QATAR— Hamad Medical Corporation’s Rumailah Hospital (RH) has been named the first Age-Friendly Health System in the Middle East, receiving the renowned Level 2 designation of “Committed to Care Excellence.”

This accolade, awarded by the United States-based Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) and its founding partners, highlights RH’s dedication to providing exemplary care to older adults, aligning with Qatar’s Third National Development Strategy.

The recognition of RH represents a significant milestone for Qatar and the entire Middle Eastern region.

The Age-Friendly Health Systems program, designed to revolutionize healthcare for older adults, implements the 4Ms framework – What Matters, Medication, Mentation, and Mobility.

Established in 1957, RH is HMC’s oldest hospital and has set a benchmark for other healthcare institutions in the region by being the first to integrate these essential, evidence-based practices comprehensively.

Dr. Hanadi Khamis Al-Hamad, HMC’s Deputy Chief for Long-Term Care, Rehabilitation, and Geriatrics and Medical Director of RH, has driven this groundbreaking initiative.

Her unwavering dedication to enhancing care for the elderly in Qatar has been instrumental in achieving this recognition.

Expressing her honor of receiving this recognition, Dr. Al-Hamad emphasized that the accolade from IHI is a testament to the dedication and hard work of all multidisciplinary healthcare staff at RH.

She highlighted that the recognition underscores their commitment to ensuring swift access to high-quality healthcare services for elderly patients in Qatar.

Dr. Al-Hamad noted Qatar’s growing elderly population and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to advancing specialist healthcare services to meet their medical needs while also delivering education and awareness to support healthy lifestyle habits among the elderly community.

The recognition comes after months of rigorous evaluation and data collection, demonstrating the tangible impact of the 4Ms framework on the quality of care provided to older adults at RH.

By adhering to these evidence-based practices and prioritizing what matters most to older adults, RH has improved patient outcomes and set a precedent for other regional healthcare institutions to follow.

Dr. Al-Hamad added that their journey toward becoming an Age-Friendly Health System reflects their deep commitment to enhancing the quality of care for older adults in their community.

She emphasized that this achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire RH team and expressed eagerness to continue setting new standards in geriatric care and ensuring that older patients receive compassionate and personalized care.

Commenting on the recognition, Nasser Al Naimi, Chief of Patient Experience and Director of the Hamad Healthcare Quality Institute at HMC, congratulated everyone at RH on their ongoing pursuit of excellence in caring for Qatar’s elderly population.

Al Naimi noted that HMC’s long-standing strategic partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement has led to numerous meaningful improvements in healthcare in Qatar, including those at RH.

These improvements enable patients to benefit from access to healthcare services on par with the highest international standards.

Kedar Mate, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of IHI, remarked that RH has set a remarkable example of care excellence for the elderly in the Middle East and beyond.

He added that their dedication to implementing the 4Ms framework and their success in achieving Age-Friendly Health System recognition is truly inspiring.

This milestone signifies a landmark moment in the care of the elderly in the region, and IHI is proud to support them in this journey.

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