheumatoid Arthritis [RA] is a common type of inflammatory rheumatic disease. It primary affects the joints, but   other organs [e.g. skin, lungs or kidney] may be involved too. About 1% of world’s population suffers from this disease, with women 3 times more likely to suffer than men. Typical symptoms of RA are painful, swollen joints associated with stiffness and limited movement. In contrary to osteoarthritis, the onset of RA is most common in age between 40 and 50 but very young people are often affected too. The cause of this disease is unknown. Long-term medical care with regularly scheduled visits in rheumatology clinic is essential for the treatment.

“Rheumatic disorders can be varied and complicated. However, Al Rahba’s new clinic will help further Al Rahba’s commitment to offering world-class healthcare that can significantly improve patients’ health and quality of life,” Dr. Stancik concluded.

Al Rahba Hospital is part of the SEHA HealthSystem and is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC, which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Comprehensive patient care targets one of the leading causes of death in the UAE

Dr. Margit Oremek

Abu Dhabi – February 7, 2011–In response to the rising incidence of heart disease in the UAE, Al Rahba Hospital in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, has inaugurated a dedicated Cardiology Clinic. A multidisciplinary team that includes nurses, technicians, dietitians, physiotherapists and cardiologists provides comprehensive patient care at the new clinic, which is situated at the ground floor of the outpatient clinic, where access to other departments, including an ICU unit, radiology and laboratory is also available.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) report, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally. Experts estimate that by 2015, almost 20 million people will die annually from heart attack, strokes and other cardiovascular ailments. Another study said that in the UAE, more than 25 percent of deaths are attributable to cardiovascular disease.

“Detecting cardiac changes early in a patient’s life can prevent complications later. Following this strategy, we have equipped the clinic with all the necessary tools to assess patients at risk and identify best treatments. Our aim is to offer the highest standard of holistic care before serious problems develop. The clinic is open from 8:30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. and patients are advised to make appointments through the hotline: 02-5064108,” said Dr. Margit Oremek, Consultant Cardiologist at Al Rahba Hospital.

Research conducted by the WHO indicates that residents of the UAE are at high risk of developing cardiovascular disease due to a lack of physical activity and poor dietary habits. According to the organization’s findings, even children aged between 13 and 15, usually the most active and healthy group, are at risk – with 78 percent getting less than the recommended amount of daily exercise. The research results paint a grim picture and indicate that physical health and fitness of the UAE residents rapidly deteriorate.

A high incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure and dangerously high serum cholesterol levels, has been measured in the population of the UAE. Health authorities and Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) are determined to support healthy lifestyles and the finest possible care for high-risk patients.

The 163-bed hospital in Abu Dhabi, which is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA), has recently hosted ‘National Women’s Health Conference’, where it brought together over 500 health care professionals and regulatory community members to discuss important issues in the area of women’s health, including coaching and awareness building.