Accredited as the best
American Hospital Dubai proudly boasts CAP accreditation and its association with Mayo Clinic, and is an oasis for perfect diagnosis and treatment in the region
The American Hospital Dubai (AHD) is incredibly the best when it comes to health standards and professional expectations. Its mission is to provide the highest quality of healthcare in general medicine and surgery, as well as in laboratory and radiology, in order to meet the needs and expectations of the people. It is run on American model of medicine-care, and all of its physicians and medical-related staff are American and European certified personnel. Moreover, it boasts one of the best laboratory and radiology services in the region, and has a special mark in oncology research.
AHD’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Robert Courtney Harris, in an interview, said that a local family’s generosity is behind the rise and success of the hospital. He said that the hospital was planned, built and equipped to meet the highest standards of healthcare, and it has been a success story in achieving that goal. The hospital is part of the Mayo Clinic Care Network since 2016, which has further upped its standards and professional services. AHD is the first health care organisation in the Middle East to join the august reputable American network. The linkage provides access to the latest Mayo Clinic knowledge and promotes collaboration among physicians to benefit patients and their families. This has further enriched patient-centric care, and is supplemented with a world-class diagnosis and laboratory services.
Dr Robert Harris takes pride in saying, “we have ensured that we have the expertise to fulfil our patients’ medical requirements in a comfortable and reassuring environment, and this is why all of the physicians who are credentialed at the hospital are North American Board Certified or of equivalent Western training standards.”
Founded in 1996, American Hospital Dubai has grown into a 254-bed multispecialty hospital, which excels in personalised medicine in an innovative manner. It is the first hospital in the Middle East to be awarded JCI accreditation, and since then has retained that highest benchmark test. The hospital’s Medical Laboratory was also the first private laboratory in the region to be accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). “AHD Lab is the first to achieve CAP accreditation in the UAE. We have maintained our accreditation continuously since our inaugural inspection in 2001,” Dr Robert said.
American Hospital Dubai today is an oasis in the region, where one can look for the right diagnosis and treatment, and is the first in Dubai to offer comprehensive one-stop services for cancer patients. Its oncology-related research and lab testing is superb. So is its state-ofthe-art Heart Center, which offers electrophysiology consultation, and is backed with one of the best heart scanning machines in the world. In orthopaedic, the hospital boasts Total Joint Replacement specialty, and Endocrinology services dealing with diabetes and thyroid disease management. Personalised dialysis units, lithotripsy services and cosmetic surgery are other valuable additions. The hospital also offers Outpatient Clinics, and its best physicians are at hand to address patients in paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, primary care, oncology and haematology.
Dr Robert said, “While the CAP verification is done after every two-year, we need to prove our being best to the Board and to the people.” “Our pathology lab is one of the best in the world, run on American standards,” he added. “The checklists comprise thousands of standards that cover all areas of the laboratory and all three phases (pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical) of lab testing. It includes assessment of the lab director and leadership, safety and quality, personnel requirements and competency.”
The American Hospital Dubai CMO remarked that it is essential to have best laboratory and radiology tests, so that the right diagnosis and right treatment is carried out. “We assure to meet that task,” he observed. “CAP is the gold standard and the most comprehensive programme for labs. Quality and serving the patient is central. Employees who work in a CAP lab are trained to have a uniform approach to quality testing.”
Pointing out at cutthroat competition in the medical services, Dr Robert says Dubai has a very competitive healthcare market, and it is an uphill task to meet the highest standards and attract patients. “We are fairly reasonable in price with no compromise on healthcare standards. We are the best and first choice for patients.”
Dr Robert, an ENT surgeon who hails from England, believes that from a customer care receptionist to each and every staff member, as well as the physicians, have a contribution in making American Hospital Dubai a success story, and a place where people repose their trust. “We are very conscious of our reputation, and are constantly working to uphold our image as the best healthcare provider in the UAE, and beyond,” says Dr Robert.
The American Hospital Dubai CMO’s new initiatives are upgrading the cardiology and radiology departments with the state-of-the-art equipment, and making oncology diagnosis superbly best. Terming it as a ‘day-to-day challenge’, Dr Robert says, “We are striving for excellence, and want to stay on top”.
On CAP accreditation and its relevance in the UAE, Dr Robert says, “the healthcare leaders of the UAE understand the importance of accreditation. In essence it is mandated. Fifteen years ago here was one CAP accredited lab. We have been joined by 40 other labs now and the region represent one of the fastest growing in the world for accredited labs.”
The AHD chief observed that consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the critical role of laboratories in a healthcare system. Thus accreditation will continue to be an important path toward quality test results.
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