Two stroke centers of excellence inaugurated in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI: The Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, has announced the Cleveland Clinic and Sheikh Shah Bhut Medical City (SSMC) in Abu Dhabi as the Emirate’s Center of Excellence for Stroke.

Both facilities are classified as stroke centers because of their ability to provide high quality and excellence in stroke care through a multidisciplinary team (MDT) consisting of licensed and trained professionals in cerebrovascular and neurological disorders Composed of all relevant disciplines including Emergency Medicine, Stroke Neurology, Interventional Neuroradiology, Cerebrovascular Surgery, Diagnostic Neuroradiology and Diagnostic Radiology.

In order to respond quickly to stroke emergencies, other facilities within the emirate (24-hour emergency room with hyperacute imaging equipment and intravenous thrombolysis services) will be considered as stroke readiness centres.

When patients in the emirate of Abu Dhabi are found to have early symptoms of a stroke, they are immediately rushed to the nearest stroke preparation center for stabilization. Once patients are stabilized, they will be transferred to the nearest CoE according to their location.

In the presence of Mansoor Ibrahim Al Mansoori, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi (DoH) Department of Health, Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, CEO & Managing Director of “M42” Group, and Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Deputy Minister of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) Center of Excellence plaque at Issued by the Department Headquarters.

Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH), said: “The Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH) continues to adopt a patient-centred approach in delivering world-class healthcare while enhancing (including stroke response.) Through the CoE program we aim to improve the quality of life and safeguard the health of community members in accordance with international standards and healthcare best practice.

Following the announcement of the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center (ADSCC) as a Center of Excellence for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH) is pleased to add the Abu Dhabi Cleveland Clinic and Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City (SSMC) to its prestigious Center of Excellence The (CoE) list establishes high standards for excellence in healthcare and exceptional patient experience across specialties and disciplines, encourages vigorous competition in the industry and seeks to improve across the emirate and beyond. “

CoEs must meet minimum standard requirements issued by the Ministry of Health, which outline the necessary criteria and prerequisites for licensed healthcare facilities seeking to obtain the designation.

The Ministry of Health has outlined six key indicators to be considered when assessing whether a healthcare facility can be recognized as a Center of Excellence. These metrics cover the following: clinical outcomes, patient experience, patient safety and quality of care, staff competency levels, and the institution’s medical education, research strategies, and residency programs. The Ministry of Health also evaluates accreditation to determine a healthcare facility’s eligibility to become a CoE.

As evidence of its appointment as the Emirates Center of Excellence in Stroke Care, SSMC and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi showcased its excellence in stroke care system equipped with a state-of-the-art facility infrastructure, diverse clinical services, commitment to quality and performance Continuous monitoring, advanced stroke care system. Educational and research activities, international accreditation of facilities and enhancement of knowledge and professional skills of healthcare professionals.

Dr Naser Ammash, Chief Executive Officer of SSMC, said: “Recognition as a Center of Excellence in Stroke Care is an important testament to the progress made in SSMC’s stroke services, including interventional neuroradiology.

“We launched our state-of-the-art vascular suite for the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic stroke less than a year ago and we have seen excellent results. During this time we have performed many cases of mechanical thrombectomy. Our Integrated Multi-Professional Practice enables our experts to provide unique, timely and comprehensive multi-disciplinary care for a wide range of common and complex neurological conditions, supported by education, research and innovation.

“At SSMC, we are committed to exceeding international standards and patient expectations while meeting the needs of the community. We are guided by the support of national leadership to drive the healthcare industry on a path of medical excellence and world-class patient care. We are honored to be recognized as Designated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health as Abu Dhabi’s dedicated Center of Excellence for Stroke. We are eager to strengthen the emirate’s position as a leading destination for comprehensive care in the region and beyond.”

SSMC has a 24/7 state-of-the-art stroke unit with multispecialty care from specially trained stroke specialists: disorders affecting blood vessels in the brain and spinal cord (cerebrovascular neurologists), interventional neuroradiologists, physical medicine and rehabilitation (physiotherapy division) and emergency medicine. SSMC recently launched the Angio Suite, a world-class biplane for the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic stroke.

The service is part of the Department of Interventional Neuroradiology, which is part of the Department of Clinical Imaging. Interventional neuroradiologists work closely with the stroke department. The service will cover a large geographic area of ​​the emirate of Abu Dhabi and will provide essential life-saving procedures that will significantly reduce the long-term or permanent adverse effects of stroke.

Dr Mumtaz Khan, Director of the Abu Dhabi Office and Acting Chief Medical Officer at Cleveland Clinic, said: “We are proud that the Abu Dhabi Department of Health has recognized Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi as the Emirates Center of Excellence in Stroke Care. The center’s established multidisciplinary team of experts, world-class infrastructure and clinical and research services.Our skilled nursing staff and cutting-edge technology solutions deliver the best possible clinical outcomes for stroke and other neurological disorders.

“This removes the need for UAE nationals to travel abroad for complex care. We will continue to work closely with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health and other healthcare providers to transform the healthcare industry and position Abu Dhabi as a leading healthcare hub for the area.”

The Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi offers a comprehensive range of services, offering the latest diagnostic and treatment options for patients with stroke and other cerebrovascular diseases. A team of world-class stroke neurologists, neurointerventionalists, vascular neurosurgeons and specialists provide individualized outcomes for each patient, guided by advanced imaging technologies such as the ARTIS Icono, the most advanced stroke interventional system in the region chemical care.

This state-of-the-art artificial intelligence-enhanced system ensures faster, more accurate assessment and treatment of stroke patients and improves outcomes over traditional systems.

In addition to expertise and technology, patient experience and safety are other areas of focus at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Stroke Center. This has been reflected in the hospital’s clinical processes, regularly meeting and exceeding set national and local compliance quality and safety targets.

By 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) says stroke is the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death worldwide. A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain ruptures. Abu Dhabi has strengthened its position as a leading healthcare destination, focusing on improving response times for all medical emergencies, including stroke responses.