Abu Dhabi: Department of Health Collaborates with American Heart Association to Improve Heart and Brain Health

As a testament to the Department’s leadership in healthcare excellence and cementing Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading healthcare destination, this collaboration is the partnership’s first agreement with a government entity outside of the United States to take a “systems” approach. of care” of medical care, integrating and optimizing all steps and aspects of care.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Saleh Al Ali, executive director of the Center for Emergency Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) of the DoH, and Puja Patel, vice president of International Quality and Global Certification of the American Heart Association.

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Dr. Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health; Dr Aysha Al Khoori, executive director of the health facilities sector at the Department of Health; Dr Mohammed Alkuwaiti, Consultant Neurologist, Tawam Hospital; Dr Abdulmajeed Al Zubaidi, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist; Chris D’Esposito, senior vice president of the American Heart Association; Rami Khattar, CEO of MENA; Khaled Shkair, senior director of international programs; Mohammed Almzayen, senior director of international programs; and Julia Mora, International Director of Healthcare Quality and Certification at the American Heart Association.

The two parties will cooperate to integrate the Association’s standards for chest pain and stroke centers to expand guideline-directed care to patients throughout their healthcare journey. The collaboration will focus on six components: stakeholder coordination, education, public awareness, sustainability, rehabilitation task force, and evaluations.

These components will be delivered through a certification program that will build on existing infrastructure, including the expertise of the Abu Dhabi Stroke and STEMI working groups and the Association, with its resources of regional and international experts.

Additionally, cardiac and stroke certifications will help hospitals improve patient care, differentiate themselves from the competition, and attract top talent.

On this occasion, Dr. Saleh Al Ali said: “The Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DoH) is committed to collaborating with global strategic partners and unifying efforts to further advance and accelerate access to quality care for patients in Abu Dhabi and around the world. world.

“Through this collaboration, we look forward to achieving excellence with the American Heart Association to advance our cardiology and stroke initiatives, strengthen the Emirate’s system of care for patients with heart disease and stroke, and safeguard health and well-being of the community”. added Dr. Al Ali.

The agreement will allow both entities to develop and implement an awareness campaign about the symptoms of strokes and heart attacks and the importance of calling emergency services.

This collaboration aims to establish improvements and systems that can be sustained by the DoH and its stakeholders, leveraging the Association’s quality improvement and certification programs as resources for all participating hospitals and EMS agencies.