4 days ago
Al Wakra Hospital bags IHI ‘Age-Friendly Health System Participant' tag
Tribune News Network
Doha
Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC) Al Wakra Hospital has been officially recognised as an Age-Friendly Health System Participant by the US-based Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), one of the founding partners of the Age-Friendly Health Systems movement.
IHI is a leading, globally recognised not-for-profit health care improvement organisation that has been applying evidence-based quality improvement methods to meet current and future health care challenges for more than 30 years.
This recognition highlights Al Wakra Hospital's steadfast commitment to delivering high-quality, age-friendly care to older adults. Al Wakra Hospital joins this important movement to provide high-quality care for people aged 60 and above across HMC, alongside Rumailah Hospital, by integrating these essential, evidence-based practices into patient care.
Dr. Hanadi Khamis Al Hamad, HMC's deputy chief for Long-Term Care, Rehabilitation, and Geriatrics, and medical director of Rumailah Hospital, has been a driving force behind this initiative.
'We are incredibly honoured that Al Wakra Hospital has received this prestigious recognition for our care of senior citizens,' said Dr. Al Hamad.
'This acknowledgment from IHI reflects the dedication and hard work of our multidisciplinary health care teams at Al Wakra Hospital in ensuring elderly patients receive timely, high-quality services. As Qatar's elderly population continues to grow, we remain committed to advancing specialised health care services and promoting healthy lifestyles for those over 60.'
Following this recognition, Al Wakra Hospital has been conducting several months of rigorous evaluation and data collection to measure the number of older adults who receive care that aligns with the 4Ms Framework, which includes:
• What Matters: Know and align care with each older adult's specific health outcome goals and care preferences across settings of care.
• Medication: If medication is necessary, use age-friendly medication that does not interfere with What Matters to the older adult, Mentation, or Mobility across settings of care.
• Mentation: Prevent, identify, treat, and manage dementia, depression, and delirium across settings of care.
• Mobility: Ensure that older adults move safely every day in order to maintain function and do What Matters.
By implementing these elements of high-quality care, Al Wakra Hospital has not only improved outcomes for older patients but has also set an example for other health care providers in the region.
Dr. Omar Mohd Al Qahtani, CEO and medical director of Al Wakra Hospital, said: 'Earning this participant status marks an important step forward in our journey toward excellence in age-friendly health care. This achievement reflects the commitment and dedication of our entire team. We look forward to deepening our collaboration with the geriatrics department to ensure our elderly patients continue to receive the compassionate, personalised care they deserve.'
Nasser Al Naimi, chief of Patient Experience and director of Hamad Healthcare Quality Institute at HMC, said: 'I would like to congratulate the team at Al Wakra Hospital for their tireless pursuit of excellence in elderly care. Our longstanding strategic partnership with IHI has led to meaningful advancements in Qatar's health care sector, including at Al Wakra Hospital. This recognition ensures that our patients receive care aligned with the highest international standards.'
Melissa Panagides-Busch, chief operating officer and interim CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), said: 'We are proud to welcome Hamad Medical Corporation – Al Wakra Hospital as a participant in the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative. Achieving this status demonstrates their commitment to delivering age-friendly care, and we look forward to supporting them on their journey toward healthcare excellence for older adults.'
The Age-Friendly Health Systems recognition reaffirms Hamad Medical Corporation's continued leadership in advancing health care standards in Qatar and the region.
Al Wakra Hospital's achievement marks a significant step forward in creating a more inclusive, compassionate, and evidence-based care environment for older adults – ensuring that aging populations receive the dignity and support they deserve throughout every stage of care.
