HMC Announces Two Important Keynote Speakers at the Fifth Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare

29 March 2017

Doha – Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is excited to announce two of the keynote speakers for this year’s Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare who will offer delegates a very different perspective on healthcare provision.

One of the keynote speakers is a life-long patient, Ms. Tiffany Christensen, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was six months old. At 12 years of age, she had her first stay in a hospital. She has lived with chronic, acute and terminal illness, spending decades in the medical system – overcoming obstacles.

Ms. Christensen has written two books and presented over a thousand lectures to healthcare providers, patients, and families. She works to better connect healthcare systems and patients, helping patients, and their families, navigate the physical, emotional, and spiritual terrain they face. Ms. Christensen will share her experience at the conference with the aim of bridging the gap between the patient perspective and the provider experience.

Another unique take on quality and safety will be provided by Professor Najmedin Meshkati – an expert on the interface between humans and technology. For the past 30 years, he has been teaching and conducting research on risk reduction and reliability enhancement of complex technological systems, including nuclear power, aviation, petrochemical, and transportation industries.

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He was the technical advisor on two national panels in the United States investigating major recent accidents: The NAS/NRC Committee “Lessons Learned from the Fukushima Nuclear Accident for Improving Safety and Security of US Nuclear Plants” (2012-2014); and the NAE/NRC “Committee on the Analysis of Causes of the Deepwater Horizon Explosion, Fire, and Oil Spill to Identify Measures to Prevent Similar Accidents in the Future” (2010-2011).

Professor Meshkati has inspected many petrochemical and nuclear power plants around the world, including Chernobyl (1997), Fukushima Daiichi, and Daini (2012). He has worked with the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board as an expert on human factors and safety culture and on the investigation of the BP Refinery explosion in Texas City (2005).

Professor Meshkati will be able to provide delegates with a unique view on working with technology and how risks can be managed.

Dr. Ron Wyatt, HMC’s Chief Quality Officer said: “When we think about quality and safety in healthcare, we often think about it from the view of a healthcare provider. Whilst this is helpful and a lot can be learned through speaking with colleagues, sharing best practice and lessons learned and hearing about the latest thinking, it won’t give us the full picture. We need to understand the patient perspective in order to be able to continuously improve the quality of care we provide. I am delighted that Tiffany is speaking at this year’s Forum and I know delegates will find her talk inspiring while also giving them some real food for thought.”

“In addition, we are lucky to have Professor Meshkati sharing some of his insights with us on the human technical interface. Professor Meshkati has worked to investigate some of the most infamous technological incidents of recent times and hearing from him will be invaluable to gaining a better understanding of risks that can arise through human interactions with technology,” Dr. Wyatt said.

The fifth Middle East Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare will take place from 5 to 7 May, 2017 at the Qatar National Convention Centre, Doha. Online registration is now open at https://ihimeforum.hamad.qa and those who register before 30 March will receive an early bird discount.

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About Hamad Medical Corporation
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is the main provider of secondary and tertiary healthcare in Qatar and one of the leading hospital providers in the Middle East.

For more than three decades, HMC has been dedicated to delivering the safest, most effective and compassionate care to all its patients.

HMC manages nine hospitals – six specialist hospitals and three community hospitals – as well as the National Ambulance Service and home and residential care services.

In January 2016, HMC achieved the significant distinction of becoming the first healthcare system across the globe to have all its hospitals accredited by Joint Commission International under the Academic Medical Center accreditation program. Additionally, the National Ambulance Service, Home Healthcare Service, Stroke Service and Palliative Care, have all received this prestigious accreditation since 2011.

To meet the needs of a rapidly growing population, HMC has announced ambitious plans to expand capacity across its network through to 2030. This expansion plan includes a further three new hospitals in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City.

HMC is leading the development of the region’s first academic health system – combining innovative research, top-class education and excellent clinical care – and is committed to building a legacy of healthcare expertise in Qatar. HMC collaborates with key partners who are experts in Qatar and beyond, including Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and Partners Healthcare, Boston.

HMC is 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 Noimot Olayiwola, Media Project Manager Tel: (00974) 44390945; Mobile: (00974) 55568709; Email: [email protected]

© Press Release 2017