HAMAD MEDICAL CORPORATION RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS ACCREDITATION AWARD (DOHA, Qatar, 19 September 2016) – Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has been formally recognized by Joint Commission International (JCI) for being the first healthcare organization in the world to have all its hospitals qualified under the JCI Academic Medical Center accreditation program, demonstrating not only HMC’s commitment to continuous delivery of safe, high quality care but also Qatar’s leadership commitment to the health sector as a whole. This prestigious distinction was achieved following a comprehensive on-site survey earlier this year by specialist JCI surveyors who evaluated all of HMC's eight hospitals against a set of stringent internationally approved healthcare standards. All HMC hospitals have received the official Gold Seal of Approval® for accreditation under the JCI Academic Medical Center Hospital standards. Simultaneous accreditation across all hospitals is an outstanding achievement. It demonstrates a commitment to providing great care all the time, while sharing new learnings and developing innovative ways of delivering high quality care. The award was presented by Ms Paula Wilson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Joint Commission Resources and Joint Commission International and Dr Mark R. Chassin, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Joint Commission, to Her Excellency Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Qatar Minister of Public Health, during a special ceremony at JCI headquarters outside Chicago, Illinois in the United States. H.E. Dr Al Kuwari expressed her delight at receiving the commemorative award and certificate for HMC's achievement: "This recognition is an enormous achievement and accolade for Qatar's leading tertiary and secondary healthcare provider. It demonstrates Hamad Medical Corporation’s commitment to continuous learning, professional development and delivery of safe, high quality care and is indicative of Qatar’s leadership commitment to the health sector." "Gaining accreditation as an Academic Medical Center puts HMC alongside an elite international group of healthcare providers. Being the first in the world to be accredited as an Academic Medical Center is a testament to HMC’s approach to developing excellence in healthcare in Qatar and the quality of the care it provides to its patients.” Joint Commission International Accreditation Standards for Hospitals, 5th Edition provides the basis for accreditation of hospitals throughout the world. It provides organizations with the information they need to pursue or maintain patient safety, performance improvement, and accreditation status. “Since 2004 Joint Commission International has built a collaborative relationship with Hamad Medical Corporation and through the commitment, intelligence and drive of Her Excellency Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, the entire corporation has worked to establish a strong culture of patient safety and healthcare quality,” said Paula Wilson, President and CEO, Joint Commission Resources and Joint Commission International. “We are very proud at Joint Commission International to be Hamad Medical Corporation’s partner in quality.” Ms Wilson and Dr Chassin were joined at the special ceremony by Dr Paul Chang, Vice President of JCI Accreditation, Standards, and Measurement, and Dr Marwa Zohdy, Vice President of Global Consulting Services. At the beginning of this year, a team of internationally-renowned and independent JCI surveyors closely examined the hospitals that make up HMC over a period of eight weeks. The rigorous on-site surveys measured existing organizational practices in healthcare quality and patient safety and benchmarked these against JCI’s more than 304 internationally recognized hospital standards and 1200 measurable elements. Dr Badriya Al Ali, Deputy Chief Quality Officer for HMC, said the accreditation celebrates a dedication to continuously improving the quality and safety of care HMC provides. She said: "This accreditation demonstrates the sustainable quality that Hamad Medical Corporation and our staff offer to the public. When a healthcare organization earns JCI accreditation, patients can be confident its hospitals have met comprehensive, evidenced-based criteria benchmarked against international standards. Our patients can be assured that they are receiving the highest levels of clinical care, patient safety and adherence to international standards.” "This recognition from such an internationally renowned organization is the ultimate achievement in healthcare accreditation and a real accolade for HMC," said Prof Adeel Butt, Chief Quality Officer (I), and Director of Hamad Healthcare Quality Institute at HMC. "It is an important testimony to the continuous effort and commitment by HMC staff who have been instrumental in ensuring the implementation of JCI’s high standards across our organization." - Ends - About HMC HMC has been the principal public healthcare provider in the state of Qatar for over three decades and is dedicated to delivering the safest, most effective and compassionate care to all patients. HMC manages eight hospitals, incorporating five specialist hospitals and three community hospitals. HMC also manages the National Ambulance Service as well as home and residential care, all accredited by Joint Commission International. While HMC continues to upgrade its facilities and services, it has also embarked on an ambitious expansion program, targeting the areas of need in our community. HMC is leading the development of the region's first academic health system and is committed to building a legacy of healthcare expertise in Qatar. We collaborate with partners who are key experts in Qatar and beyond, including Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Partners Healthcare, Boston. We are also the first hospital system in the Middle East to achieve institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education - International (ACGME-I), which demonstrates excellence in the way medical graduates are trained through residency, internship and fellowship programs. For more information please visit: www.hamad.qa or contact Jasmeen Ul-Haque at [email protected] About Joint Commission International Joint Commission International (JCI) was established in 1994 as a division of Joint Commission Resources, Inc. (JCR), a wholly controlled, not-for-profit affiliate of The Joint Commission. Through international accreditation, advisory services, publications, and education programs, JCI extends The Joint Commission's mission worldwide by helping to improve the quality of patient care. JCI works with international health care organizations, public health agencies, health ministries, and others in more than 100 countries. Visit www.jointcommissioninternational.org for more information. .