Al Ain, UAE: Tawam Hospital, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine and part of the SEHA healthcare system, today hosted the first day of the 8th International Pediatric Conference, being held from 20-22 March, 2014 at Danat Al Ain Resort.
Led by the hospital’s Pediatric Department, which has hosted these successful specialist conferences annually since 2006, the eighth edition of the conference is themed “Best Practice in Pediatrics”. The conference provides a venue for sharing knowledge and experience among practitioners, local and international, in the field of pediatrics and to discuss the most up-to-date, evidence-based pediatric practice.
Aiman Rahmani, MD, FAAP, Chairman of the conference and Department of Pediatrics, Consultant Neonatologist at Tawam Hospital, said: “In our constant efforts to raise the bar in UAE medical care, the 8th edition of the International Pediatric Conference encourages our industry peers to share knowledge and learn from each other in the pediatric specialty. At Tawam Hospital, we are proud to have supported this conference over eight editions, but more importantly we are proud to be able to welcome our fellow pediatric healthcare practitioners from across the region to Al Ain. These delegates have shown that they are eager to enhance their skills and provide a higher standard of care for children and parents in their communities.”
Over the course of the three day program, innovations and best practices in pediatric care will be shared with sessions covering [General Pediatrics and most of pediatric specialties including Neonatology, Nephrology, Pediatric surgery, Ophthalmology, Orthopedic, Dentistry, Hematology and Oncology, Pediatric Emergency, Endocrinology, Cardiology, Dermatology, Immunology, Metabolic, Adolescent medicine, Pulmonology and Infectious diseases]. This year, guest speakers from more than 10 hospitals and universities from 5 countries will be attending the conference, including guests from Tawam’s affiliate hospital, Johns Hopkins, in the USA.
Amar Al Shibli, MD, FRCPCH, Consultant, Division Chief-General Pediatrics and Director of Pediatric Education at Tawam Hospital, added: “It is an honor to be involved in an event which year after year champions better care for our young people and helps to raise the standards of pediatric knowledge and medical expertise in our local and regional communities. In our roles each day we deal with young patients who are often unable to describe their symptoms and with parents who are in need of support, reassurance and guidance, in addition to trying to cure and care for our patients’ diseases and illnesses. Specialist events like this conference enable us to work and network with peers and specialists within the pediatric specialty so that we can learn from one another and share our experiences in what I believe is the most rewarding, if at times the most difficult, field of medicine.”
Highlights for the 2014 conference include the presentation of a record number of clinical studies covering the latest advances in clinical pediatrics. Topics are presented in the plenary sessions and the programme also incorporates breakout sessions for smaller discussion groups.
Aiman Rahmani, MD, FAAP, Chairman of the conference and Department of Pediatrics, Consultant Neonatologist at Tawam Hospital, said: “Pediatric care is a subject that many of us in the healthcare profession are passionate about. Caring for the youngest members of our communities and supporting their families through what can be harrowing times tests our strengths as doctors, nurses and managers, and challenges us to find new and better ways of healing and caring.
“That is why learning from our renowned expert speakers in various fields of pediatrics as well as from our delegate colleagues from across the region at this conference is an invaluable resource. It is through this type of meaningful engagement and interaction with those who understand the challenges faced by sector specialists that we are able to learn to provide a better standard of care for our patients, and grow as medical professionals.”
In addition to the 8th International Pediatric Conference, Tawam Hospital is also organizing a number of other high-profile conferences this year, including: Pain Management Comprehensive Conference on May 8-10, 2014; Respiratory Therapy Conference on September 18-20, 2014; and, Emirates Oncology Conference on November 13-16, 2014.
Tawam Hospital is part of the SEHA Health System owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
About Tawam Hospital
Tawam Hospital, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine, is a premier 440-bed tertiary care facility located in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. One of the largest hospitals in the United Arab Emirates, Tawam is committed to providing a continuum of quality healthcare which meets the needs and expectations of the UAE; and aims to provide high quality, cost effective medical services delivered in a friendly, safe and caring environment in accordance with the JCIA Standard of Care. With over 19,000 admissions in 2013 and an average 68 per cent daily occupancy rate, Tawam offers services in specialties including oncology, neonatal care, emergency medicine, intensive care, surgery, urology, family medicine, fertility services, neurosurgery, nephrology, pediatrics, pain management, internal medicine and obstetrics & gynecology.
