American Hospital Dubai

Following its recent expansion, the American Hospital Dubai has consolidated its position as the foremost facility of its kind in the Middle East. Thomas John Murray, CEO, talks to Jayne Alverca.

The American Hospital Dubai was created with a simple mission: the overriding aim of its founders, a private Emirate family, was to introduce the highest standards of American healthcare to a region which had traditionally offered poor or indifferent levels of medical care, usually compelling the sick to travel overseas for treatment. 

Years of committed work and dedication led to the American Hospital becoming the first healthcare facility in the Middle East to be accredited by the Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) in 2000. This body sets rigorous international quality standards that focus on the areas which most directly affect patients. Accreditation demonstrates that the hospital has been evaluated for its access to care, assessment of patients, infection control, patient and family rights, and education. Other standards addressed include facility management and safety, staff qualifications, quality improvement, hospital leadership and information management.

In another first, the hospital’s medical laboratory was also the first private laboratory in the Middle East to become accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). This is the United States’ largest association for American Board-certified laboratory pathologists and the recognised world leader in laboratory quality assurance.

“From a professional perspective, these accreditations, which are reviewed every three years, show how committed we are to achieving and preserving the highest international standards in the services we offer. These are very stringent benchmarks which we take seriously,” states CEO Thomas Murray.

Since the original hospital was built, it has undergone several major expansions, most notably the addition of a new patient out-care facility in 2006. Attention is now focused on the latest development—the largest in the hospital’s history—which is a 240-bed inpatient bed tower. The new seven-storey tower creates an additional 50,000 square metres of space and has been designed by international architects Ellerbe Becket, with the building work executed by Dhafir Construction. Both companies have an extensive international track record on complex projects of this type.

“A very important feature we continue to serve our patients is that all of these new rooms are private,” Murray explains. “We strongly believe that offering privacy is a better way to care for patients and their families. Family is a very important concept here and we wanted to create an environment as comfortable and appealing as possible.”

As one of the world’s leading healthcare designers, Ellerbe Becket was commissioned to plan and design the tower’s state-of-the-art facilities. Their approach is inspired by the belief that the design of healthcare environments can impact on clinical outcomes as well as the overall experience of patients, their families and care givers.

“We wanted to create an environment of light and space,” Murray continues. “Some of our rooms are actually suites and all are at least 30 per cent bigger than the norm. Great care has been taken over details such as the view from rooms and the availability of natural sunlight which we think is very important to the healing process.”

Another facet of the hospital’s current expansion phase includes the addition of facilities related to the oncology departments. “We are on the point of commissioning a linear accelerator which will greatly enhance the treatment we can offer to cancer patients; and we are also in the process of upgrading our breast imaging centre for early detection,” he explains.

Murrayis also very proud of the hospital’s pioneering Joint Replacement Programme. The newly designed and refurbished Total Joint Replacement Regional Center of Excellence is the first unit to be relocated to the fifth floor of the new building. It features 44 inpatient rooms, as well as medical/surgical units and supporting areas.

“People travel from neighbouring countries specifically for this service which has a track record of achieving exceptional results,” states Murray. “Our Cochlear Implant Programme is also set to expand and this again is another area where we can point to outstanding results.”

The Total Joint Replacement Center at the hospital is unique in the Middle East and is one of only four in the world, along with similar centres in Holland, Spain and the UK. Dr. Samih Tarabichi, the Center's medical director, has performed over 4,000 joint replacements and is ranked as one of world’s leading experts in this field.

“All of our physicians are outstanding and Board-certified in either Western Europe or the US, which is a standard we will always preserve. We have very fine primary care physicians through to outstanding cardiac and open heart surgery experts,” Murray states.  

For example, Professor Dr Uwe Klima, who is based at the Heart Center within the hospital, has pioneered a new and highly promising surgical technique. In October 2010 he became the first surgeon in the world to perform a new technique in coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). The surgical procedure is based on a medical device called an external saphenous vein stent (eSVS), which dramatically reduces the high failure rate of traditional grafts—50 per cent of which will have failed after 10 years. Dr Klima holds exclusive rights for the medical device and treatment in the Middle East. 

Another recent breakthrough has seen Professor Michael Weber, director of the Center for Limb Lengthening and Limb Reconstruction, receive exclusive rights in the UAE to the Fitbone limb lengthening procedure. This is the latest technology related to limb strengthening and involves using a motorised ‘nail’ which is surgically inserted inside the bone. The aim is to facilitate new bone growth through a minimally invasive technique.  

“The combination of our range of facilities and some of the finest doctors in the world means that we can offer a very comprehensive range of services,” asserts Murray. “We are extremely proud of this institution and its achievements. The services we offer are second to none as a result of the dedication of an exceptional team of people. For a number of years we have had a leadership position in this part of the world and we are determined to preserve and build upon this reputation,” he concludes. www.ahdubai.com