Plans to set up new skin care subspecialty clinics

Doha: The Department of Dermatology and Venereology at the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), as a centre-of-excellence for skin care, will establish new out-patient clinics for all important subspecialties this year. It aims to provide the best medical service at world-class standards and has enhanced its services recently and provides a holistic approach to patients, says a senior official.
An experienced team of dermatologists provide a high level of care and a wide range of dermatology health services at an international standard to patients with mild to severe skin conditions, said Professor Dr Martin Steinhoff, Chairman of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at HMC, with services at Rumailah, Al Wakra, Al Khor and Cuban hospital.
Skin diseases are among the frequent medical conditions such as eczema, skin allergies, psoriasis, acne, vitiligo, skin infections, urticaria, genetic skin conditions or skin cancer, for example.
Recently improved understanding of disease mechanisms and modern technologies help to provide a more disease-specific care with new medications or treatments in eczema, skin cancer, autoimmune disease, genetic skin conditions, psoriasis, eczema, skin infections, and several other immune and allergic processes and other skin manifestations in adults and children. “We are happy that with the support of HMC we have made extensive progress in the last year to invest in new technologies, diagnostic tools, and novel therapies,” Dr Steinhoff told The Peninsula.
“Consequently, we were able to introduce around 16 new subspecialty clinics on the wide spectrum of Dermatology and Venereology, phlebology, dermato-surgery and immunology in the department. Our aim as a centre-of-excellence for skin care at HMC will be to provide the best medical service at world-class standards. Therefore, we will establish in 2018 new out-patient clinics for all important subspecialties, so no patient needs to go abroad for any skin condition.”
“If necessary, we will work together with world-class centers in dermatology around the world to provide the best possible treatment to our patients for any skin condition,” he added.
The Department of Dermatology and Venereology includes clinics for general complex conditions, emergencies, follow-up clinics, and subspecialties for dermatological surgery, laser medicine, phototherapy, allergies, eczema, psoriasis, vein diseases, STI clinic, acne, vitiligo, genetic skin conditions like ichthyosis or epidermolysis bullosa, for example, autoimmune diseases or skin cancer.
The department also works closely with other medical departments like surgery, internal medicine, rheumatology, allergy and the wound center at HMC in order to provide a holistic and optimal therapeutic plan for each patient.
“We also work closely together with primary healthcare center (PHCC), SIDRA dermatology and private healthcare facilities in order to direct our patients to the right place for diagnostic and therapy”, says Dr Steinhoff. “At the moment, the waiting time in Rumailah hospital is around one to two weeks for a new appointment and one week for a follow-up appointment. In our emergency clinic we are trying to accommodate severe cases so that no patient needs to wait longer than necessary. So patients will be assessed for the emergency of the case,” Dr Steinhoff added.
“The new patient clinic has helped us catering about 25% more patients than seen last year. However, we continuously try to expand and optimize the patient service, safety and quality of treatment for our patients,” Dr Steinhoff mentioned.
One of the prevalent problems in Qatar is atopic eczema and contact eczema. Atopic eczema has an estimated prevalence of 12-20 percent in children and six to eight percent in adults, which is at least as high as in most countries in the world with high disease occurrence. “Because it is a life-long skin condition, but can be controlled well if treated adequately, it is very important to see a dermatologist for eczema in order to treat and prevent new flare ups,” noted Dr Steinhoff. “Often families are desperate and frustrated about the situation for their children or an adult family members. But the good thing is that with the new diagnostic tools and novel treatments options, we can help those patients now much better than in the past. I have observed many patients which under new therapies experienced a significant improvement in their quality-of-life. Also, a detailed education program by specialized nurses help the patient to learn how to avoid itching and scratching, and exacerbating trigger factors,” said Dr Steinhoff.
He also noted that together with the primary health care centers and SIDRA, the HMC dermatology department is very active to optimize the patient service for all patients with skin conditions.
Many chronic genetic skin conditions affect children, often life-long. Therefore, the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at HMC also provides specialized services for genetic skin diseases. “Because of the high demand, this sub-specialty clinic is expected to serve on daily basis in order to improve the service for those cases in Qatar,” said Dr Haya Al Mannai, Consultant for Dermatology and Venereology at Rumailah Hospital, HMC.
“In close collaboration with SIDRA pediatric dermatology and other colleagues we want to provide an overall approach to diagnose and treat all genetic and acquired skin conditions in Qatar,” Dr. Haya Al-Mannai noted.
“Beside a detailed treatment and follow up plan family education is of significant importance to help in a holistic approach,” Dr Haya added.