(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Hamad Medical Corporation's (HMC's) clinical teams attended to patients on nearly 2.5mn occasions last year, according to the latest annual report of HMC.
The report, which was released last week, highlights the corporation's growth and major achievements during 2014 and early 2015, compared to 2013.
According to the report, HMC's outpatient and emergency departments, Ambulance Service and paediatric emergency centres experienced significant increases in activity last year, while more babies were delivered across HMC's network of maternity hospitals than ever before.
Outpatient visits rose by 11.7% over 2013, Ambulance Service call volumes by 28%, emergency department visits by 22.1% and paediatric emergency centres' activities by 6.9%.
The number of births went up by 5.1%, from 20,332 in 2013 to 21,332 in 2014, the report states, adding that there were a total of 2,100 beds across eight hospitals € Hamad General, Heart, Rumailah, Women's, Al Wakra, Cuban, Al Khor and National Centre for Cancer Care and Research.
Among HMC's key achievements and developments throughout 2014 was the growth of its community hospitals in Al Wakra, Dukhan and Al Khor, including a 54% increase in the number of births compared to 2013. While nearly all the babies born under Hamad's care were earlier born in the central Doha Women's Hospital, last year 25% were born closer to home in the hospitals of Al Wakra, Al Khor and Dukhan, it is pointed out.
This growth has meant patients living in these areas are now able to access a full range of secondary healthcare services close to home and no longer need to travel to Doha for much of their hospital care.
Significant progress has been made by HMC in developing an academic health system. Teaching and research have been integrated with clinical practice to deliver the highest standard of care, with examples of this now evident, the report observes.
The opening of new facilities, including the expanded Enaya Specialised Care Centre, Internal Medicine Clinic, Palliative and Supportive Care Unit and Stroke Ward, was another highlight.
Hospitals and services across HMC received international accreditation from leading organisations. HMC's three newest hospitals - Heart, Al Wakra and Cuban - joined the other five hospitals in being accredited by the Joint Commission International, while its stroke service also earned this prestigious accreditation.
Commenting on the report, HMC managing director Dr Hanan al-Kuwari identified some of the key areas in which significant progress has been made.
"In the past year, we have continued to build on our recent innovation and progress in line with our three pillars of health, education and research. We have introduced many new services and facilities as we expand to meet the increasing demands of Qatar's growing population. We have opened new specialist clinics and services, providing care tailored to the specific needs of different population groups, including diabetes, cancer and long-term care," she said.
HMC has placed "great importance on the development of a continuing care service for the country", as Mahmoud al-Raisi, chief of HMC's Continuing Care Group, explained, "We have taken action to ensure our services meet the needs of patients with congenital conditions and those requiring long-term care or rehabilitation. Recent progress includes the opening of a new community-based mental health facility in Muaither, providing care for women and children with a range of mental health needs, while the Enaya Specialised Care Centre has been expanded to increase
capacity significantly."
Dr al-Kuwari pointed out that there was still more to be done. "While this report reflects on the many achievements of the past year, we will not rest as there is still more work to be done as we continue to meet the healthcare needs of Qatar's growing population. We look forward with energy and enthusiasm to providing each and every one of our patients with the safest, most effective and most compassionate care in the years ahead."
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