Tawam serves as a regional referral center for specialized medical care and is a national referral center for oncology services. Tawam Hospital received program accreditation in 2012 from the American College of Graduate Medical Education – International, and is a recognized intern, resident, and fellowship training site for the Arab Medical Board. Tawam Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission International Accreditation, last renewed in 2012, and its laboratory services are accredited by the College of American Pathology.
With an average of 300 daily inpatients, Tawam Hospital is the preferred destination for quality medical care in the UAE. In 2013, the ER unit received almost 96,000 patients, and hospital clinic visits exceeded 290,000. Tawam’s team of renowned surgeons performed over 7,043 surgeries during the year of which nearly 1,950 day surgical cases, while the dental clinics served over 72,000 patients. More than 3,800 babies were born at Tawam Hospital in 2013. In the same year, the hospital performed over 20,800 CT/MRI procedures.
In response to the Voice of Customer, Tawam has implemented many initiatives to reduce the waiting time in the outpatient services leading to a significant improvement in the percentage of patients seen within 45 minutes attaining 73 percent by the end of 2013. Receiving a new Tomotherapy machine, and installing its own state-of-the-art bilingual Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) integrating voice, text and email communications, to increase customer service levels. In terms of recognitions, Tawam Hospital earned a number of accolades in 2013, including: positive accreditation for Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency programs at Tawam Hospital Academic Affairs, Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award, JCIA Accreditation for IVF/Cardiology Service and Tomotherapy, and many others. Tawam Hospital also successfully performed the first case of bilateral simultaneous carotid stenting in 2013.The hospital has also undergone physical expansion with the increase in parking spaces in 2013, and introduction of a valet parking service in 2014. Work is underway on Surgical and Medical Wards to provide a single room for each patient to provide more privacy, as well as the refurbishment of the Emergency Ward.
In treating its patients, visitors and employees with dignity, respect and equality, Tawam Hospital is guided by the following principles: treat patients as if they are family; embrace cultural diversity; deal in a trusted, honest and ethical manner; work as a team; continually improve quality; strive for a happy working environment with respect and mutual trust; encourage professional development and innovation through a constant process of learning; provide efficient healthcare to bring value to external and internal customers; and be a good corporate citizen.
Tawam Hospital actively recruits and engages a national workforce. On average, the Emiratization rate at Tawam is 16 percent. Tawam Hospital is part of the SEHA Health System, owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA) which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
About Johns Hopkins Medicine International
Johns Hopkins Medicine International (JHI) facilitates the global development of the Johns Hopkins Medicine mission: to improve the health of the community and the world by setting the standard of excellence in medical education, research and clinical care.
As the international access point to thousands of Johns Hopkins experts in medicine, nursing, public health and health care administration, JHI coordinates treatment for out-of-town patients who travel to Baltimore and for local patients with limited English proficiency. It also provides services in hospital management, health care consulting and clinical education through strategic alliances and affiliations in the Middle East, Latin America, North America, Europe and Asia.
About the SEHA Health System and the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA)
SEHA is health in Arabic. The Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC– whose marketing identity is SEHA – is an independent, public joint stock company created to develop the curative activities of the public healthcare system in Abu Dhabi. The company owns and operates all the public hospitals and clinics of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi which together make up the SEHA Health System. SEHA is committed to continuous improvement of customer care to recognized international standards and providing our customers and communities served world-class healthcare. SEHA has partnered with internationally recognized hospital managers to achieve these goals. These include Johns Hopkins Medicine International, Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Fresenius Medical Care. SEHA owns and operates 12 hospitals with 2,644 beds, more than 60 ambulatory care, family care and urgent care centers and 2 blood banks. SEHA is one of the largest integrated healthcare providers in the Middle East with more than 17,000 doctors, nurses, ancillary care and administrative personnel in its employ. Visit our website at www.seha.ae