New centre for long-term care of patients

In an initiative to enhance long-term care for patients, a new specialised medical care center is expected to open in 2019. It will advance the care of patients who no longer need to be in hospital but require long term inpatient medical treatment, said officials yesterday.

The Minister of Public Health, H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, and Qatar Central Bank Governor and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sports and Social Activities Support Fund (Daam), H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Saoud Al Thani,  signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in regard with the establishing of the new Daam Specialised Care Centre. 

Daam will fund building the facility which has already commenced construction in Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City. The new centre with 67 beds, will join Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) existing Enaya Specialised Care Centers. It will expand the capacity of the Enaya facilities while also providing more privacy for patients who require long-term medical care outside of the hospital setting.

“The focus of our inpatient specialised care centers is to provide an advanced care system for patients who are well enough to be discharged from hospital but still require specialized medical treatment that is often long term”, said Dr Al Kuwari.

The aim of these facilities is to create a comforting, home-like environment in the community. A space that provides the best quality patient-centered medical care while supporting patients in regaining or maintaining optimal levels of functioning,” said Dr Al Kuwari.

Sheikh Abdullah Bin Saoud Al Thani, said, “Funding the Daam Specialized Care Center is in line with achieving Daam’s vision of integrated social development that benefits people lives on all levels. World-class healthcare is a pillar of Qatar’s National Vision 2030, and also a key feature of the life we at Daam aim at granting to people. At Daam, we believe that initiatives such as this are at the core of our work as a major contribution and support entity. We have previously supported various projects with HMC and we will continue our partnership for as long as we share mutual goals and objectives, leading to effective and sustained development.”

Mahmoud Al Raisi, Chief of Continuing Care at HMC, Dr Hanadi Khamis Mubarak Al Hamad, Chairman of Geriatrics at HMC and Abdul Rahman Al Mannai, Deputy Executive Director of Daam, and several other officials also attended the MoU signing ceremony held at the Bayt Al Dhiyafah, at Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City.

“The Daam Specialised Care Centre will provide medical and rehabilitation services for patients. In long term care we provide patients with multidisciplinary care by experts including physicians, physiotherapists and dietitians , and provide all required services aiming at preparing the patient for discharge,” said Dr Hanadi. 

The first Enaya Specialised Care Center opened in 2010 and was called the Skilled Nursing Facility. It was the first of its kind in the region, providing round-the-clock monitoring and treatment from specialist nurses and doctors. Five years later, the facility was expanded to meet the needs of the country’s growing population and in 2015 the Enaya Specialized Care Centers 1 and 2 officially opened. At present, the facilities provide a healing environment with more than 150 patient beds. Once opened, the Daam Specialized Care Center will strengthen the capabilities of these existing facilities. The facilities will be connected via a link bridge, allowing for efficiencies in staffing, equipment, and space. 

In addition to the two existing Enaya Specialised Care Centers, HHMC operates two community-based facilities in Muaither and a busy multi-disciplinary Home Healthcare Service which currently cares for over 1,600 patients across Qatar.