Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital Receives the Diamond Award from the World Stroke Organization

The Ministry of Health and Prevention has announced that Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah has received the Diamond Award from the World Stroke Organization in recognition of its efforts to improve the management of stroke. The first hospital in the UAE and Gulf region to receive the international award, the facility was honoured for enhancing the quality of care provided to patients diagnosed with stroke, as well as for improving the capacity of its centre of excellence dedicated to treating the acute condition.

The bestowing of the Diamond Award on Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital acknowledges its high performance in the care of stroke patients, with over 90% receiving the necessary medical intervention in under 60 minutes. The award also recognises the hospital’s close cooperation with the UAE National Ambulance, which informs the facility in advance of the arrival of a stroke patient, as well as the important roles that the hospital’s departments - such as neurology, emergency and radiology - play in stroke management.

Other aspects that the award took into consideration include the major initiatives that the hospital has adopted that focus on implementing best practice for stroke management, such as training programmes specifically designed for nurses and neurologists. It was also recognised for its launch of the electronic stroke unit under the Warid programme, which contributes to identifying gaps and improving the efficiency of stroke treatment through the use of stop watches and checklists to ensure that the necessary intervention is  time required upon the patient’s admission into the hospital until treatment is provided.
The World Stroke Organization Award is presented every three months by the to recognise the efforts and excellence of stroke centres across the world. The initiative aims to improve stroke care by providing educational platforms that have been approved by both the World Stroke Organization, as well as the European Stroke Organization. The programme contributes to facilitating the registration of stroke treatment centres for the purpose of quality control, with qualified centres eligible to receive the award according to the key performance indicators (KPIs) obtained.

Well-deserved Achievement
His Excellency Dr. Yousif Mohammed Al Serkal, Director General of the Emirates Foundation for Health Services and Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospital Sector, praised Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital’s well-deserved achievement of the Diamond Award from the World Stroke Organization. He noted that the award serves as a testament to the continuous investment in enhancing the UAE’s health infrastructure and its commitment to delivering medical innovations. The award, he said, recognises the country’s proactivity in diagnostic methods, its continuous improvement of the patient treatment journey, the integration of smart services and artificial intelligence into the healthcare space, and its ongoing efforts towards building on existing accomplishments through holistic and integrated plans.

The Implementation of Protocols
Dr. Kalthoum Al Balushi, Director of the Hospitals Department at the Ministry, congratulated the team at Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital for earning the Diamond Award, saying that it was a testament to the hospital’s commitment and efficiency in the execution of internationally-approved programmes and guidelines, as well as a reflection of the commitment and professionalism of the hospital’s staff in ensuring that patients are provided with the utmost care. She noted that the development of dedicated stroke management and treatment centres in hospitals is instrumental in reducing the mortality rate from cardiovascular disease and stroke and contributes to the overall improvement of the patient experience. She confirmed the Ministry’s keenness to support hospitals with the required solutions and techniques for the development of best medical practices in stroke and cardiovascular disease, in addition to providing the necessary training to improve the skills of medical staff in accordance with best international standards.

Global Healthcare
Dr Yousef El Tayer, Director of the Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital, expressed the hospital’s keenness towards continuing the development of its stroke centre, with the aim of enhancing the quality of treatment and care provided to patients. He noted that in 2019 and in cooperation with its partner, global health leader Boehringer Ingelheim, the hospital advanced KPIs in stroke management, . This includes waiting times from the patient’s arrival to the hospital until the start of treatment, in addition to KPIs such as the blood clotting rate, and targeted acute care, with the KPIs supporting the hospital in earning three major awards and becoming the first hospital in the UAE to receive such prestigious recognition. He noted that the latest Diamond Award from the World Stroke Organization is a tribute to the hard work and tireless efforts made in improving hospital protocols and procedures and providing patients with healthcare in accordance with the best international standards. 

Comprehensive Stroke Management Protocols
Ousama Al Haj, General Manager and Head of Human Pharma at Boehringer Ingelheim in the Gulf Area, stated: “We are working very hard with our partners in the UAE and region to develop a comprehensive stroke management protocol which focuses on stroke prevention and rapid treatment to save lives. In cooperation with Ibrahim bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital, we are striving to strengthen communication channels between the hospital and the World Stroke Organization, as well as improve hospital registration records that support the monitoring of performance data and planning, in accordance with the very best international standards.”